Auburn, Ala. -- University of Lynchburg's equestrian team nearly pulled off the biggest National Collegiate Equestrian Association upset of the 2021-22 season Saturday morning, pushing seventh-ranked Fresno State to a 4-4 tie at the Auburn University Equestrian Center. The Bulldogs came away with victory on the raw score tiebreak, however, 619-588.
It was Lynchburg's best-scoring meet of the season, as seven of the eight Hornet rides graded out at 83 points or higher.
Fresno State took the first point of the day over fences despite an 84-point ride from sophomore Jacqueline Needle, as the Bulldogs' Cecily Hayes was judged at 89. Lynchburg continued its strong riding, tying the meet at 1-1 thanks to freshman Fallyn Belcastro's 83 on Cartoon. After Fresno won the third point, freshma Emma Schweizer earned 87 points on Max to knot the score at 2-2 headed into the flat discipline.
Senior Taylor Herzog wrapped up her fantastic weekend on the flat, leading off with 90.5 points on Bravado, earning Lynchburg's highest score of the meet and besting her Bulldogs opponent by half a point.
Fresno State evened the score again despite freshman Lucy Metzler's 84 points atop Encore, but Lynchburg retook the lead thanks to sophomore Kelley McCormick's 87.5-point ride on Izzo.
On the final ride of the day, Schweizer turned in another strong ride, an 84-pointer atop Maverick, but the Bulldogs' Taylor Holstead earned 87.5 to cinch the meet for the No. 7 team in the nation.
It was the third close meet of the season for Lynchburg, as three of their four meets so far have been decided by two points or fewer.
The Hornets will continue their busy weekend Sunday with an Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association show at Washington and Lee. Lynchburg's NCEA team boasts a 2-2 record and will return to action Thursday and Friday with a pair of meets in Dover, Del. against host Delaware State and rival Sweet Briar.
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