No. 6 SMU (5-4, 2-1 ECAC) vs. No. 9 UT Martin
Thursday, Jan. 27 - 10 a.m. CT
No. 6 SMU (5-4, 2-1 ECAC) vs. No. 7 Delaware State
Saturday, Jan. 29 – 10 a.m. CT
Dallas Equestrian Center – Dallas, Texas

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DALLAS (SMU) – The SMU equestrian team (5-4, 2-1 ECAC) resumes competition with a Thursday home meet against No. 9 UT Martin and Saturday hosting No. 7 Delaware State. The Mustangs, keen on hitting the mark on a top seed in this season's ECAC conference tournament, are primed to open the spring portion of their season on a high note.
 
The Opponent: UT Martin
The No. 9 Skyhawks (3-3, 3-1 ECAC) are winners of three of their last four fall meets, including a 9-6 win over SMU on Oct. 2. UT Martin's 2021 campaign came to a close in the ECAC Championship, falling to the top-seeded Mustangs 11-4 and claiming reserve champion status.
 
Series History with the Skyhawks
The Mustangs hold a convincing 13-4 record in the all-time series versus UT Martin. SMU, the winners of six of its last seven meetings against the Skyhawks, are undefeated at home (4-0) against UT Martin.
 
The Opponent: Delaware State
The Hornets (5-3, 0-0 ECAC), ranked No. 7 entering the opening weekend of spring competition, were the winners of their last three meets in the fall by a total of four or more points. SMU and DSU's last meeting occurred on Oct. 2 in Dover, Del., where the Hornets edged the Mustangs 8-7.
 
Series History with the Hornets
SMU currently maintains an 11-6 all-time edge over Delaware State, including team wins in five of the last six meetings between the two programs. The Mustangs, undefeated (4-0) at home against the Hornets, host Delaware State in Dallas for the first time since 2016-17.
 
Last Time Out
SMU closed out its fall season with a dominant 17-2 win over No. 6 Fresno State, marking the Mustangs' second-largest winning margin in program history. In the match, SMU swept all five points in both Horsemanship and Fences on the way to Most Outstanding Performer accolades for SMU riders in all four stages, and an ECAC Rider of the Week award for senior Mallory Vroegh.
 
Looking Back
The NCEA Reserve National Champion and three-time consecutive ECAC Conference Champion Mustangs closed out the fall stretch winners of three of their last four fall meets, all NCEA top-ten victories. SMU ended the previous spring with a program-best 10-2 record, earning them a bid into the NCEA National Championships. The Mustangs, advancing to the championship round against Georgia, fell in a tightly-contested 9-7 affair, tallying 3,704.0 points to the Bulldogs' 3,746.0.
 
Looking Ahead
The Mustangs, currently ranked sixth per the NCEA, aim to make a statement entering the second stage of the season. Four of SMU's final five opponents currently rank within the top ten of NCEA dual-discipline teams, including No. 2 Texas A&M, who the Mustangs host on March 5.
 
2021-22 Postseason
The ECAC Championships will be held for the first time in Harrington, Del. March 24-26. NCEA Championships will be hosted at the World Equestrian Center in Ocala, Fla. April 14-16.
 
 
Fall 2021 Mustang Accolades
Chalice Head: ECAC Reining Rider of the Week
Katy Merchant: ECAC Flat Rider of the Week
Alex PIelet: ECAC Fences Rider of the Week
Mallory Vroegh: NCEA Horsemanship Rider of the Month, 2X ECAC Horsemanship Rider of the Week
 
Mustangs Advance To ECAC Championship Final
Mustangs Win Inaugural ECAC Equestrian Championship
NCEA Announces Final Fall Rankings
Mustangs Show Out With Impressive 17-2 Win Over Fresno State
Mustangs Earn NCEA National Runner-Up Title