Nov. 1, 2014
NMSU RESULTS | SDSU RESULTS
BROOKINGS, S.D. - The SMU equestrian team split its two meets this weekend up in South Dakota. The Mustangs defeated 10th-ranked New Mexico State 9-7 but fell in a (9-9) raw score tiebreaker to South Dakota State at the DeHaan Equestrian Center.
"We were so close to having both meets but it was still a great weekend of riding for us," head coach Carol Gwin said. "SDSU held a great couple of days of competition. Their coaches and student-athletes were tremendous. Our team battled each day for 12 hours and I loved the effort. It was a nice way to end the fall season."
The win over New Mexico State gave the Mustangs (4-3) its third win over a ranked opponent. SMU won the hunt seat 5-3 and was an even 4-4 in western. Sylvia de Toledo brought home two Most Outstanding Player honors for the flat and fences while Morgan Redwine earned the recognition for reining.
Emma Roberts, de Toledo and Jaclyn White each won in two disciplines in the meet.
"Emma was a star for us all weekend," Gwin said. "She was 4-0 and came through when we needed her. Sylvia was also strong for us and she deserved the MOP honors. I was very happy with our hunt seat team and proved again that they can compete with anyone."
SMU and SDSU tied in both the hunt seat (5-5) and western (4-4) in their meet. Redwine brought home her second MOP accolade but this time it came for scoring 73 in horsemanship.
"An MOP in reining and in horsemanship over one weekend is pretty unusually but a great testament to what Morgan did for us," Gwin complimented. "We battled from being down 7-3 after fences and reining to 9-9. Our horsemanship group really came up big with a lot of pressure to make it come down to the tiebreaker. Unfortunately we came up just short."
The tiebreaker saw SDSU edge SMU 1508.50-1496.50. Nonetheless, the Mustangs have several individual performers with solid rides. Keagan Snively (71.5, reining), White (72.5, horsemanship) and Alli Toffolon (80, fences) each had a season-high score in their event. Freshman Haley Banas earned her first collegiate point in a 75-73 victory over Marielle Golden.
For Toffolon, her efforts over fences garnered MOP honors.
"Overall we rode well," Gwin said. "We got lots of riders involved in these meets and it was something we did all fall. For the difficulty of the schedule, it has been a great fall. Our veterans are stepping up and our youth are making big strides. The team has gained confidence and we will carry that over to the spring."
The Mustangs will not compete again until Jan. 30. SMU will travel to Auburn in the first of three consecutive road meets. The team does not have a home meet at the Sleepy P Ranch until March 1, when South Dakota State visits.
