Rustburg, Va. -- The top-ranked University of Lynchburg equestrian team debuted its new facility with a come-from-behind 6-4 win over No. 2 Sweet Briar Friday afternoon.
The Hornets' first-ever National Collegiate Equestrian Association meet at the Lynchburg Equestrian Center at Patrick Henry Family Services Farm could not have played out in a more dramatic fashion. Trailing by a point midway through over fences competition, Lynchburg riders pulled out the final three points to nail down victory in a rematch between the 2022 NCEA's single-discipline championship.
Both teams posted solid starts on the flat. SBC's Kacie Freeburg led things off with an 83-point ride on Ruffino before Lynchburg freshman Abby Zemp responded on Fee Fee with an 84-point performance of her own. Both went on to win points for their teams. Sweet Briar took three of the first four points on the flat, however, and appeared in early control until Brynley Smith posted 78 points on Spirit in the last flat ride of the afternoon to earn a second point for Lynchburg.
The Vixens led 3-2 at the meet's midway point, and the teams were tied on the raw score at 379 apiece.
Zemp led off the fences competition with another solid ride, scoring 76 on Rain, and her ride held up for a Hornet point that evened the tally. Sophomore Emma Schweizer followed that with an 84 of her own atop Elliot, and junior Kelley McCormick closed out a strong first half over fences with 71 on Ziggy.
After SBC's Isabelle Mesiarik rode Fee Fee for 81 points and a Vixens point to put the visitors back ahead, the meet swung back in Lynchburg's favor. Sweet Briar's Naomi Dachis turned in an 82-point ride on Elliot, giving Schweizer the victory by two, and Hornets sophomore Fallyn Belcastro rode the highest score of the day, 86, on Eragon to put the Hornets in front.
McCormick's score of 71 held up through the final ride to clinch the outright victory for Lynchburg.
Schweizer won most outstanding performer honors over fences for the Hornets, while Freeburg's ride for Sweet Briar on the flat earned her MOP honors as well.
The meet was Lynchburg's first at its new facility, which became the program's home over this past summer. The Hornets (2-0, 2-0 Eastern College Athletic Conference) will take a few weeks away from NCEA competition before heading to UT Martin for a meet Oct. 29. The Skyhawks are currently ranked No. 10 in the organization's dual-discipline poll. The Hornets' equestrian program will make a quick turnaround, however, as Lynchburg's Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association team heads to Hollins Saturday for its first show of the 2022-23 season.
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