Georgia Falls In NCEA Quarterfinals

Thursday, April 14

Ocala, Fla

2:30pm ET

University of Georgia

TCU

April 14, 2022 | Equestrian

OCALA, Fla. --- The No. 5 University of Georgia equestrian team dropped a 12-8 decision to No. 4 TCU in the quarterfinals of the National Collegiate Equestrian Association National Championship on Thursday afternoon at the World Equestrian Center.

Georgia finished the season with a 8-6 record.

"Today did not go as we were planning it to," Georgia head coach Meghan Boenig said. "Kudos to TCU who rode very well. I thought our energy and the preparedness of our team was right where it needed to be. You have to go out there and be really clean and really good and there were too many spots that we didn't tick those boxes which resulted in this outcome. This was not the day to have one of those days. We are hurting because we wanted it for each other, our seniors, but we also know all of the good things that this group has brought together."

Competition started in Fences with the Bulldogs jumping to a 3-2 lead. Sophomore Jordan Toering put Georgia on the board with a 248-236 point.  TCU took the next point before Georgia added two more.  Sophomore Emma Reichow rode to a 250 to top her opponent's 199 and freshman Catalina Peralta received a 259 for her course over her Horned Frog counterpart's 246.  TCU claimed the last Fences point.

In the Western arena, Georgia edged the Horned Frogs, 3-2.  The Bulldogs claimed the first three points of the event.  Senior Sara Lewis started with a score of 220.5, slightly beating her opponent's 220.  Senior Kendall Gill rode to a score of 207 to grab the next point and sophomore Leah Anderson bettered her opponent with a score of 224.5- the highest Horsemanship score of the meet. TCU won the last two points.

Georgia held a 6-4 advantage after two events.

TCU gained the lead after Flat, riding to a 4-1 score for the event.  Junior Ceci Bresch won Georgia's lone point with a score of 255, compared to TCU's 239.

TCU rode away with the meet in Reining, adding four points to its total.  Junior Caitlin Lyons won Georgia's only point for the event with a score of 214 over her opponent's 212.5.

Georgia riders received eight NCEA All-America nods and earned 11 All-SEC honors. Sophomore Jordan Toering and junior Caitlin Lyons were named SEC Rider of the Year for Flat and Reining, respectively. Jillian Stopperich was named Freshman Co-Horsemanship Rider of the Year while Jax Bound was named the Freshman Reining Rider of the Year.

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.