Fresno State Athletics
`Dogs Ride Strong Against No. 1 Georgia
10/2/2015 12:00:00 AM | Equestrian
By: Kimberly Fisher
kimfisher@csufresno.edu
GoBulldogs.com
HARRINGTON, Del. - The No. 5 Fresno State equestrian team fell 12-8 to No. 1 Georgia on Friday at the indoor Delaware State Fair Grounds arena. The `Dogs move to 0-1 on the season before concluding competition against host school, Delaware State on Saturday.
The Bulldogs kept the pressure on the national leader, taking two events - Horsemanship and Reining. Fresno State barley missed in Equitation on the Flat and was leading 8-6 heading into the final event.
"The team was very impressive today," head coach Eric Hubbard said. "We knew we were on track, but today's competition really gives us an understanding of where we are as a team as we work toward our goal of continuing to improve nationally. It was really a tough lose, but I don't believe that the score reflected how well we rode today. I am happy with the team's performance."
Fresno State gained an early lead of 3-2 in Horsemanship while Taeya Harle, Rachel Williams and Taylor Dixon collectively earned three points. Equitation on the Flat was the second event of the day, where the `Dogs fell 3-2 after Sierra Swaffar opened with a point and Kylina Chalack grabbed the final point for Fresno State.
The `Dogs went on to top Georgia with a score of 3-2 in Reining to give Fresno State an 8-6 lead heading into Equitation Over Fences. A 5-0 sweep in the final event gave Georgia a 12-8 advantage and their second consecutive win of the season, after edging Texas A&M 10-9 last week.
Sophomore Taylor Dixon's score of 76 earned her Most Outstanding Player honors in Horsemanship, as Sierra Swaffar (Equitation on the Flat) and Alysa Frias (Reining) also helped the `Dogs to three of the four MOP accolades against Georgia.
Up next, Fresno State will continue Friday's competition against Delaware State as the two programs capped the day tied 4-4.
Most Outstanding Players
Taylor Dixon (Horsemanship)
Sierra Swaffar (Equitation on the Flat)
Alysa Frias (Reining)
Final Team Results vs. Georgia
Equitation on the Flat
Addy Cord (73) defeated Genna Fogelberg (72) - Georgia
Sierra Swaffar (81) defeated Maddie Newman (65) - Fresno State
Kylina Chalack (87) defeated Megan O'Mara (81) - Fresno State
Leylan Gleeson (79) defeated Alexandra Dirickson (78) - Georgia
Liza Finsness (71) defeated Danielle Schneider (69) - Georgia
Equitation Over Fences
Ali Haupt (77) defeated Kylina Chalack (75) - Georgia
Leylan Gleeson (83) defeated Alexandra Dirickson (79) - Georgia
Addy Cord (80) defeated Paige Pastorino (77) - Georgia
Liza Finsness (78) defeated Danielle Schneider (75) - Georgia
Megan O'Mara (84) defeated Sierra Swaffar (76) - Georgia
Horsemanship
Taeya Harle (68) defeated Maddy Anger (63) - Fresno State
Rachel Williams (73.5) defeated Sammie Johnson (72.3) - Fresno State
Bailey Anderson (73.5) defeated Sydney Elliott (71.5) - Georgia
Taylor Dixon (76) defeated Rachel Kolb (71.5) - Fresno State
Heather Schmidt (70.5) defeated Taylor Brown (67.5) - Georgia
Reining
Kyndall Harper (65) defeated Kara Gustafson (57.5) - Georgia
Taylor Brown (67.5) defeated Charley Theil (64.5) - Fresno State
Alysa Frias (66) defeated Lauren Garmon (65.5) - Fresno State
Claudia Spreng (67.5) defeated Taylor Dixon (64) - Georgia
Kayli Gobeli (62.5) defeated Lindsey Cheek - Fresno State
"Be Bold!" - Follow the `Dogs on social media via Twitter (@FresnoStateEQ), Instagram and Facebook.
