Etna, N.H. -- The top-ranked University of Lynchburg equestrian team rushed out to an early lead over fences and swept the flat on its way to a convincing 7-1 National Collegiate Equestrian Association win Saturday over No. 3 Dartmouth at Morton Farm.
Junior Jacqueline Needle won the most outstanding performer over fences with her 80-point ride on Felix, while freshman Abby Zemp was MOP on the flat, teaming up with Stewart for 81 points. The season-opening victory was the most lopsided in the history of Lynchburg's NCEA tenure.
Sophomore Fallyn Belcastro got things started right for Lynchburg, riding Chica for 75 points on the Hornets' first ride of the season. Belcastro landed the Hornets' first point as well, besting Dartmouth's Chloe Terestschenko's 60 points on the same horse. Sophomore Emma Schweizer, with 78 points on Bravado, and Needle's 80-pointer on Felix also won points for Lynchburg, which led 3-1 at the midway point.
Lynchburg then dominated the flat. Sophomore Lucy Metzler was judged at 69 points on Chica to lead off the second half of competition and won Lynchburg the advantage with a one-point victory, followed by Schweizer's 70 on Felix, besting her Big Green opponent by 18 to clinch the meet.
The second half of the flat got even better for the Hornets. Junior Kelley McCormick followed with a 78-point ride atop Babalou, and Zemp, the freshman, rode Stewart for 81 – the highest-point ride of the day – in her collegiate debut.
Lynchburg (1-0, 1-0 Eastern College Athletic Conference) will take next week off of competition before another important milestone; the Hornets will play host to regional rival Sweet Briar in their first-ever home meet at the Lynchburg Equestrian Center at Patrick Henry Family Services Farm Friday, Oct. 7 at 1 p.m. Lynchburg was recently ranked the preseason favorite in the NCEA's single-discipline poll; Sweet Briar is No. 2 in the country.
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