No. 8 EQ Pulls Massive Upset over No. 1 Auburn to Advance in NCEA National Championship
WACO, Texas – No. 8-seed Baylor equestrian pulled a massive upset over No. 1 Auburn on Thursday in the quarterfinals of the NCEA National Championship at Extraco Events Center in Waco.
The Bears (3-7) defeated the top-ranked Tigers (8-1) 8-7, snapping Auburn’s 42-meet win streak that dated back to 2018.
Following an impressive 13-7 win against No. 5 Fresno State in the consolation match of the Big 12 Championship, Baylor carried its momentum into the postseason contest and got out of the gates hot with a 2-1 event win in Horsemanship, while simultaneously tying in Flat 2-2.
Katie Davis scored a 229 in BU’s Horsemanship event, earning the highest total overall in the event and tying her point, which would prove immensely critical. Clara Johnson and Gabrielle Marty were the two point-winners for BU.
In Flat, Rachael Davis continued her undefeated streak by scoring a 240 en route to winning her point for the Bears. Gia Gulino also collected a point for Baylor, sending BU into halftime leading 4-3.
After the break, BU showed no signs of slowing down by collecting two points apiece in Fences and Reining. In Fences, Davis was once again the top rider for the Bears with a score of 260, though she was edged by Auburn’s Taylor St. Jacques by just one point. However, Caroline Fuller and Savannah Hemby won their points to even the event and keep BU ahead.
Meanwhile in Reining, Jenna Meimerstorf led Baylor with a 220.5 score and won her point, as did Madaline Callaway with a 218.5. Another event tie was good enough to clinch the meet for the Bears, sending BU on to the national semifinals to face off against No. 4 SMU on Friday.
Mustangs Advance To NCEA Semifinals With Win Over Texas A&M
WACO, Texas – No. 4 SMU defeated No. 5 Texas A&M in raw score after tying at seven to advance to the semifinal round of the NCEA National Championships at the Extraco Events Center on Thursday. The final raw score was 3698.5-3693.5.
The Mustangs (9-1) started the day tying the Aggies (4-6) in Horsemanship, with each school winning two points apiece. Aubrey Alderman won her fifth consecutive point with a 221.5 for the first SMU point of the day. Nya Kearns continued her undefeated season with a score of 224, which topped her opponent by 10.5.
SMU won the Flat event, 3-0, after Miranda Seade scored a 207 to tie her opponent. Madigan Eppink's 210 won the first event point for the Mustangs and was followed by Taylor Madden's 231, which was the highest Flat score between the Mustangs and Aggies. Olivia Woodson finished the event with a 229 in a re-ride to top her opponent by 12.
The Mustangs held a 5-2 lead going into the second half of the quarterfinal matchup.
In Reining, SMU earned a 2-1 win with Aubrey Alderman tying her point at 207.5. Dani Latimer scored a 216 for a two-point win over her Aggie opponent and Jill Pfisthner earned her Mustang point with a score of 213.5.
Texas A&M won all four points in Fences, which tied the two teams at seven apiece. The final result came down to raw score, which the Mustangs won by five, 3698.5-3693.5.
Georgia Beats TCU, Advances to Semifinals on Friday
WACO, Texas --- The No. 3 University of Georgia equestrian team rode to a 10-6 victory over No. 6 TCU in the quarterfinals of the National Collegiate Equestrian Association (NCEA) National Championships on Thursday at the Extraco Event Center.
Competition began in Horsemanship with the Bulldogs and Horned Frogs splitting points, 2-2. TCU won the first ride, before junior Sara Lewis put Georgia on the board with a 228-223 win over Mattie Dukes. Freshman Leah Anderson followed by edging her opponent 218-217. TCU took the final point of the event to even the score.
Moving to the Flat arena, Georgia topped TCU, 3-1. Senior Ali Tritschler led off with a score of 239 and defeated Ashleigh Scully’s 193. Senior Isabelle Heckler grabbed the next point for the Bulldogs with a 236-215 win over Alex Beneson. Georgia dropped the next point before senior Hayley Mairano scored a 224 in the anchor position to better Wynne Weatherly’s score of 191.
The Bulldogs held a 5-3 lead after two events.
Georgia added three points in Reining. Senior Lindsay Guynn led off by knocking off her opponent with a 217.5-217. Jordan Carpenter was up next, grabbing a 214.5-211 point for the Bulldogs. TCU won a point before Courtney Blumer rode to a 211.5 to top TCU’s Mattie Dukes’ score of 209.
In Fences, Georgia and TCU split the points, winning two each. Tritschler led off with the highest score of the meet- a 249. The Horned Frogs won the next point, before freshman Jordan Toering jumped to a score of 247 to better her opponent’s 237. TCU won the final point of the day.
No. 8 Baylor upset No. 1 Auburn, 8-7, marking the first time the Tigers have lost a meet since 2018. No. 4 SMU topped No. 5 Texas A&M in raw score. Georgia is set to compete against No. 2 Oklahoma State tomorrow (April 16) in the semifinal round. The meet is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. CT with the Bulldogs starting in Horsemanship and Fences.
Cowgirl Equestrian Advances To NCEA National Championship Semifinal
WACO, Texas - Oklahoma State's second-ranked equestrian team defeated No. 7 Fresno State, 10-6, in the quarterfinals of the 2021 NCEA National Championship Thursday at the Extraco Events Center to advance to tomorrow's semifinal meet against Georgia.
The meet began with Horsemanship and Flat coinciding, where the Cowgirls and FSU split the Horsemanship contest, 2-2. OSU's Harley Huff had an outstanding ride, scoring a 230, but fell short against Kameron Thorn, 232.5-230.
OSU rattled off two consecutive points beginning with Cassidy Watters' 207.5-204 defeat of Alexis Steele followed by Sydnee Gemar taking down Emily Maul, 219.5-217.5. FSU took the final point of the Horsemanship contest after Hannah Buijs beat Jojo Roberson, 214.5-208.5.
The Cowgirls dominated in Flat, sweeping the event 4-0 beginning with Katie Schell's narrow defeat of Fresno State's Lizzie Stodden, 185-184. Hannah Coleman won her point in dominating fashion taking down Bulldog Ana Bertozzi, 245-234.
Abigail Brayman picked up another Cowgirl point when she took down Sara Tuck, 236-195, and Katie Pelzel finished off the Flat sweep for the Pokes by defeating Cecily Hayes, 239-223.
In the second half of the meet, Fences and Reining coincided and the two teams would once again tie 2-2.
Stephanie Helsen picked up a win for OSU by besting Paley Capachi, 207-203.5, and Molly Mitchell added to the Pokes' lead by defeating Julianne Kelley, 210.5-208. Cowgirls Kinsey Jones and Hannah Lovrien dropped their points.
Fences began with OSU All-American Katie Schell's 240-235 defeat of Halley Livingston, and Sydnie Ziegler dominated her ride, winning 263-260 over Grace Mathias. Abigail Brayman was defeated by a point, 240-239, and Emma Pacyna was defeated, 233-179, by Anna Bertozzi.