Dover, Del. -- University of Lynchburg's equestrian team split a pair of National Collegiate Equestrian Association meets Thursday, topping host Delaware State on a raw-point tiebreaker before dropping a tight one to Sweet Briar, 5-3.
Lynchburg started out strong with a pair of points over fences against Delaware State. Freshman Fallyn Belcastro enjoyed the Hornets' largest margin of victory of the day in the discipline, scoring 82 points on Tillie to her opponent's 68, and sophomore Jacqueline Needle rode to 55 points on Lewy, while her DSU opponent did not produce a scoring ride. Both Lynchburg riders who did not win points also scored well; sophomore Kelley McCormick earned 83 points on Cici, and freshman Emma Schweizer scored out at 80 on Ricky.
The visiting Hornets cinched the meet with two more points and four strong rides on the flat.
Senior Taylor Herzog turned in Lynchburg's highest-scoring ride of the day with an 87 on Finn to best her opponent by 16, and McCormick rode Cici again for an 80.5 to earn Lynchburg's fourth point. Schweizer graded out at 81.5 on Carl but in a losing effort.
DSU took the other two flat points to tie the meet, 4-4, but Lynchburg's raw score of 624.5 bettered the hosts' 554.5 for the Hornets' third NCEA victory of the season and first-ever against Delaware State.
In the nightcap, Lynchburg started on the flat with point victories by Schweizer (70 on Sky) and Belcastro (59.5 on Lewy in a reride), and the Vixens won the other two.
Over fences, Schweizer earned 86 points atop Patton for her third point victory of the day, but that's all the Hornets could earn. SBC's Paige Kennedy finished the meet with an 82-point ride to close out the 5-3 victory despite Lynchburg's 566.5-562 raw score advantage.
Lynchburg (3-3, 1-1 Eastern College Athletic Conference) will enjoy one more weekend of NCEA competition November 12-13 in Martin, Tenn. against No. 10 UT Martin and No. 5 Texas A&M. The Hornets' equestrian program will have another quick turnaround with Saturday with a home Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association show.
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--LYN--
