Oct. 18, 2026 – A historic win for Fresno State and a two-win weekend for College of Charleston highlighted the fifth week of National Collegiate Equestrian Association competition.

In Dual Discipline action, No. 9 Fresno State rallied past No. 7 Oklahoma State in its home opener, securing consecutive victories over the Cowgirls for the first time in program history.

On the Single Discipline side, No. 2 Lynchburg defeated No. 7 Sweet Briar in ODAC competition, while No. 4 College of Charleston earned home victories over Sewanee and Berry.

Oct. 16 – No. 2 Lynchburg Defeats No. 7 Sweet Briar

RUSTBURG, Va. – The University of Lynchburg equestrian team claimed seven of the 10 available points to defeat ODAC rival Sweet Briar College, 7-3, on Friday afternoon at the Lynchburg Equestrian Center.

The No. 2 Hornets (2-2, 2-1 ODAC) opened the competition against the No. 7 Vixens (1-2, 1-2) with a 4-1 victory over fences, producing a team score of 383.5 compared with Sweet Briar’s 338. Madeline Rubin recorded the highest Fences score of the meet, earning an 86 on Itina. Rubin received scores of 85 and 87 from the two judges and secured Lynchburg’s second point of the discipline over Sadie Swift.

Stella Patenaude added an 84 on Zehn, topping Josie Flannery’s 73. Amaya Bellfield opened the scoring rides with a 77.5 on Luna and earned a point against Lexi Reininger’s 74. Rebecca Collier completed Lynchburg’s Fences scoring with a 71 on Tommy, finishing ahead of Hallie Nelson’s 64.5. Mary Katherine Ragsdale scored a 65 on Motaz in her matchup with Abigail Schreiner, who earned Sweet Briar’s Fences point with a 77.5.

Lynchburg carried its advantage into the Flat and earned three of the five points. Bellfield led all Flat competitors with an 85.5 on Caleb, defeating Reininger’s 74.5 and securing her second point of the meet. Rubin also completed a two-point performance, scoring an 84 on Ollie to edge Nelson’s 83.5. Ragsdale earned Lynchburg’s third Flat point with a 79.5 on Itina, finishing ahead of Gracie Robertson’s 75.

Collier posted a 71 on Eragon, while Kristin Palmer scored a 76 on Carl. Sweet Briar earned its two Flat points through Schreiner and Flannery. The Hornets finished with a 396-389 advantage in the Flat scores and outscored Sweet Briar 779.5-727 overall.

Bellfield and Rubin each accounted for two points as Lynchburg secured the four-point victory on its home grounds. Bellfield earned Most Outstanding Performer honors in Flat, while Rubin received the Fences MOP.

Oct. 17 – No. 9 Fresno State Rallies Past No. 7 Oklahoma State

FRESNO, Calif. – The No. 9 Fresno State equestrian team defeated No. 7 Oklahoma State 11-8 in the Bulldogs’ home opener on Saturday. Fresno State used a dominant second-half performance to overcome an early deficit.

The Bulldogs and Cowgirls split the Most Outstanding Performer honors. Paris Mahoney (Fences) and Alana Becker (Reining) earned the MOPs for the Bulldogs, both earning the honors in consecutive meets.

Fresno State defeated Oklahoma State in their second straight meeting. It is the first time in program history that the Bulldogs have won two in a row against the Cowgirls.

Fresno State opened with a 3-2 win in Fences. Mahoney earned the first point with her MOP ride, outscoring her opponent 84-76.5. Bridey Jones and Kaidyn Griggs then earned the final two points of the event. Jones scored an 80.5 to her opponent’s 76.5. Freshman Griggs earned her third win of the season with an 82-76.5 victory.

The Cowgirls won Horsemanship 4-1. Aubrey Gerdes earned the lone Bulldog point with a 72.5-71.25 win, leaving Fresno State trailing 6-4 at the intermission.

The Bulldogs responded in Reining, earning four points and a tie to keep Oklahoma State off the scoreboard. It was the Bulldogs’ first sweep in any event this season. Becker opened the scoring with a 71.75 to earn MOP honors. Sophomore Riley Schmidt earned her first career point with a career-high 71.5 to her opponent’s 70.75. River Sage Red Eagle Valenzuela tied her matchup with a career-high 72.5.

Lucia Nunes and Adrianna Runzo completed the sweep, earning the final two points. Nunes scored a 69.5 in her win, and Runzo scored a 69.

After Reining, the score was 8-6 in favor of the Bulldogs.

In Flat, senior Sage Lindvall earned the first point, but the Cowgirls responded with two of their own. Up by one, Fresno State earned both points in the final set of rides from Meagan Mejia and Mahoney to secure the win.

Oct. 17 – No. 4 College of Charleston Tops Sewanee

CHARLESTON, S.C. – No. 4 College of Charleston defeated Sewanee 6-4 on Saturday at White Horse Farm, earning three points in each event to secure the victory.

The Cougars claimed a 3-2 advantage in Flat. Charleston earned points with a 77 on Cruz against Olivia Carmouche’s 70 and a 79 on Lionel against Addison Durrett’s 77. Samantha Aisenberg added the Cougars’ other Flat point against Josephine Foshee on Zeus.

Sewanee’s Madeline Luddy earned the Flat Most Outstanding Performer award with an 81 on Jockamo, defeating her opponent by three points. Rebecca Love supplied the Tigers’ other point with a 77 on Hitchcock.

Charleston also took Fences 3-2. Samantha Elliott scored an 83 on Bruno to defeat Love’s 81, while Savannah Shaver earned a point against Jenna McAmis on Jockamo. The Cougars added another point with an 87 on Tinos, edging Durrett’s 86.

Carmouche and Luddy earned Sewanee’s two Fences points. Carmouche scored an 82 on Athena to defeat Ella Collins’ 73, while Luddy completed a two-point day with an 86 on Nova, finishing one point ahead of her opponent.

Oct. 18 – No. 4 College of Charleston Defeats Berry to Complete Two-Win Weekend

CHARLESTON, S.C. – No. 4 College of Charleston defeated Berry 7-3 on Sunday, winning both events to complete a two-win weekend.

The Cougars earned a 3-2 advantage in Fences behind Samantha Aisenberg, Samantha Elliott, and Daphne Stavig. Aisenberg scored a 78 on Bruno to defeat Haley Wilson’s 75, while Elliott also posted a 78 on Nova to finish ahead of Willa Akins’ 76. Stavig delivered Charleston’s highest Fences score with an 83 on Jockamo, edging Emily Sudderth’s 81.

Charleston claimed four of the five Flat points. Aisenberg and Elliott each completed a two-point performance, with Aisenberg scoring a 77 on Jockamo against Wilson’s 66 and Elliott earning an 82 on Zeus against Ainsley Russell’s 71.

Lainie Rubin led the Cougars in Flat with an 84 on Lionel to defeat Sudderth’s 74. Kenda Murray added a 74 on Cruz to finish ahead of Akins’ 66.

Berry’s Devon Ansley earned both Most Outstanding Performer awards, scoring an 84 on Tinos in Fences and an 86 on Hitchcock in Flat. Russell supplied Berry’s remaining point with a 77 on Zeus in Fences.

About the National Collegiate Equestrian Association

The National Collegiate Equestrian Association (NCEA) is a nonprofit governing body advancing collegiate equestrian competition nationwide. Recognized by the NCAA as an emerging sport for women at the Division I and II levels, the NCEA administers competition rules, championship formats, and national rankings while ensuring the sport operates in alignment with all NCAA policies and procedures.

NCEA competition features a unique head-to-head format across Jumping Seat (Fences and Flat) and Western (Horsemanship and Reining), where riders compete on the same randomly assigned horse, emphasizing skill, adaptability, and horsemanship. Through championship competition and national visibility, the NCEA champions opportunity, competitive excellence, and the continued growth of women’s collegiate athletics.