Auburn, Ala. -- The University of Lynchburg NCEA equestrian team began its 2026-27 campaign with a trip down south to Alabama for two meets in as many days, first against hosts Auburn and then against Bridgewater. 

Lynchburg opened the two-day stretch against host Auburn, the No. 3 dual discipline program in the country, which resulted in a 9-0 victory for the Tigers and held an 854-800 advantage in raw score. The meet does not count towards both respective teams' overall records as Auburn is a dual discipline school while Lynchburg is a single discipline school. The Hornets rounded out their road trip with a 5-3 victory against Bridgewater.

The Tigers claimed all five points in fences, finishing with a 426-404 raw-score advantage. Mary Katherine Ragsdale and Amaya Bellfield produced Lynchburg's highest scores in the event with matching marks of 84. Rebecca Collier scored an 83 aboard Asaro, while Madeline Rubin earned an 80 on Tigger and Stella Patenaude recorded a 73 on Presley.

Auburn earned four points in flat and held a 428-396 advantage in raw score. Ragsdale led the Hornets with an 82 aboard Caprice. Kristin Palmer and Auburn's Sadie Berkhout each scored an 84 on Fino, resulting in no point for either team. Collier earned a 79, Rubin scored a 78 and Bellfield finished with a 73.

The Hornets returned Friday and defeated Bridgewater 5-3, overcoming a 3-2 deficit after fences by earning three points in flat. Lynchburg also secured the raw-score tiebreaker, 799-794. Bellfield and Collier collected Lynchburg's two fences points. Bellfield scored an 84 aboard Rico to defeat Margaret Brown's 81, while Collier earned an 84 on Asaro to top Jimena Garcia Nunez's 78. Patenaude posted Lynchburg's highest fences score with an 86 on Tigger but was edged by Willow Wright's 87.

Lynchburg claimed three flat points and outscored Bridgewater 406-386 in the event. Bellfield defeated Wright 79-78 aboard Caviar, Collier earned an 80 on Georgie to top Margarita Trukhina's 68 and Rubin scored a 79 on Caprice to defeat Garcia Nunez's 72. Palmer and Brown each recorded an 88 on Moe, while Ragsdale and Madeleine Granger both scored an 80 on Fino. Neither head-to-head tie awarded a team point.

The IHSA squad is next up to begin its season, starting with a Tournament of Champions hosted by Lynchburg - the first time ever Lynchburg has hosted a Tournament of Champions - on Saturday, September 26, starting at 9 a.m. The NCEA group gets back into action with its first home meet of the season on Friday, October 2 against Dartmouth at 2 p.m.

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