FRANCONIA, N.H. -- Sophomore Michael Cooper had a career-best EISA carnival performance, highlighting the slalom races for the Bates alpine ski teams Saturday at the UNH Carnival.

Junior Sierra Ryder (Orinda, Calif.) led the Bates women's team in the slalom, placing 15th out of 59 women, one spot off of the career-best EISA carnival finish that she matched in Friday's giant slalom. Junior Hannah Johnson (Incline Village, Nev.) placed 21st in 2:08.92 and first-year Emma Finfer (Highland Park, Ill.) placed 37th in 2:17.08 to round out the Bates women's team's scoring. 

Cooper (Alta, Calif.) followed his first run of 56.63 seconds, the 17th fastest in the field of 65 men, with the 18th fastest second run, at 53.89 seconds, to finish with a combined time of 1:50.52, good for 17th place overall. Cooper's previous career-best finish was 19th place. He was the only Bates male to score carnival points on the day.

Bates' combined alpine and Nordic ski teams finished with 402 carnival points, good for eighth place out of 16 competing teams. 

Up next for the alpine team is the UVM Carnival at Stowe Mountain Resort, taking place Feb. 3-4.