Gophers Edge Out Two Programs to Win Second Straight Show

Regional Lead Grows to Six Through Two Shows

TOWSON, Md. — Goucher's 39 points proved to be just enough to slip past Mary Washington's 38 and Christopher Newport's 37 in today's IHSA show.

The win marks the second straight to open the year for the IHSA Zone IV Region I defending champion, who hosted the season's first show earlier this month.

Today's show, hosted by University of Maryland-Baltimore Co., and Mount St. Mary's at Goucher's stables, featured the same finishing order among the top teams, but with a much narrower margin of victory. In the opener, Goucher finished with 45 points, well ahead of the 40 from Mary Washington and 30 from third place finisher Christopher Newport.

Last year's region high-point rider and Cacchione Cup qualifier, Karli Postel (Thousand Oaks, Calif./Oaks Christian School), placed first in open equitation over fences, while finishing third in open flat.

In the intermediate division, first-year rider Ashley Bent (Phoenixville, Pa./Phoenixville Area) finished as the top finisher in the jumping segment for the second straight competition.

Laura Malone (Weston, Mass./Weston) followed up her first place effort in novice flat at Goucher's show with a second place performance.

In the novice group, Anna Carmichael (Colorado Springs, Colo. / William J. Palmer) took home the blue ribbon in the fences portion with Goucher earning second and third in the flat section thanks to Laura Malone (Weston, Mass./Weston) and Joey Fink (Baltimore, Md./The Park School).

Erika Scott (Stonington, Conn./The Williams School) finished at the top of the walk-trot-canter event. Annie Fortenberry (Mount Kisco, N.Y./Horace Greeley) was the runner-up in walk-trot.