Brittany Aikens led the Brenau cross country team to a top finish at a meet at Truett McConnell College on Saturday in Clarksville.

Aikens, from Braselton, finished second overall and first among fellow Peach Belt Conference runners. Ashley Tolland, Alyssa Sale and Sarah Saenz also finished in the top 10 for the Golden Tigers.

Jasmine Ray finished 20th for Brenau.

It’s the first time the Golden Tigers finished ahead of Savannah College of Art and Design, Atlanta, which beat Brenau on Sept. 15 at the RunFit Invitational by 13 points, the same margin that the Golden Tigers won by Saturday.

Brenau also defeated conference rivals Southern Wesleyan and Truett McConnell.

LADY SAINTS FINISH SIXTH: The North Georgia College & State University women’s cross country team finished sixth Saturday morning in the teams’ first 6-kilometer run of the season at the University of Montevallo’s Falcon Classic.

North Georgia’s Emily Beusse recorded her fourth top-10 of the season as she finished sixth overall in a time of 23:41. Emily Roemer was second on the team with a time of 25:51. Megan Anstett (26:16), Sallie Davis (26:20), Karley Barcus (27:07) and Lexie Miller (27:59) rounded out the scoring seven for the Saints.

North Georgia will get a week off before next competing in the Jacksonville State University Foothill Invitational on Oct. 5 in Oxford, Ala.

YOUNG HARRIS COMPETES AT WEST GEORGIA: The Young Harris College men’s and women’s cross country teams competed at the University of West Georgia Invitational on Saturday at the UWG Athletics Complex, with the men and women both finishing fourth.

The Mountain Lions had three runners finish in the top 20, led by Alex Bitok’s eighth-place time of 24:53.02. Tony Kipkemboi finished 13th (25:19.60) and Cody Decker 17th (25:58.26). Dakota Barrett came in 24th (26:46.04), followed by Trent Jones (28th, 27:03.27), Josiah Bennett (31st, 27:18.74), Drew Milner (34th, 27:24.90), Harrison Myers (35th, 27:30.52), Charles Too (40th, 28:09.56), Stephen Kuni (41st, 28:10.99), Chase Alford (46th, 28:34.99), Tyler Gunnin (49th, 29:47.12), Trevor Rich (56th, 29:40.08) and Danny Brewer (57th, 30:04.29).

The Young Harris women had three runners finish in the top 20, led by Nicole Smith’s ninth-place time of 18:58:70. Holli Abernathy came in 15th (19:39.98) and Ciara Wood 17th (19:55.90). Erica Brooks came in 32nd (21:20.87), followed by Alison Missler (52nd, 23:42.79), Kristin Fuhs (59th, 24:55.15), Robyn Finley (62nd, 25:10.06), Christelle Vereb (68th, 26:14.18), Stephanie Nichols (70th, 26:29.89) and Ashley Short (77th, 27:45.24).

The Mountain Lions return to action at 4 p.m. Friday at the Great American Cross Country Festival in Cary, N.C.

Soccer

The fifth-ranked North Georgia College & State University women’s soccer team fell behind early to Georgia College and, despite a fierce attack, never fully recovered as Ashley Veilleux recorded a hat trick to lead Georgia College to the 3-2 upset Saturday at the North Georgia Soccer Field in Dahlonega.

The loss is the first of the season for the nationally-ranked Saints (7-1, 1-1 PBC).

Veilleux recorded two of her goals in the first half to give Georgia College (4-4, 1-2) a 2-0 lead heading into intermission.

Saints sophomore Cicely Taliaferro scored an unassisted goal just 43 seconds into the second half, and senior Abby Trevino scored the equalizer in the 52nd minute.

The Saints once again were able to control the ball and keep it on the Bobcats’ side of the field, but Olivia Holden found a hole and fed the ball to Veilleux to give her the hat trick in the 75th minute.

North Georgia will play one more home game to cap off their three-game homestand. The Saints will play Pfeiffer University at 4 p.m. Wednesday at the North Georgia Soccer Field in Dahlonega.

YOUNG HARRIS GETS FIRST PBC WIN: Young Harris College picked up its first-ever Peach Belt Conference women’s soccer victory as the Mountain Lions shut out Flagler College 1-0 Saturday at the Frances Wood Wilson Soccer Field.

Haley Holderfield scored the lone goal for the Mountain Lions off an assist by Erica Lowery. Young Harris freshman keeper Taylor Erickson recorded her third shutout of the season.

Young Harris (5-2, 1-2) returns to the pitch Saturday against No. 18 Columbus State University at 1 p.m. in Young Harris.