Aggies score upset over No. 9 South Carolina
DAVIS, Calif. - The UC Davis Equestrian team began the season with a bang on Thursday outscoring nationally-ranked South Carolina 11-6 to start the season with a win.
Coming in at No. 9 in the most recent National Collegiate Equestrian Association rankings, South Carolina were outscored 4-0 in Horsemanship and 2-1 in Reining as the Aggies rode to a dominant 6-1 margin in the Western events.
UC Davis narrowly lost out on an event win to start the day in Fences with two Aggie defeats in the event coming by two points or fewer but only ceding one point overall as South Carolina took the event, 3-2. The Aggies came back later in the afternoon to take Flat, 3-2, and secure one of the most significant meet wins in program history.
There were high scores across the board as the Aggies snagged three MOPs on the day. Keely Laughlin's 81 gave her five career Fences scores over 80 and stands as her second career Fences MOP. Natasha Replogle earned her first career MOP for her 75 in Horsemanship, the high score in an event the Aggies dominated from start to finish. Lauren Langbaum put the finishing touches on the win with her Reining MOP, the first of her career in a career-high 73.5.
UT Martin sweeps Jumping Seat MOPs but No. 10 Skyhawks fall in first of two equestrian meets in Delaware
FELTON, Del. – The University of Tennessee at Martin equestrian squad stood out in the Hunt Seat discipline today but ultimately it wasn’t enough as the Skyhawks fell by a 13-7 margin at Delaware State.
Ranked No. 10 nationally, UT Martin was responsible for the MOP’s in both fences (Kelby Kane) and flat (Julia Gilman), winning seven of the 10 points awarded in those two respective events. However, the host Hornets were able to nab all 10 points in the Western discipline to grab the win.
Kane’s 83-point effort in fences was good enough for her third career MOP in that event as the Skyhawks earned four of the five head-to-head matchups. Haley Kane (79 points), Elizabeth Becker (77 points) and Gilman (75 points) also were victorious while Tyler Anderson’s 68 points completed the UT Martin lineup.
Gilman came away with her second career flat MOP following an 75-point performance. Kelby Kane wrapped up her undefeated day with 81.5 points – winning her matchup by 15.5 points – while Anderson tacked on a victory after recording a career-best 79 points. Mahalia Alascio (76 points) and Haley Kane (75.5 points) additionally produced solid scores but were edged out by their opponents.
In horsemanship, four of the five matchups were determined by 2.5 points or less but the Skyhawks came up short. Keely Seiter managed a career-best 75.5 points to lead UT Martin and was followed by Kate Davis (75), Paige Benson (74.5), Katelyn Schultz (68) and Lexi Bailey (68).
It was a similar outcome in reining as two of the Skyhawk head-to-head matchups were lost by a slim 0.5-point margin. Davis’ 73 points led the way while Brooke Bradley (69), Maggie Malone (67) and Logan Putvinski (65) also put up a fight. Rachel Davis rounded out UT Martin’s reining lineup but she did not record a score.
'Dogs edge No. 9 Gamecocks, 10-9
FRESNO, Calif. - The No. 7 Fresno State equestrian team earned their first win of the season, defeating No. 9 South Carolina 10-9 in its home opener Friday afternoon. The Bulldogs begin the season 1-0 heading into their next meet against No. 6 TCU tomorrow.
Despite the close final score the Bulldogs shined during the meet, earning Most Outstanding Performer honors in all four categories. Three of those went to seniors Lexee Padrick, Hannah Buijs, and Cecily Hayes who earned the honors in reining, horsemanship and flat, respectively. The other went to sophomore Olivia Ferro who earned the honors in fences.
Fresno State began the meet with a tie in horsemanship, picking up their two points from Kameron Thorn (75.5-73) and Hannah Buijs (76.5-74.5).
The Bulldogs outperformed the Gamecocks on the fences in the second event, taking the win 3-2. They earned the victory behind several outstanding performances, including an 87-84 win from Olivia Ferro.
As both teams headed into the break, Fresno State led 5-4.
South Carolina came back in the second half of the meet, with multiple one-point victories in reining. The Gamecocks ended the event having earned a 3-2 victory to tie the meet heading into the final event.
However, with the flat as the final event, the western 'Dogs took the first three points, clinching a win despite South Carolina taking the next two points. Fresno State earned their final points due to an Ana Bertozzi 78-69 victory, a Sara Tuck 80-75.5 victory and an outstanding showing from Cecily Hayes (87.5-79).
No. 10 Skyhawks Equestrian defeats reigning national runner-up SMU for first-ever win over top-three program
FELTON, Del. – History was made today as the No. 10 ranked University of Tennessee at Martin equestrian program soared to a 9-6 triumph over No. 3 SMU for its first victory of the 2021-22 campaign.
The win was the Skyhawks' first win over a top-3 ranked opponent in school history and is the second triumph over a top-5 team (also downing No. 5 Fresno State on Nov. 9, 2017). Today's result also marks the first UT Martin victory against SMU – who advanced to the NCEA Championship finals last spring – since March 25, 2016.
The Skyhawks boasted three MOP's during today's meet. Kelby Kane (career-high 88 points) and Julia Gilman (career-best 89) nabbed their second MOP accolades in as many days in fences and flat, respectively. Freshman Kate Davis also secured her second MOP of the young season with a 75-point effort in reining.
Kane (MOP) and Gilman (career-high 86 points) each tallied head-to-head victories in fences to start off the day, extending Kane's winning streak to three to start the season while Gilman won her second meet in two opportunities on the weekend. Haley Kane (career-best 82 points) and Elizabeth Becker (80 points) also collected solid scores but were defeated by their Mustang counterparts.
UT Martin came away with its first two wins of the season in horsemanship today, splitting the event at 2-all. Keely Seiter's 74 points and Katelyn Schultz's career-high 70.5-point ride were good enough for their first collegiate victories. Davis and Paige Benson each posted 72.5 points in narrow setbacks.
The Skyhawks edged out SMU by a 2-1 margin in flat behind Gilman's MOP performance, the second win in as many days out of Tyler Anderson (74.5 points) and a tie from Kelby Kane (career-best 88 points). Haley Kane was the fourth member of UT Martin's lineup as she delivered a score of 79.5 points.
Possessing a slim 6-5 lead heading into reining, the Skyhawks rose to the occasion by snatching three of the four points awarded in the event. Davis (MOP) joined Maggie Malone (team-high and career-best 75.5 points) and Brooke Bradley (career-high 73.5) as winners while Logan Putvinski posted 63.5 points.
No. 3 SMU tops Delaware State
DOVER, Del. – No. 3 SMU topped Delaware State 8-7.
The Mustangs (1-1, 1-1 ECAC) earned two Most Outstanding Performer (MOP) honor against the Hornets (0-4, 0-2 ECAC).
SMU earned two event-wins and one tie after starting with a 3-1 loss in Reining. Junior Dani Latimer posted the only Mustang point of the event with a 71.5 to defeat her opponent.
Three riders won their Flat points over the Hornets as Woodson rode to an 86, junior Miranda Seade scored an 87 and Madden claimed her point with an 88. The event-win helped SMU enter the halfway point tied at 4-4.
Senior Mallory Vroegh earned the MOP nod after scoring a 78.5 in her Horsemanship performance. Waldron matched her teammates score with a 78.5 to even the event with Delaware State.
Heading into the day's final event tied at six, SMU junior Emma Jolly posted an 87 in Fences that earned her the MOP for the event. Seek won the Mustangs' second Fences point after topping her opponent with an 83 to secure the 8-7 victory.
'Dogs earn 10-9 win over No. 6 TCU
FRESNO, Calif. - The No. 7 Fresno State equestrian team defeated No. 6 TCU 10-9 at the Student Horse Center on Saturday afternoon. Competing in their second meet of the season the Bulldogs picked up their second consecutive victory in back-to-back days.
Fresno State's equestrian team now improves to 2-0 on the year.
The afternoon began with the fences and horsemanship. TCU earned the first point of the matchup, however the 'Dogs responded with a Kameron Thorn victory 76.5-75.5. However, TCU took the victory due in part 77.7-74.5 victory from Jessica McAllister, a performance that earned her MOP honors.
Despite trailing early Fresno State responded in the fences, with Ceciley Hayes taking a 90-89 victory over her opponent for the 'Dogs second point of the match. Ana Bertozzi followed her teammate with a 87-80 victory in her matchup, and Lizzie Stodden finished strong for Fresno State winning her matchup 83-68.
Despite performing well in the fences, at the break the Bulldogs trailed 5-4.
The second half began with reining, and TCU jumped out to lead the event early. Their first point came when Giorgia Medows won her matchup 83-0, and was quickly followed by Mattie Dukes earning another point with a 70.5-70 victory.
Despite trailing 7-4 at this point, the Bulldogs took the next three consecutive points to tie things up. The first of these points came when Lexee Padrick's score of 71.5 edged out a victory against her opponents score of 70. Hannah Hieber immediately followed up her teammates' win with a narrow 71.5-70.5 victory of her own. And finally Julianne Kelley's score of 72 earned her the point when compared to her opponents score of 71.5.
Fresno State had tied the meet 7-7 heading into the final event, but South Carolina would be the first to score when Fresno State's Taylor Holstead earned a 0 in the first ride of the category. The 'Dogs tied things up again when an Ana Bertozzi score of 66 earned her a point against her opponents score of 63.
Now tied 8-8 and only three possible points left in the meet, Fresno State took the next two victories to clinch their victory. The first of these wins came Cecily Hayes, whose score of 89.5 earned her MOP honors in both the flat and fences. Shortly after, Sara Tuck clinched the victory for the 'Dogs with a 79.5-65 win.
TCU rides past South Carolina
FRESNO, Calif. – The sixth-ranked TCU Horned Frogs opened its 2021-22 1-1, downing No. 9 South Carolina 8-7 Saturday afternoon at the Fresno State Horse Center.
The meet between TCU and South Carolina kicked off on Friday morning at the Fresno State Horse Center where the two teams competed in Horsemanship and Flat only.
In Horsemanship, Shea Graham and Jessica McAllister led the group, both scoring a 76.5 respectively. McAllisters performance was good enough to secure the MOP on Luke outscoring her opponent 76.5-75.5. Mattie Dukes picked up the third point in Horsemanship outscoring South Carolina 76-74.
On the Flat side, Ashleigh Scully tailed an impressive 81-80.5 win on Ivan to earn the only point for the jump seat on day one. Heading into the second half of the South Carolina meet the Frogs and Gamecocks were tied 4-4.
On day two in Fences, Ashleigh Scully came through outscoring her opponent 82-79 to put the first point of the day up for the Frogs. TCU fell to South Carolina 1-3 in Fences.
Heading into the final event of the meet the Frogs trailed 5-7. The Frogs swept Reining to take down the Gamecocks 8-7 with a clinch ride coming from Giorgia Medows with a gutsy 66-63 win on Dozer. Mattie Dukes took home the MOP in Reining where she scored a 71 on Pep.
TCU beats UC Davis, 11-9
DAVIS, Calif. – The sixth-ranked TCU Horned Frogs downed UC Davis 11-9, Sunday afternoon at the UC Davis Equestrian Center.
TCU (2-1) opened the day with a 3-2 win in Fences. Ashleigh Scully earned the highest score of the event with an 83 on Caloukie. Laurel Smith carded an 82 on Cappo setting her collegiate career high in the event. Isabella Baxter picked up a point for the Frogs, winning 78-76 on BamBam.
In Horsemanship, the TCU unit took home the win, 4-1. Shea Graham and Giorgia Medows tied with the biggest score of the day, 75.5, both winning respectively 75.5-71.5 and 75.5-71. Jessica McAllister outscored her opponent 69-60.5 on Allen. Mattie Dukes secured the MOP of the event with a score of 73.5 on Halston.
After the break, TCU earned a 3-2 win in Reining. Shea Graham and Jessica McAllister both scored a 69 outscoring their opponents 69-67 and 69-68.5. Mattie Dukes continues to perform in the event earning a 68.5-65.5 win on Trevor.
The Frogs finished the day in Flat where they dropped the event to the Aggies, 4-1. Wynne Weatherly came through securing a point for TCU 56-48 on Mouse.