Junior Cassandra Lorusso picked up three blue ribbons over two shows this past weekend and was high point rider at Sunday's Stonehill home show. (PHOTO BY Andrew Katsampes)

Skyhawk riders place fourth at Boston University, win Stonehill show
Lorusso leads Cacchione standings for Zone 1, Region 4

With the two results over the weekend, Stonehill now ranks third in the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA) Zone 1, Region 4 standings with 134 points, with leaders Boston University (136 points), second place Tufts University (135) and the Skyhawks separated by just two points.

Junior Cassandra Lorusso (Wrentham, Mass./Dana Hall School) won three blue ribbons on the weekend and now leads the Cacchione Cup standings for the region. Cacchione Cup competitors are eligible to compete in the "National Rider of the Year" competition at the IHSA Nationals in May. Lorusso placed first in her open flat class at BU on Saturday, while finishing second in open fences. She was high point rider at Stonehill's home show on Sunday with blue ribbons for open fences and flat.

DeVirgilio

Senior co-captain Margeaux DeVirgilio (Poughkeepsie, N.Y./Our Lady of Lourdes) qualified for regionals next spring after her first place finish in her novice flat class on Sunday. Junior Hanna Pattie (Newburyport, Mass./Brewster Academy) also qualified for regionals for intermediate flat with her second place finish at BU on Saturday.

Highlighting Stonehill's performances at BU, sophomore Miranda Williams (Hopkinton, Mass./Hopkinton) placed first for intermediate fences, while freshman Cassandra Otis (Downingtown, Pa./Bishop Shanahan) was second in novice fences.

Freshman Danielle Franchi (Islip, N.Y./Islip) placed first in her open flat class in the Stonehill home show on Sunday, while placing fourth in open fences. Senior Rebecca Rossi (Cranston, R.I./Bay View Academy) placed second for intermediate fences, while classmates Brianna Bach (Windham, N.H./Salem) and Christine Dwyer (Park City, Utah/Kentucky Country Day) were second for intermediate flat.

Junior Amanda LeBlanc (Allen, Texas/Morgan Park Academy (Ill.)) placed first and freshman Kayleigh McDonnell (Rutland, Vt. /Rutland) second, in their respective walk-trot-canter classes. Sophomore Caitlin Wright (Old Lyme, Conn./Mercy) was third in her walk-trot-canter class, while senior Nina Crossley (Ho-Ho-Kus, N.J./Northern Highlands Regional) placed fourth in her novice flat class.

Stonehill closes out the fall season on Sunday at the Mount Ida College show, hosted by River Wind Farm, in Pembroke, Mass., at 9 a.m.