Equestrian Rallies Past No. 2 SMU
COLUMBIA, S.C. – No. 4 South Carolina equestrian won four straight points late in the second half to post a 10-9 win over No. 2 SMU in Friday’s season opener at One Wood Farm. Senior Mattie McNeill’s career-high 72 in Reining gave her a win by half a point and delivered the Gamecocks’ decisive 10th point to secure their first win over SMU in their last five meetings.
South Carolina picked up both jumping seat MOPs with Natalie Jayne taking the honor on Fences and Sarah Rabb claiming it on the Flat.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Gamecocks struck first in Fences, taking an early 2-0 lead behind a one-point win from Alyssa Bauer (84-83) and Jayne’s commanding 85-82 victory on Schnitzel. The Mustangs took the next three points, claiming the next two Fences points in addition to the first Horsemanship point of the meet. Grace Raab got the Gamecocks back on the board with an 80-79 win on Nino in Fences to knot the meet at 3-3. SMU took the next Horsemanship point before Carly Jenkins and Jenna Berghorst closed the competition with back-to-back decisive wins that sent the Gamecocks into halftime with a 5-4 lead.
After the break, the teams traded points on the Flat with Jayne’s ride on Fenway putting the Gamecocks back on top 6-5. SMU took the next Flat point and opened Reining with another to move in front 7-6. Sarah Rabb’s 83 topped SMU’s high Flat score of 78 on Tanner and launched South Carolina’s decisive four-point run to victory. In Reining, Olivia Cardi put the Gamecocks back in front 8-7 with her 72.5 on Yogi, and, in her first career college meet, Vanessa McCaughley got a one-point win to close out competition on the Flat and make it a 9-7 score with three Reining points left to be decided.
McNeill’s previous career high was the exact point total her opponent had posted – 71.5 – but the Gamecock senior did not blink, riding Okie to her new career high 72, which delivered the upset win for South Carolina.
The Gamecocks are back in action at One Wood Farm on Fri., Oct. 17, hosting SEC rival Texas A&M, which is ranked fifth in the NCEA Preseason Coaches Poll.
Continue to check GamecocksOnline.com and the team’s social media accounts (@GamecockEQ) for the most up-to-date information on the equestrian program.
