No. 3 Georgia Drops Close Contest to No. 7 South Carolina

Saturday, November 12

Blythewood, S.C.

TBA

University of Georgia

South Carolina

Georgia during a meet against Auburn at the UGA Equestrian Complex in Bishop, Ga., on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2022. (Photo by Kari Hodges)

No. 3 Georgia Drops Close Contest to No. 7 South Carolina

November 12, 2022 | Equestrian

BLYTHEWOOD, S.C. --- The No. 3 University of Georgia equestrian team dropped a close contest to the No. 7 South Carolina Gamecocks, 10-9, on Saturday afternoon at One Wood Farm.

Junior Nora Andrews and sophomore Jillian Stopperich won Most Outstanding Performer honors for their rides. Andrews' Flat score of 82 earned her the honors for the second time this season, the third of her career. Stopperich rode to a score of 76.5 in Horsemanship, her best of the year, to earn her the distinction also for the second time this season, the fourth of her career.

"Today is not the outcome we wanted to see," Georgia head coach Meghan Boenig said. "I think we had a lot of great rides that were strong, thoughtful, and well executed. But in the end we just have to continue to grind out for every single moment, be risky where we possibly can, and make our own luck happen. I'm really proud of our two MOPs. We have some work to do. We will apply that this upcoming week."

Competition began in Flat with the Bulldogs riding to a slight advantage. Jordan Toering and Nora Andrews put Georgia (4-2, 1-2 SEC) on the board, winning the first two points of the day with scores of 80 and 82, respectively.  South Carolina (5-2, 1-2 SEC) took the next two points.  Sophia PIlla finished to put the Bulldogs ahead with a 71 for her ride.

Georgia added three points in Horsemanship. The first two Western points went to the Bulldogs with winning rides from Leah Anderson and Jillian Stopperich. Anderson scored a 74 and Stopperich received a 76.5, her highest score of the season. The next point went to the Gamecocks. Kendall Gill won her ride with a score of 72 before South Carolina took the last point of the event.

Georgia held a 6-4 lead after two events.

The Bulldogs took three points in Fences, compared to the Gamecocks' two. Toering and Rachel McMullen won the first two points for Georgia with scores of 80 and 78, respectively.  South Carolina took the next point before Tessa Brown won her ride with a score of 77.  The final Jumping Seat point went to the Gamecocks.

The Gamecocks sealed the meet in Reining. South Carolina riders won the first three points of the event before Caitlin Lyons pushed the next point with her opponent after both scored a 72. The South Carolina won the final point of the day to secure the win.

The Bulldogs are on the road next week at Delaware State.  Georgia will face the Hornets on Friday, November 18 and the Jumping Seat squad will also compete against Lynchburg on Saturday, November 19.

HOW TO FOLLOW GEORGIA EQUESTRIAN: For complete information on Georgia equestrian, follow the team on its social media channels via @UGAEquestrian on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.