Oct. 30, 2014
| MEET INFORMATION | |
| WHAT: | No. 8 Texas A&M at No. 3 South Carolina |
| WHEN: | Friday, October 31, 2014 • 2 p.m. ET |
| LOCATION: | Blythewood, S.C. • One Wood Farm |
| ADMISSION: | Free |
| LIVE SCORING: | Click Here |
 |
@GamecockEQ |
 |
@GamecockEQ |
 |
Facebook.com/GamecockEQ |
| Coach Major | |
COLUMBIA, S.C. – No. 3 South Carolina wraps up SEC action for the fall semester on Friday, when the Gamecocks host No. 9 Texas A&M at One Wood Farm in Blythewood. Friday’s meet begins at 2 p.m. ET, and admission is free.
“It’s hard to believe it’s our final home meet of the fall, but I know the girls are excited and looking forward to it,” South Carolina head coach Boo Major said. “Texas A&M is having a great start to their season, and they have put up a bunch of points on just about everybody they’ve faced. Tana and her new coaches have their girls riding very well right now, and they look like they have a team that’s ready to compete for an SEC title this season. We made some changes to our lineup this week and I think everyone has worked extremely hard in practice to get ready for Friday. The girls are confident after a hard fought win at Auburn a few weeks ago, and we just need to go out there and execute like we know we can.”
ONE WOOD FARM RULES
• For the safety of the riders and horses, pets are not allowed at One Wood Farm.
• Noisemakers (spirit sticks, spirit clappers, spirit cowbells, stadium horns, megaphones, speakers, and bullhorns) are prohibited from being used at One Wood Farm.
DIRECTIONS TO ONE WOOD FARM
Take I-77 N. to Exit 27 – Blythewood Road. Turn left back over the interstate and pass Cobblestone Park. Continue on Blythewood Road for approximately one mile, then turn right on the first road on the right, which is Syrup Mill Road. One Wood Farm is the first driveway on the left and is marked by a large Gamecock sign.
ABOUT THE GAMECOCKS
• This season marks the 19th year of Gamecock equestrian.
• The Gamecocks have won two overall national championships (2007, 2005).
• The Gamecocks have twice finished as the national runner-up (2014, 2006).
• The Gamecocks won three straight hunter seat championships (2007, 2006, 2005) under the old national championship format.
• The Gamecocks have won two Southeastern Conference Championships (2014, 2013).
• The Gamecocks won the 2012 Southern Equestrian Championship, the precursor to the SEC Championship which started with the 2012-2013 season.
SCOUTING THE GAMECOCKS
• The Gamecocks are 1-2 this season.
• South Carolina is currently ranked third in the NCEA team rankings.
• Carolina is 1-1 in SEC play. The Gamecocks lost to Georgia on Oct. 3, but rebounded with a win at Auburn on Oct. 10.
• Five of the Gamecocks’ next six meets are on the road.
SCOUTING THE AGGIES
• Texas A&M is 2-1 this season, matching their win total from last season, when the Aggies went 2-11.
• The Aggies are currently ranked ninth in the NCEA team rankings.
• Texas A&M has wins over Tennessee-Martin and South Dakota State.
• The Aggies have outscored their three opponents 40-19 this season.
• Texas A&M is 2-10 since joining the SEC. The Aggies posted identical 1-5 conference records during the 2012-13 and 2013-14 campaigns.
SERIES HISTORY
• LAST MEETING: South Carolina and Texas A&M last met in the first round of last year’s SEC Championship (Mar. 28, 2014) . The Gamecocks beat the Aggies, 12-7, never trailing in the meet. Carolina advanced to the SEC Championship meet, where the Gamecocks would beat Georgia in a tiebreaker to win their second straight conference title.
• LAST REGULAR SEASON MEETING: The Gamecocks defeated Texas A&M 11-6 in their last regular season meeting, which took place on Feb. 22, 2014. The hunt seat team won, 7-1, while the western team lost, 5-4.
NCEA TEAM RANKINGS – Oct. 28, 2014
1. Baylor
2. Kansas State
3. South Carolina
4. Auburn
5. Georgia
6. SMU
7. Oklahoma State
8. TCU
9. Texas A&M
10. New Mexico State
LEADING THE WAY
In equitation over fences, junior Samantha Kraus leads the Gamecocks with a perfect 3-0 record. Kraus has one MVP, which came on Oct. 3 against Georgia.
In equitation over fences, seniors Amber Henter and Katherine Schmidt are both tied with perfect 3-0 records. Schmidt has one jumping MVP, which came on Sept. 19 at Kansas State.
Senior Sam Chiodo leads the horsemanship team with a perfect 3-0 record. The western team captain leads the western team with two MVPs, which came at Kansas State and Auburn.
Senior Layla Choate leads the reining team with a perfect 3-0 record.
