University of Georgia Athletics
UGA Equestrian defeats USC
October 03, 2003 | Equestrian
Oct. 3, 2003
Athens --- The University of Georgia equestrian team defeated SEC foe South Carolina 1072-1053.25 in its first official meet of the season held Friday at the Animal Science Arena.
The competition went down to the wire as Georgia (1-0, 1-0 SEC) trailed the Gamecocks (1-1, 0-1 SEC) by five points going into the final event of the day, Western Reining. Led by a 72.5 from junior recruit Morgan Strauss, the Bulldog reiners pulled through with a solid 270 to South Carolina's 246.25.
"This was (Strauss's) first varsity competition and she really stepped up to the plate," Georgia Western coach Beth Bass said. "She had a lesser draw on the horse but she still managed to come through with a great ride."
Point margins between the two teams were much closer in the first three events, which made for the exciting finish.
"It shouldn't have been this close," Georgia head coach Meghan Boenig said. "I thought it was a great competition and USC had a strong team, but I was disappointed in our Hunt Seat flat riders. Thanks to Coach Bass and her Western riders we were able to slip by with the skin of our teeth."
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