The Sacred Heart University equestrian team is shifting its focus to the individual and team formats of the Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association (IHSA) postseason after facing a tough 6-3 loss to Dartmouth College in the semifinals of the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) championship. This match took place on March 20 and 21 in Charleston, S.C.
The ECAC championship format follows the National Collegiate Equestrian Association (NCEA) format of riding, providing a high-stakes environment for Sacred Heart.
Source: Instagram, @sacredheartequestrian
Senior Kylie Hwalek and senior Carina Muratore were the standout performers in the match. Hwalek received a score of 83 and was named the Most Outstanding Performer of the semifinal. Meanwhile, Muratore achieved a score of 76.5, earning her a spot on the All-Conference flat team for the regular season, along with junior Eleese Shillingford.
“Even when things got stressful, we made a point to keep the energy positive and support each other between rounds,” said Muratore. “No one felt like they were out there alone; we really rode as a team, which helped take some of the pressure off.”
Under head coach Hanna Lloyd, who was put in charge of the program in July 2025, SHU Equestrian has established itself as a national powerhouse.
As a Sacred Heart alumna, she was previously the team’s assistant coach before taking the head coach position and understands how hard her team works each time they ride.
“We talk a lot about ‘no easy outs.’ So, if we can avoid the easy outs and shine in the ring, that’s the best that we can do,” said Lloyd. “We definitely held our own against a number-one-ranked team, and our scores were right there with them, so I know what we’re capable of.”
“The squad went down there and received notes from our spirit committee that gave them pep talks, and the remainder of the team all sent out messages in our group chat, cheering them on,” said senior Isabella Ruisi.
“As the fourth seed going against the top team, we wanted to make sure all the girls felt our support, even if it was from a distance,” said Ruisi.
On March 28, the Pioneers traveled to the Zone II Region IV Championship at North Shore Equestrian in Brookville, N.Y., hosted by LIU.
Unlike the team-oriented NCEA format, the IHSA postseason format shifts the focus to individualized performances. Riders get assigned unfamiliar horses from the school hosting the match, giving them little time to adapt.
“I am aiming to have confident, consistent rides all around to showcase the work I have been putting in all season,” said Ruisi. “To advance to the zones on April 4, riders must finish in first or second place in their divisions.”
The energy has shifted as the calendar turns into April, with the NCEA Nationals being on April 16 and the IHSA Nationals taking place on April 30.
“With nationals coming up, the ‘Championship Season’ shifts the vibe at the barn in a motivating way,” said Muratore. “Everyone starts working even harder than they have all year, pushing themselves and each other to be better every day.
Athletic Communications contributed to this article.
