MARTIN, Tenn. (SMU) – The No. 4 SMU equestrian team dropped Delaware State, 8-7, Thursday to improve to 4-0, the best start in program history. With the win, SMU advanced to the Masterson's Farm Invitational Championship and will take on No. 10 UT Martin.
"This team just keeps finding a way to win even when things are not always going our way," SMU head coach Carol Gwin said. "We had some standouts today and also some mistakes. I hope we can ride even better tomorrow."
Trailing 6-5 with the final event of the day, reining, the Mustangs (4-0, 1-0 UEC) topped the Hornets (0-4, 0-2 UEC), 3-1, to secure the win and preserve the perfect start. Senior Keagan Snively tallied the first point for SMU after defeating Cheyenne Adams, 67.5-65.5. Holly Lansidel outscored Blayne Bell, 66.5-0, before Olivia Pakula secured the SMU victory with a 71-70.5 win over Monica Ellis.
The day opened with Equitation Over Fences, where SMU and Delaware State rode to a 2-2 tie. Brett Burlington earned SMU's first point of the day an 82-79 win against Rachel Dantley. Burlington was awarded her first career MOP for her efforts. Junior Nora Gray won the second point with an 82-60 rout of Sydney Wicklund.
SMU claimed Equitation of the Flat, 2-1. Haley Zimmerman opened the discipline with a 78-71 victory over Emily Nelson, before Gray toppled Haley Anderson, 77-64, for her second win of the day.
In the Western Arena, Haylee Schoonover recorded the lone SMU horsemanship point with a 73.5-62 undoing of Samantha Elliott. The ride stood out to the judges, earning Schoonover her first collegiate MOP.
The Mustangs suprass their previous best start of 3-0. SMU opened the season 3-0 in 2012-13, before matching that mark in 2013-14.
With the win, No. 4 SMU will take on No. 10 UT Martin in the Masterson's Farm Invitational Championship Show. The Skyhawks bested Fresno State, 11-5, to advance. The meet is slated to begin at 10 a.m. in the Ned McWherter Agricultural Pavilion.
--SMUMustangs.com--
