Nov. 7, 2014
Official Scoresheet 
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FRESNO, Calif. – No. 3 South Carolina picked up it’s third straight win of the season on Friday, as the Gamecocks defeated Fresno State, 13-6 at the Student Horse Center. South Carolina improves to 3-2 on the season while the Bulldogs drop to 2-4.
South Carolina swept all four MVP awards – as Amber Henter (equitation on the flat), Katherine Schmidt (equitation over fences), Courtney Allen (horsemanship), and Layla Choate (reining) all won top honors for the Gamecocks.
“This was a nice win for us today, and I’m very proud of how hard these girls worked on such a short week of practice,” South Carolina head coach Boo Major said. “We did a good job of limiting our mistakes, and I thought we had some very strong rides today which was nice to see. Fresno State ran a great meet today, and we’re very appreciative of how well the show ran and how nice the horses were.”
The Gamecocks jumped out to a 4-1 lead after winning 4-of-5 points in equitation on the flat. Katherine Schmidt kicked off another 2-for-2 when she defeated Amanda Postel, 77-61. Hunt seat captain Amber Henter also started her 2-for-2 day in the flat ring when she posted an event-high score 78 to knock off Kirsten McKillop by eight points. After missing the last two meets, senior Alexa Anthony made the most of her return on Friday, when she gave the Gamecocks a 3-0 lead after beating Randi Pomrehn, 75-67. After the Bulldogs won their lone flat point, senior Adele Norton gave Carolina a 4-1 lead when she defeated Sierra Swaffer, 72-64.
The Gamecocks extended their lead as equitation over fences and horsemanship ran simultaneously on Friday. Carolina won 4-of-5 jumping points and tied the Bulldogs 2-2 in horsemanship to hold a 10-4 lead.
In the jumping ring, Gamecock junior Samantha Kraus gave South Carolina 5-1 lead when she edged Fresno State’s Kylina Chalack, 85-83. Smith followed with her second point of the day when she defeated Fresno State’s Swaffer, 86-35. The Bulldogs won the next point to avoid the 5-0 sweep, but Henter and Kraus posted back to-back wins to give the Gamecocks a 4-1 win in the event. Henter beat Bulldog rider Gianna Armanino, 80-73, and Schmidt followed with a 13-point win over Paige Pastorino.
In the western arena, the Gamecocks and Bulldogs battled to a 2-2 tie in horsemanship. Fresno State won the first point of the event, but Carolina rallied to win back-to-back points as senior Sam Chiodo and Courtney Allen both posted wins for the Gamecocks. Chiodo knocked off Linne Beason, 73.5-70, and Allen followed with her first career MVP win, when she posted an event-high score 74.5 to defeat by Kristen McKillop by two points. Junior Kelsey Urban held Taylor Brown to a 74-74 tie.
Up 10-4, South Carolina got its best performance from its reining team, as the Gamecocks won 3-of-5 points in the event for the first time this season. Senior Layla Choate improved to 5-0 on the season and won her first MVP of the year when she posted an event-high score 72.5 to knock off Fresno State’s Hailey Robison by 4.5 points. Freshman Paisley Roberts followed Choate to win her first career point, as she posted the second-highest reining score to beat Taylor Brown, 71.5-70. After the Bulldogs won back-to-back points, Carolina freshman Bailey Walters closed out the meet with a 65-60.5 win over Ciara Kozlowski.
The Gamecocks return to action on Nov. 21, when South Carolina closes out its fall schedule with a meet at Oklahoma State.
SC-Fresno State Play-by-Play
SC-Fresno State
1-0 : Katherine Schmidt defeats Amanda Postel, 77-61, on Satin.
2-0 : Amber Henter defeats Kirsten McKillop, 78-70, on Rosie.
3-0 : Alexa Anthony defeats Randi Pomrehn, 75-67, on Gator.
3-1 : Kara Spicer defeats Samantha Kraus, 72-71, on Forrest.
4-1 : Adele Norton defeats Sierra Spicer, 72-64, on Cole.
5-1 : Samantha Kraus defeats Kylina Chalack, 85-83, on Herby.
5-2 : Sydney Elliott defeats Abigail Pait, 68-66.5, on Indy.
6-2 : Samantha Smith defeats Sierra Swaffer, 86-35, on Cleo.
6-3 : Randi Pomrehn defeats Sydney Smith, 84-40, on Art.
7-3 : Sam Chiodo defeats Linne Beason, 73.5-70, on Dolly.
8-3 : Amber Henter defeats Gianna Armanino, 80-73, Sawyer.
9-3 : Courtney Allen defeats Kirsten McKillop, 74.5-72.5, on Boyd.
10-3: Katherine Schmidt defeats Paige Pastorino, 87-74, on Sailor.
10-4: Rachel Williams defeats Megan Overberg, 73-65, on Sweetie.
10-4: Kelsey Urban and Taylor Brown tie, 74-74, on Fred.
11-4 : Layla Choate defeats Hailey Robison, 72.5-68, on Summer.
12-4 : Paisley Roberts defeats Taylor Brown, 71.5-70, on Craig.
12-5 : Brigid O’Leary defeats Haiden De Jane, 70-65.5, on Annie.
12-6 : Kirsten McKillop defeats Sarah Bouchard, 68.5-0, on J.R.
13-6 : Bailey Walters defeats Ciara Kozlowski, 65.5-60.5, on Bebe [re-ride]
Final : South Carolina defeats Fresno State, 13-6.
