Nov. 1, 2012

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COLUMBIA, S.C. – No. 2 South Carolina returns to action on Friday, as the Gamecocks hit the road for the first time this season to face top-ranked Georgia. Friday’s meet at the UGA Equestrian Complex is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m.

“We’re looking forward to getting on the road tomorrow after having a few weeks off from competition,” South Carolina head coach Boo Major said. “Georgia looked pretty sharp in its first two meets of the season against Texas A&M and Baylor, so I think our girls know that in order to give ourselves a chance, we’re going to need to ride as mistake-free as we can and ride with confidence. I think everybody has looked good the last few weeks at practice, so hopefully that carries over to Friday’s meet.”

MEET INFORMATION
• WHO: No. 2 South Carolina at No. 1 Georgia
• WHEN: Fri., Nov. 2, 2012 • 2 p.m.
• WHERE: UGA Equestrian Complex
• ADMISSION: Free
• Live Scoring Page

DID YOU KNOW?
• South Carolina’s last dual meet loss came at the hands of Georgia by a final score of 11-8 on Feb. 12.

• Georgia’s last dual meet loss was to South Carolina in a tiebreaker on Mar. 31.

SOUTH CAROLINA NOTES
• The Gamecocks are 2-0 this season. This is the first time since at least 2005 that the The Gamecocks have started consecutive seasons with a 2-0 dual meet record.

• Friday’s meet at Georgia is the first of four straight road meets for the Gamecocks, all of which take place during the month of November. The Gamecocks will close out the fall schedule with three meets in three days during a Texas road trip to Texas A&M (Nov. 16), Baylor (Nov. 17), and Southern Methodist (Nov. 18).

GEORGIA NOTES
• The Bulldogs are 2-0 this season. Georgia opened up the season with a 17-5 win over Texas A&M on Sept. 29, and then edged Baylor, 14-10, on Oct. 12.

• Friday’s meet is one of only five home meets for Georgia this season. The Bulldogs will be on the road for their next five straight dual meets, and do not return home until Feb. 23 when they host Auburn.

• Georgia freshman Rachel Kolb won the All American Quarter Horse Congress Youth 15-18 All-Around Championship last week. She was also named the Youth Reserve Champion.

SERIES HISTORY
• Last meeting (Mar. 31, 2012) – then-No. 6 South Carolina stunned top-ranked Georgia in a 10-10 tiebreaker on Mar. 31 to win the 2012 Southern Equestrian Championship. It was the second time Georgia had ever lost a home meet in the Bulldogs’ ten-year history.

• Last regular season meeting (Feb. 4, 2012) – South Carolina jumped out to a 5-4 lead on Georgia, but the Bulldogs dominated the second half of the meet, winning seven of the final ten points, holding on for the 11-8 win.

GOING ON TOUR
Friday’s meet will mark the Gamecocks’ first away competition of the season, but South Carolina’s riders should get used to competing away from One Wood Farm. Of South Carolina’s ten remaining competitions this season, seven of them are on the road. The Gamecocks only have three more home meets left this season, all of which will take place during the spring – Georgia (Feb. 2), Texas A&M (Feb. 23), and Delaware State (Mar. 1).