Georgia Falls in Tight Battle to Texas A&M, Faces South Carolina in Consolation

Friday, March 24

Blythewood, S.C.

2:30 p.m.

University of Georgia

Texas A&M

Photo by: Tony Walsh/UGAAA

Georgia Falls in Tight Battle to Texas A&M, Faces South Carolina in Consolation

March 24, 2023 | Equestrian

BLYTHEWOOD, S.C. --- Down by one with one ride remaining, the University of Georgia equestrian team fell to Texas A&M, 10-8, in the semifinal round of the SEC Championship on Friday at One Wood Farm.

The Bulldogs will face South Carolina in the consolation round on Saturday, March 25 at 9 a.m. Auburn beat South Carolina, 13-7, to advance to the SEC Championship Final against Texas A&M at 2:30 p.m.

Highlighting the meet for the Bulldogs, freshman Tessa Brown and senior Ceci Bresch collected Most Outstanding Performance honors.  Brown rode to a high score of 250 in Fences and Brecsh received a 262 for her Flat ride to earn the honors.

"First of all our energy was unreal today," head coach Meghan Boenig said. "I'm so proud of how everyone went out there and competed. We had many good things going through most of our events and that last event, boy, did they pour their ever-living hearts into it.  Some things happened that weren't in our control and it didn't fall the way we wanted it to fall. I cannot fault the effort, the execution, the improvements that we're seeing. Man, did we want today. One really good part about this is being disciplined to apply these lesson learned to tomorrow and through the journey. This was an incredible and exciting fight, we just can't let it stop. We have to continue the fight."

For the SEC Championship, total scores for each rider are comprised by adding the marks from three judges.

Competition started in Fences with the Bulldogs jumping to a 3-2 lead over the Aggies. Texas A&M won the first two rides before the Bulldogs took the last three.  Junior Jordan Toering put Georgia on the board with a score of 234.  Freshman Tessa Brown followed receiving a 250 for her course over her Aggie counterpart's 224.  Senior Rachel McMullen anchored the event with a 249-229 point for the Bulldogs.

Over in the Horsemanship arena, the Bulldogs edged the Aggies 3-2.  Texas A&M won the first point.  Junior Leah Anderson won the first Western point with a 213.5. Senior Sara Lewis rode to a score of 227, adding a point for the Bulldogs.  After a re-ride, sophomore Jillian Stopperich scored a 228.5 over her Aggie opponent's 206.5.  Texas A&M grabbed the final Horsemanship point.

Georgia held a 6-4 lead at the half way point of the meet.

The Bulldogs and Aggies split points in Flat.  Junior Sophia Pilla scored a 239 to start the second rotation and win the first point of the event.  Texas A&M won the next point.  Catalina Peralta pushed her point with A&M's Devon Thomas after both riders scored a 236. Senior Ceci Bresch took the next point after completing a beautiful pattern that scored a 262.  The Aggies took the final Flat point.

Up 8-6 at the start of Reining, the Bulldogs failed to add another point. Texas A&M won the first ride before Courtney Blumer rode to a tie score of 207 with her Aggie counterpart. After two re-rides, the Aggies completed the comeback and added four points in Reining to seal the win.

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