DOVER, Del. - Senior Caroline Foltz (Dover, Del.) had a career day Saturday morning against Southern Methodist University as she posted a score of 92 in Equitation to earn MVP honors for the Delaware State University equestrian team.  The Hornets won the event, 3-1, but fell, 1-4, in Equitation Over Fences as SMU took the show, 6-4.

"Caroline is a superstar, she's a senior, our captain and certainly our leader," commented DSU head coach Jennifer Ridgely.  "Her score of 92 is huge.  Very rarely do you see anything in the 90s, so she definitely earned her point for us in addition to MVP honors.  SMU is a really quality school, they only have an English team, so obviously they're very good in that discipline.  I'm very proud of Caroline and her showing against this great team."

"I had a rough start because I had a re-ride with my first horse, Conrad, who was really grumpy this morning," remarked Foltz.  "Afterwards with Wyatt, our re-ride, he was really amazing.  He's a very good horse and allows me to have a strong, confident ride."

Also earning points for the Hornets on the flats were juniors Alyssa Berfield (Fredericksburg, Va.) and Shelby Bonneville (New Windsor, Md.).  Berfield scored an 84 on Orkie to beat Molly Osier's 83 for the Mustangs.  On horse Walter, Bonneville posted a score of 78 to best Renick Townsend's 71.

In addition to Foltz's performance on the flats, she also scored an 80 in Equitation Over Fences.  Despite this tremendous score, SMU's Emma Roberts posted an 85 to win the point and earn MVP honors.  Berfield collected Del State's lone point in the event with her 81-76 victory over Greer Hindle on horse Monday.

"Any time you score an 80, it is a great score," Ridgely stated.  "She didn't win her point because she got beat by an 85.  Those two scores go to show you the kind of riders we have and the quality horses we have to receive such high marks."

With the loss, the Hornets move to 0-4 on the season.

"As a whole, my team rode to the best of their ability," said Ridgely.  "I'm not mad or disappointed in anybody's ride today.  We didn't have a couple of our top riders for different reasons and those who filled in really stepped up to the plate and did a great job.  We only lost by two points and against a great school like SMU, we did a tremendous job of representing Delaware State University well."

Del State next travels to Brookings, S.D. to take on South Dakota State and Auburn on Nov. 5-6.

---DSU EQUESTRIAN---