Stonehill Extends Region Lead in Spring Opener


Lorusso
Dolan

Skyhawks place first behind Lorusso's high point rider performance

MEDWAY, Mass. (February 26, 2012) – The Stonehill College equestrian team posted a first place team finish and extended its lead atop the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA) Zone 1, Region 4 standings at the Boston College show, hosted by Saddle Row Farm today.

Stonehill was the high point team with 42 points, with host Boston College and Mount Ida College tied for second with two points each. The Skyhawks extended their lead in the regional standings to nine points with their performance today.

Junior Cassandra Lorusso (Wrentham, Mass./Dana Hall School) earned high point rider honors with her blue ribbon performances in open fences and open flat. Classmate Emily Dolan (Lacrosse, Wis./Aquinas) won her intermediate fences class to qualify for the ISHA Zone 1, Region 4 Championships in March.

Senior Nina Crossley (Ho-Ho-Kus, N.J./Northern Highlands Regional) won her novice flat class and also competed in novice fences for the first time. Seniors Alexandra Fenner (Rye, N.H./Portsmouth) and co-captain Margeaux DeVirgilio (Poughkeepsie, N.Y./Our Lady of Lourdes) both collected first place ribbons for novice fences and novice flat, respectively. Sophomore Caitlin Wright (Old Lyme, Conn./Mercy) also notched a blue ribbon in walk-trot.

Also turning in strong performances in the spring opener for Stonehill were freshman Kayleigh McDonnell (Rutland, Vt./Rutland) with a second place finish in walk-trot-canter, while classmate Danielle Franchi (Islip, N.Y./Islip) placed third in open fences and senior Rebecca Rossi (Cranston, R.I./Bay View Academy) was third in intermediate flat.

Stonehill is right back in action on Sunday for a show hosted by Wellesley College at Rising Star Equestrian Center in Medway, Mass., at 9 a.m.