Bulldogs Drop Close Matchup to No. 1 SMU, 10-9

Friday, February 24

Bishop, Ga.

11 a.m.

University of Georgia

SMU

Georgia western rider Courtney Blumer during a meet against Baylor at the UGA Equestrian Complex in Bishop, Ga., on Friday, Sept. 30, 2022. (Photo by Tony Walsh)

Photo by: Tony Walsh/UGAAA

February 24, 2023 | Equestrian

BISHOP, Ga. --- In the final home meet of the regular season, the No. 5 University of Georgia equestrian team fell in a competitive matchup to top-ranked Southern Methodist University, 9-10.

Senior Rachel McMullen earned the only MOP honors for Georgia (5-6, 1-3 SEC) with a score of 80 for her Fences ride. Following McMullen's performance, two Bulldogs earned season high scores on the Horsemanship event. Sophomore Jillian Stopperich earned a 78.5 for her impressive ride tallying another point for Georgia. Sara Lewis followed, riding to a season high score of 78 but ultimately fell to her opponent's 80.

"Today was not the final result we wanted," head coach Meghan Boenig said. "I am so proud of the fight that was in this team. Ride after ride the energy was out here. Man, we were so close, but we cannot continue to just be close. We had some individuals with outstanding, huge scores. And then that great ride by our senior Rachel McMullen pulling out that MOP and having a big win there in the Fences event. That was really special to witness and for her to be recognized. We are certainly not done. We have one last regular season meet coming up and can't wait to get back on that trail. We are absolutely fired up."

Fences: The Bulldogs opened the meet taking three points jumping Fences against the No. 1 ranked Mustangs. After dropping the first point, the Bulldogs took the next three with strong rides. Junior Emma Reichow jumped to an 83 to earn the point over her opponent's 82 in a tight matchup. Junior Jordan Toering won another point outscoring her opponent 77-75. With the last Fences point, Rachel McMullen earned an 80 to win the event for Georgia and garnered MOP honors with her impressive ride.

Horsemanship: Leading in Horsemanship, Stopperich began strong for the Bulldogs earning the point against her opponent with a 78.5. The Mustangs won the next four points taking the lead at halftime, 6-4.

Flat: The start of the second half resulted in three points helping to narrow the score for the Bulldogs. Ceci Bresch and Sophia Pilla rode beautiful flat patterns each earning a point, Bresch scored an 85 and Pilla scored an 87. With Toering anchoring an 85, Georgia earned another point to finish Jumping Seat strong.

The Mustangs led 8-7 going into the final event.

Reining: In the final event, Caitlin Lyons earned the first point for Georgia with a score of 72 after her opponent's score was withheld but resulted in a score of 69. The Bulldogs' final point of the meet came from Sophie Lucas' ride earning a score of 73.5.

Georgia will travel to College Station to take on the Texas A&M Aggies in the final meet of the regular season on Saturday, March 4. Competition is set to begin at 12 p.m. ET.