WACO, Texas (SMU) –The No. 5 seed SMU equestrian team fell to No. 4-seed Texas A&M, 8-7, in a tightly-contested meet in the NCEA quarterfinals Thursday at the Extraco Events Center. The Mustangs are the first team in the last three NCEA Championships to score six or more points on the Aggies.
 
Trailing 6-2 at the halfway point, the Mustangs caught a spark and posted a 4-0 sweep over the defending national champions to even the score at six apiece. Madison Steed opened scoring for the Mustangs with a 144-126 win over Madison Bohman, before senior Olivia Pakula picked up SMU's second point with a 137-136 edge over Kalee McCann. NCEA All-American Holly Lansidel toppled Darby Gardner, 143.5-140.5, to secure the discipline win, before senior Keagan Snively finished off the sweep with a 139-136 win over Ashton Dunkel.
 
Following Texas A&M winning the first two points to start Equitation Over Fences, Vivian Yowan cut the deficit to one with a 164-161 win over Rachael Hakes. Hayley Banas recorded a dominant 153, but was matched by the final rider Aggie rider, Alex Desiderio, to end the Mustang comeback.
 
The day started with Equitation on the Flat and Horsemanship, where SMU scored one point in each discipline. Nora Gray downed Desiderio, 159-156, to earn the lone point on the flat, before junior Ashley Mauney handed Bailey Cook a 142-141 defeat.
 
SMU returns to the arena tomorrow to compete in the event championships. SMU won all four events (3-1 Fences, 3-1 Reining, 3-1 Horsemanship and 2-1 Flat) on day one of the NCEA Championships to advance to the quarterfinals. SMU will compete against Oklahoma State over fences, Texas A&M on the flat and in reining and Auburn in Horsemanship.