Equestrian Drops Tight SEC Semifinal Against Georgia

AUBURN, AL – The second-seeded South Carolina Equestrian team (10-5, 3-3) fell 11-9 in a tight meet against third-seeded Georgia (8-4, 3-3) on Friday morning in the SEC Championship Semifinals. 

“Today we fought until the end, but came up a little short,” head coach Carol Gwin said. “We had several mistakes that we can clean up on both sides. I am proud of the team’s effort, and we’re looking forward to our seeding in the NCEA Championship.”

HOW IT HAPPENED

The day started on the Flat, where the Gamecocks took the event 3-2. Vanessa McCaughley beat Maggie Bresch 81-74.33 with her ride on Georgie to get South Carolina on the board. Natalie Jayne won her point with an 85.33-80 win over Tessa P. Brown. For her ride on King, Jayne earned her second Flat MOP of the season. Mary Hunter Millet wrapped up the event on Georgio, defeating Ella Duffy 82.33-72.67.

The Bulldogs took the lead with a 4-1 win in Reining. Olivia Cardi scored the Gamecocks’ lone point in the event, scoring a 70.17 to beat Cadence Egar’s 69.33 on Tank. Georgia took a 6-4 lead into halftime. 

South Carolina closed the gap in Fences with a 3-2 win. Jayne won her second point of the day with an 89-84 victory on Asaro over Brown. Bella Primavera scored an 81 for her ride on North to beat Tessa Downey’s 64. Amira Kettaneh brought in an 86-80.33 win to make the score 7-8 Bulldogs. She also won her sixth MOP of the season in Fences for her ride on Chief. 

The meet was decided in Horsemanship, where the two teams traded points, but ultimately the Bulldogs took the event 3-2. Alexis Potts defeated Alyvia Dixon 75.33-73.83 on Shorty to tie things up at 8-8, but Georgia took the next point to reclaim its lead. Ruby Voortmeyer tied the score back up at 9-9 with a 71-67.67 win over Lyla Bellar on Dually. The Bulldogs took the last two points in the event to clinch the 11-9 win. 

UP NEXT 

The Gamecocks will await their seeding in the NCEA Championship, to be held April 15-18 at the World Equestrian Center in Ocala, Fla.