No. 3 Gamecocks Down No. 4 Georgia in Fall Finale
BLYTHEWOOD, S.C. – The No. 3 University of South Carolina equestrian team closed out the fall in triumphant fashion with an 11-8 win over the No. 4 Georgia Bulldogs on Friday at OneWood Farm. Three Carolina riders claimed Most Outstanding Players honors at the meet.
“I was extremely proud of our girls today,” head coach Boo Major said after the meet. “They definitely stepped it up after last weekend and had very few mistakes. We put a lot of effort in after the Texas A&M meet because we knew Georgia is a good team and our girls came out determined to get the job today. I’m very proud of their effort today, and extremely proud of how they’ve conducted themselves this fall. We’ve made it through the season with no positive tests and I couldn’t be prouder of them for that. They’ve been disciplined all fall and it paid off with a great win to close the fall and propel us into the spring.”
The Gamecocks (1-2, 1-2 SEC) drew first blood on the flat when junior Kit Cunningham scored a career-best 88 on Glen to take the first point of the meet, and to secure her first career M.O.P. win. Fellow junior Trinity Hammerschmidt keep it rolling with her 86 point-ride on Murphy to make it 2-0 Gamecocks. The Bulldogs weren’t ready to throw in the towel just yet and rallied to take the final three points to close out the flat up 3-2.
Georgia (1-2, 1-2, SEC) pushed its lead to 4-2 after it claimed the first reining point, but freshman Emilia Reutimann made a strong impression in her first ride for the Gamecocks, notching a 70 on Magnum, taking the point and making it 4-3. After Georgia pushed its lead to 5-3 junior Sloane Vogt got Carolina back on track with her point winning 70 on Sparky, and freshman Emma Lane closed out the half with her 71-point ride on Nike, earning the first M.O.P. win of her career and tying things up 5-5 at the halftime break.
Hammerschmidt continued her blistering campaign in over fences, finishing a perfect fall with a 3-0 record after her 78 on Redford gave Carolina a 6-5 lead. The Gamecocks would not trail again as sophomore Madeline Schaefer notched an 88 on Joe to secure the fifth over fences M.O.P. of her career, and her point. Senior Louisa Brackett came through with an 85 on Mack to make it 8-5 Carolina before Georgia chipped away at the lead by taking the final two points to make it 8-7 heading into the western finale.
Senior Taylor Kellam added some cushion to the Carolina lead with her point winning 71-point ride on Z, and junior Alexa Thorpe continued her strong fall with a 75 on Layla to make it 10-7. Sophomore Kiersten Beckner sealed the deal for the Garnet and Black with her 74.5 on Paddy to make it 11-7. After junior Michael Schrim rode to a 72-point tie, Georgia claimed the final point, but the day belonged to the Gamecocks as Carolina won 11-8.
The Gamecocks are done with meets for the fall. Information about the spring portion of the season will be announced in the near future.
