MENDOTA HEIGHTS, Minn. - The Concordia-St. Paul women's swimming and diving team fell 157-142 to the Dragons of Minnesota State Moorhead in its season opener on Saturday afternoon at the Two Rivers Aquatic Center. 

Following the dual, head coach Rachel Busch said, "The team put forth a tremendous effort in today's meet and set a solid foundation for competing throughout the season. During the meet, we talked about executing two of our team values, hard work and encouragement, and our staff is very proud of the team for exemplifying both all the way to the end." 

Freshman Estee VerSteeg led the Golden Bears with three individual first-place finishes in her first career races. VerSteeg took first in the 200-yard freestyle with a time of 1:57.99 before winning the 50-yard freestyle in 24.41 and the 100-yard freestyle in 54.01.

Avery Farmer added two first-place finishes, winning the 1,000-yard freestyle in 11:19.59 and the 500-yard freestyle in 5:28.88.

Claire Briest also earned a pair of first-place finishes, taking the top spot in the 100-yard breaststroke in 1:07.62 and the 200-yard breaststroke in 2:27.77. Briest also finished third in the 200-yard individual medley with a time of 2:16.78.

Alejandra Lira added a pair of runner-up finishes, taking second in the 200-yard butterfly in 2:14.03 and the 200-yard individual medley in 2:15.21. Lira also finished third in the 200-yard backstroke with a time of 2:16.90.

On the diving board, Mina Dahl recorded a pair of second-place finishes, scoring 199.15 on the 1-meter board and 204.65 on the 3-meter board. Chloe Jones added a pair of third-place finishes, scoring 188.00 on the 1-meter board and 185.75 on the 3-meter board.

Marianna Perna posted a pair of third-place finishes in the distance events, finishing the 1,000-yard freestyle in 11:39.02 and the 500-yard freestyle in 5:43.27.

The Golden Bears also picked up a second-place finish in the 200-yard medley relay, with the team of Ashley Miranda Limon, Claire Briest, Lara Elwan and Estee VerSteeg finishing in 1:50.19. CSP's 400-yard freestyle relay team of Kaylie Johnson, Akos Bonlender, Avery Farmer and Alejandra Lira also finished second in 3:45.42.

With today's season opener, head coach Rachel Busch begins her sixth season with the Golden Bears. She is joined by first-year assistant coach Yasmin Nachmias and graduate assistant Maggie Lombardi. 

The Navy and Gold will return to action on Saturday, Oct. 17, traveling to Marshall, Minn., for the SMSU & Minnesota State Double-Dual. The Golden Bears will face Southwest Minnesota State and Minnesota State at 1 p.m.

TEAM RESULTS
Minnesota State Moorhead 157, Concordia-St. Paul 142

RELAY RESULTS (Top 5 Finishes)
2nd - 200-Yard Medley Relay, Ashley Miranda Limon, Claire Briest, Lara Elwan, Estee VerSteeg, 1:50.19
4th - 200-Yard Medley Relay, Tessa Lentsch, Quinn Lefeld, Rebecca Hildebrand, Kaylie Johnson, 1:54.44
2nd - 400-Yard Freestyle Relay, Kaylie Johnson, Akos Bonlender, Avery Farmer, Ale Lira, 3:45.42
4th - 400-Yard Freestyle Relay, Tessa Lentsch, Marianna Perna, Aayla Deter, Sierra Sherry, 3:58.80

INDIVIDUAL RESULTS (Top 5 Finishes)

Mina Dahl
2nd - 1-Meter Dive, 199.15
2nd - 3-Meter Dive, 204.65

Chloe Jones
3rd - 1-Meter Dive, 188.00
3rd - 3-Meter Dive, 185.75

Ellie Leisure
4th - 1-Meter Dive, 184.00
4th - 3-Meter Dive, 178.60

Avery Farmer
1st - 1000-Yard Freestyle, 11:19.59
1st - 500-Yard Freestyle, 5:28.88

Marianna Perna
3rd - 1000-Yard Freestyle, 11:39.02
3rd - 500-Yard Freestyle, 5:43.27

Estee VerSteeg
1st - 200-Yard Freestyle, 1:57.99
1st - 50-Yard Freestyle, 24.41
1st - 100-Yard Freestyle, 54.01

Lara Elwan
4th - 200-Yard Freestyle, 2:04.26
3rd - 100-Yard Butterfly, 59.75

Akos Bonlender
5th - 200-Yard Freestyle, 2:04.41
4th - 500-Yard Freestyle, 5:46.72

Aayla Deter
3rd - 100-Yard Backstroke, 1:03.01
4th - 200-Yard Backstroke, 2:17.51

Tessa Lentsch
4th - 100-Yard Backstroke, 1:04.71
5th - 50-Yard Freestyle, 25.96

Claire Briest
1st - 100-Yard Breaststroke, 1:07.62
1st - 200-Yard Breaststroke, 2:27.77
3rd - 200-Yard IM, 2:16.78

Quinn Lefeld
5th - 100-Yard Breaststroke, 1:12.69

Zoe D'Alessandro
4th - 100-Yard Breaststroke, 1:12.79

Alejandra Lira
2nd - 200-Yard Butterfly, 2:14.03
3rd - 200-Yard Backstroke, 2:16.90
2nd - 200-Yard IM, 2:15.21

Ashley Miranda-Limon
3rd - 200-Yard Butterfly, 2:28.62
5th - 200-Yard Backstroke, 2:20.15
4th - 100-Yard Butterfly, 1:05.49

Gabby Busch
5th - 200-Yard Butterfly, 2:33.96

Kaylie Johnson
4th - 50-Yard Freestyle, 25.78