Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
No. 11 Seed New Mexico State
Equestrian Finishes in Quarterfinals at Nationals
4/20/2015 12:00:00 AM | Equestrian
WACO, Texas - The Fresno State equestrian team, who entered the National Collegiate Equestrian Association (NCEA) National Championships as the No. 6 seed, reached the quarterfinal round of the championships before falling to eventual national champion South Carolina.
Here is how the Bulldogs fared in their quarterfinal defeat Friday to No. 3 seed South Carolina and their opening round win over 11th-seeded New Mexico State on Thursday.
No. 3 seed South Carolina Defeats No. 6 seed Fresno State on Friday
No. 3 South Carolina defeated United Equestrian Conference champion Fresno State on Friday, as the Gamecocks defeated the Bulldogs, 12-4, in the quarterfinals of the NCEA National Championship.
South Carolina wasted no time on Friday, jumping out to a 4-0 lead after sweeping all four points in equitation on the flat.
In the western arena, the Gamecocks and Bulldogs each won two points apiece in reining. Senior Cody McMillion opened the event with a 132-129 victory over Fresno's Brigid O'Leary. The Bulldogs won the next two points to cut South Carolina's lead to 5-2, but a scoring review by the judges resulted in a victory for freshman Paisley Roberts, who defeated Bulldog rider Ciara Kozlowski, 130.5-0 in her nationals debut.
In the jumping arena, South Carolina swept Fresno State 4-0 to shutout the Bulldogs in the hunt seat portion of Friday's meet.
The Gamecocks and Bulldogs each won a pair of points in horsemanship. After Fresno State won the first two horsemanship points, South Carolina won back-to-back points to close out the meet.
Fresno State Edges New Mexico State at NCEA Championship
Fresno State posted a come-from-behind 8-7 victory against New Mexico State on Thursday, April 16 to advance to the NCEA Championship quarterfinal round.
The 11th seeded Aggies held a 6-5 lead after three events, but the sixth-seeded Bulldogs claimed the win with a 3-1 decision in Horsemanship.
The match was close from the start between the Aggies and the Bulldogs.
Fresno State claimed the early lead by taking Reining 2-1. NM State got a win from Kimmy Ferrante 130-129.5 over Kirsten McKillop, but the Aggies Brynn Larson scored a tie with Bulldog Taylor Brown at 138. Fresno State claimed the other two spots in the event as Ciara Kozlowski beat the Aggies Marissa Bartmann 136-135 and Brigid O'Leary downed Haley Newkirk 137-134.5.
The Aggies made their move in the Hunter Seat competition, equaling Fresno State in Equitation on the Flat 2-2, and claiming a 3-1 win over the Bulldogs in Equitation over Fences.
In Equitation on the Flat, Bulldog Kara Spicer beat Shannon Dooley 155-144 and Sierra Swaffer beat NM State's Chelsea Brady 161-154 in the event.
But in Equitation over Fences, NM State claimed the lead by scoring three points. There, Fresno State's only point in the event came with Swaffer beating Cori Cromwell 154-146.
The match was decided in the final event, the Western competition's Horsemanship.
There, Fresno State collected a win with Kirsten McKillop beating Hallie Padilla 144.5-134, but it was the next two rides that made the difference.
Fresno State's Taylor Dixon scored a half-point 145-144.5 win over Clarissa Edgerton, while Rachel Williams picked up a one-point 139.5-138.5 triumph over Rianna Storey to secure the win.
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