No. 7 Georgia Seniors Shine in Defeat Over No. 4 South Carolina, 13-7

Saturday, March 2

Athens, GA

1 P.M.

University of Georgia

South Carolina

No. 7 Georgia Seniors Shine in Defeat Over No. 4 South Carolina, 13-7

March 02, 2019 | Equestrian

Final Scoresheet

BISHOP, Ga. – The seventh-ranked University of Georgia equestrian team clinched all events to defeat No. 4 University of South Carolina (USC), 13-7, on Saturday afternoon at the UGA Equestrian Complex.

"I think what we really needed to do was continue to execute," Georgia head coach Meghan Boenig said. "We have been so happy with the growth and the progress that all of our riders have seen. We knew we could do us and South Carolina was not going to be an issue as long as we focused on that. It was great to be able to add an amount of special to that we our MOP awards and honoring our seniors."

Two Bulldog seniors received Most Outstanding Performance (MOP) honors for their final rides between the fences. Emma Mandarino earned her first MOP honor this season for a stellar score of 87 in Equitation Over Fences. Graysen Stroud received her second MOP honor in Reining this season, for her victorious ride and score of 69.5.

Three of Georgia's 13 points were scored by senior riders Mandarino, Stroud and Madison Anger. All 12 seniors on Georgia's roster were honored for their contributions to the team following competition.

"The past four years have been such a dream, and to end at home on this high note," said Mandarino. "The team is working so hard this year to make improvements and get better each day. We really showed that today."

Georgia (4-5, 3-2 SEC) rode to victory and won Equitation Over Fences, 4-1, over USC (5-6, 1-4 SEC). Juniors Sydney Hutchins and Maddy Darst earned the first two points for Georgia scoring 80 and 86, respectively. Sophomore Hayley Mairano rode to her third victory for fences outscoring her opponent by 13 points, 78-65. Mandarino added the final point for the Bulldogs defeating her opponent, 87- 83.

Senior Madison Anger's 73 contributed to Georgia's victory in Horsemanship, 3-2. Freshman rider Sara Lewis scored a 72.5 for her ride, earning her second career win. Sophomore Lexie Lane won her point with a score of 75 capturing the Bulldogs' win of the event.

The Bulldogs took an early, 7-3, advantage over the Gamecocks headed into the half.

The Bulldogs finished off western competition winning Reining, 3-2. Junior Annabeth Payne lead off the second rotation scoring the first point for Georgia, 68-63. Stroud notched a point for the Bulldogs for her final ride on her home arena, 69.5-61. In the anchor position, sophomore Jordan Carpenter spun to a score of 69.5 to secure the Bulldog win over the Gamecocks.

Georgia's Equitation on the Flat squad locked the Bulldog victory claiming the event, 3-2 over USC. The Gamecocks scored the first two points with Georgia responding to earn the next three points. Darst earned her second points of the day defeating her opponent, 80-74. Junior Grace Bridges pushed the score to 2-2 grabbing the point for Georgia, 83-82. For the final ride of the day, Mairano defeated her opponent by a 10-point margin, 83-73, to close out senior day with a win for the Bulldogs.

With this win, the Bulldogs extend their Southeastern Conference (SEC) record to 3-2.

Georgia completes regular season competition on the road at top-ranked Auburn on Friday, March 8, at 4 p.m. ET. The Bulldogs then travel to College Station, Texas, for the SEC Championship tournament on March 29-30.

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