Gamecocks Take Down SMU in Victorious Spring Opener
Feb. 3, 2018
MEET #6 ââ’¬” Carolina 12, No. 2 SMU 7
DALLAS, Texas — The spring season started in the best way possible for the University of South Carolina equestrian team as the Gamecocks knocked off No. 2 SMU, 12-7, at the Dallas Equestrian Center. The loss is the first of the season for the Mustangs (5-1), while the Gamecocks improve to 2-4 on the season.
The Gamecocks collected three of the day’s four MOP awards. Louisa Brackett earned two points in her collegiate debut and was the equitation on the flat MOP, while Madison Thiel won for horsemanship and Bailey Walters was the reining winner.
The morning started with equitation over fences, and SMU won four of the five points. The lone Gamecock victory came from Brackett, who scored a 76-71 win over Brett Burlington on Hamilton.
The Gamecocks rallied to win all five points in reining, surging into the lead. Caroline Gute defeated Keagan Snively on Mercedes, 71-69.5, and Jordan Scott rode Tinsel past Jill Pfisthner, 71.5-69.5. Paisley Roberts dropped Olivia Pakula on Jackie, 67-65.6, and Bridgett White handed Carolina the lead with a 68.5-68 win on Gregg. The sweep was completed by Walters, a 70.5-70 winner on Butter over Holly Lansidel.
The Gamecocks carried the momentum of reining into horsemanship, where they captured the first three points. Megan Overberg took down Michaela Dinger, 72-69, on Shirley, and Quinn Brandt scored a 72.5-69.5 win over Charlotte Shelby on Wayne. Thiel added a 74-70.5 triumph on Mo over Haylee Schoonover.
The Gamecocks needed two points from equitation on the flat to clinch the win, with the last event beginning just a few minutes after the start of horsemanship. Brackett grabbed her second point of the day with an 86-81 victory over Nora Gray on Webster, and Lizzie van der Walde clinched the Carolina win by toppling Lexi Murphy, 80-58, on Clover. Chloe Schmidt added the final point, an 83-69 win over Haley Zimmerman on Cassie.
NOTABLE
– With the win, the Gamecocks are now 8-3 all-time against SMU.
– Walters is now a 10-time MOP, tops on the Carolina squad.
– Thiel’s MOP win was her third in horsemanship and her fourth overall as a collegian.
FROM THE COACH
“This was a great win for us. It’s always nice to win on the road and to beat a team ranked in the top-five. This was a great accomplishment. I was thrilled with Louisa Brackett; she was MOP on the flat after only practicing flat tests for the last three weeks. I was also proud to see our veterans step up. Our reiners really set the tone; they gave us a lot of confidence after a shaky start. That made me proud. We should carry plenty of momentum from this win into the next two weeks, where we have opportunities to earn SEC wins at home. I’m looking forward to it.”ââ’¬” Head Coach Boo Major
UP NEXT FOR THE GAMECOCKS
Carolina returns to One Wood Farm next Saturday to hose SEC rival Texas A&M. First ride in Blythewood is scheduled for 10 a.m. ET.
