March 31, 2006

FAIRFIELD, CT - The Sacred Heart Women's Equestrian Team kicks off the 2006 post-season on Sunday at the Zone 2, Region 4 Championship Horse Show. For five of the Pioneers, the regional competition is the start of the quest to get Harrisburg, PA- site of the 2006 Intercollegiate Horse Show Association Nationals.

The team will be represented by a team of seasoned competitors including team co-captains Ashley Coppola and Kelly McGovern, juniors Lauren Pierce and Sara Spagna along with sophomore teammate Nicole Lay. Competitors and classes are outlined below:

Team co-captain Ashley Coppola secured her post-season trip at the February 26 Yale Intercollegiate Horse Show. The junior from Holmdel, NJ will be competing in Intermediate Fences. This is Coppola's second consecutive appearance in the post-season.

Sophomore Nicole Lay qualified mid-season for Regionals; her flat qualification coming at the Molloy College Horse Show and her fences trip coming at the Columbia University Show. Lay will be competing in the Novice division, and this mark her preliminary trip into the post-season arena.

Team co-captain Kelly McGovern was the second Pioneer to qualify for the 2006 post-season. Winning her Walk-Trot class at the St. Joseph's Horse Show, McGovern clinched her first post-season berth.

Junior Lauren Pierce was the final SHU Equestrian to round out the 2006 IHSA post-season roster. A solid 3rd place finish at the CW Post Intercollegiate Horse Show earned Pierce her trip to the Regional competition. This marks the Southington, CT native's second IHSA post-season appearance. A strong freshman campaign saw Pierce earn the 2004 Zone 3, Region 1 Intermediate over Fences Reserve Champion title and finish the season at the Zone 3 Horse Show. Pierce will compete in Class 8, Open Equitation over Fences.

Junior Sara Spagna rounds out Sunday's roster in Novice Flat. Spagna will be appearing in her first post-season competition on Sunday. Spagna has the distinction of being the first Pioneer qualified for the 2006 post-season collecting the requisite points at the St. Joseph's Horse Show.

Regionals is the first in a series of three IHSA post-season competitions. Contestants finishing in the top two of their respective classes will qualify to compete at the 2006 Zone 2 Horse Show. From Zones, the top two competitors will be invited to compete at the 2006 IHSA National Horse Show.

With top placings at Regionals, the Pioneers will return to the show ring on April 8th at the Zone 2 Championship Horse Show. In addition, the team will be in Albuquerque, NM from April 20 - 22 to contest the 2006 Varsity Equestrian National Championship.