SMU Announces 2015-16 Equestrian Schedule
Jun 2 | Equestrian
Full Schedule
DALLAS (SMU) -- Six home meets highlight the SMU equestrian 2015-16 schedule as head coach Carol Gwin announced Tuesday. The home slate features in-state rivals TCU and Baylor while defending national champion South Carolina makes a trip to Dallas.
"We have a very exciting and difficult lineup for the 2015-16 season," head coach Carol Gwin said. "I am thrilled to host such quality opponents at the Sleepy P Ranch. We look forward to the challenge."
After a preseason scrimmage at Baylor (Sept. 19), the Mustangs open the year with TCU at the Sleepy P Ranch on Thursday, Sept. 24. Two days later, SMU hits the road to Stillwater, Oklahoma, to take on Oklahoma State. Another road meet follows, as the Mustangs travel to New Mexico State on Oct. 3.
SMU hosts South Dakota State on Oct. 30 in the first of five consecutive home meets that carries into the spring semester. After the Jackrabbits, the Mustangs host a pair of SEC schools on Nov. 7 (South Carolina) and Nov. 8 (Auburn). The fall season concludes on Nov. 20 with Baylor.
Fresno State, the 2015 United Equestrian Conference Champion, opens the spring portion of the schedule on Feb. 6 in Dallas.
"The spring schedule this last season was really tough," Gwin said. "Our goal was to create balance this time around. We are fortunate to have six home in the fall, but we will face challenges on the road in the spring. I hope we build momentum in the fall and it carries over into nationals in the spring."
SMU closes the regular season with five meets away from Dallas. The Mustangs go to UT Martin (Feb. 12) and follow with a neutral site against Delaware State (Feb. 13) in Martin, Tennessee. Similarly in March, SMU goes to Dover, Delaware, for two meets (Delaware State and South Carolina) in one day.
The regular season concludes at Texas A&M on March 19.
Postseason begins with the 2016 UEC Championship, which is held in Las Cruces, New Mexico, from March 25-26. If SMU qualifies, the National Collegiate Equestrian Association Championship is in Waco from April 14-16.
"Our goals for next year include winning the United Equestrian Conference as well as a NCEA Championship," Gwin said. "I believe this team has the talent and will be prepared to make a run at these marks in 2015-16."
The Mustangs are coming off a 7-8 season in Gwin's first year at the helm, a significant improvement from the year before. SMU knocked off four ranked opponents to earn its fourth consecutive berth into the NCEA Championship field.
