April 17, 2009
WACO, Texas - After the second day of the 2009 Varsity Equestrian National Championship competition, the No. 4 Baylor Hunter Seat team defeated No. 5 Texas A&M (4-3) and fell to top-seeded Auburn (5-3). The Lady Bears will now compete for the third place spot against South Carolina. The Western team tied for seventh place overall with New Mexico State.
"It's hard to lose on that note. If we hadn't lost Nicole's points, we would have tied and gone to raw scores," head coach Ellen White said. "Right now the girls are disappointed, but it is still third place and we need to wake up and make it happen. We put in a valiant effort, but we wanted first place."
In first round bye action, the Baylor Hunter Seat team triumphed 4-3 over Texas A&M. The Lady Bears posted a 3-1 victory Thursday night against the Aggies in Equitation over Fences, while losing 2-1 in Equitation on the Flat Friday morning. Senior Cara Wilson had the lone win for Baylor in her ride against Megan Webb (126-113).
The Lady Bears entered the Hunter Seat semifinals to face Auburn. In Equitation on the Flat, Wilson recorded her second consecutive victory of the tournament, defeating Rebecca Rifkin 129-114. Junior Mary Smitson edged past Maggie McAlary 125-124, evening the score at 2-2. In Equitation over Fences, Kendra Vicary was the only rider to tally points (167-163).
The English squad is on its way to post a best-ever finish at the VENC, with their previous best finish at sixth place. Equitation over Fences will start at 8:30, with Equitation on the Flat shortly after at 10:30 a.m.
Hunter Seat
First Round Bye Results
(4) Baylor 4, (5) Texas A&M 3
Fences (BU 3, TAMU 1)
Lindsay Smith (TAMU) def. Kendra Vicary (BU) 167-166.5
Kara Fergusson (BU) def. Brooke Coleman (TAMU) 140-135
Nicole Brown (BU) def. Kristi Waldal (TAMU) 159-155
Lisa Goldman (BU) def. Erin Ivy (TAMU) 156-139.5
Flat (TAMU 2, BU 1)
Margaret Beaudoin (BU) vs. Christina Matz (TAMU) 131-131
Brittney Dodson (TAMU) def. Mary Smitson (BU) 125-0
Cara Wilson (BU) def. Megan Webb (TAMU) 126-113
Tegan Zealy (TAMU) def. Shelby White (BU) 117-109
Semifinal Results
(1) Auburn 5, (4) Baylor 3
Fences (AU 3, BU 1)
Jessica Brasswell (AU) def. Nicole Brown (BU) 115-110
Grace Socha (AU) def. Heather Healy (BU) 156-130
Maggie McAlary (AU) def. Lisa Goldman (BU) 171.5-141
Kendra Vicary (BU) def. Anna Schierholz (AU) 167-163
Flat (BU 2, AU 2)
Ali Loprete (AU) def. Shelby White (BU) 135-134
Jenny Reinhart (AU) def. Heather Healy (BU) 140-126
Mary Smitson (BU) def. Maggie McAlary (AU) 125-124
Cara Wilson (BU) def. Rebecca Rifkin (AU) 129-114
In Western riding, Baylor entered the first round bye to compete against defending national champions Georgia. The Bulldogs swept the Lady Bears Thursday night in Reining 4-0, but Baylor neared the gap with a 3-1 victory in Horsemanship. Junior Allison Orosz posted her second consecutive win of the tournament (143-138.5), while Lindsey Tomko also tallied points (143.5-141.5).
Baylor joined South Carolina in the consolation bracket for second round play. The Gamecocks swept Reining, while the Lady Bears swept Horsemanship to force a 4-4 tie. South Carolina edged past Baylor 967-966 and will advance to compete against Kansas State for the fifth place spot. Orosz remains undefeated in tournament action (144-140.5), while Tomko (149.5-139), Meghan Murphy (145-141), and Lindsay Douglas (140.5-138) added their second wins of the tournament.
The Western team finished in a tie for seventh place with New Mexico State. The Lady Bears' previous best finish was fifth place in 2007.
Western
First Round Bye Resultsv (3) Georgia 5, (6) Baylor 3
Reining (UGA 4, BU 0)
Nichole Grant (UGA) def. Madelyn Mooney (BU) 140.5-137
Diandra St. Hilaire (UGA) def. Michelle Reynolds (BU) 142-138
Sarah Locker (UGA) def. Katie Buss (BU) 137-110
Kate Steward (UGA) def. Amber Mooney (BU) 138-135
Horsemanship (BU 3, UGA 1)
Meghan Murphy (BU) def. Lauren Love (UGA) 145.5-145
Alicia Strum (UGA) def. Nicole McCoy (BU) 143.5-142.5
Lindsey Tomko (BU) def. Katelyn Van Allen (UGA) 143.5-141.5
Allison Orosz (BU) def. Dana Kennedy (UGA) 143- 138.5
Consolation Bracket
(7) South Carolina 4, (6) Baylor University 4
USC won on tiebreaker 967-966
Reining (USC 4, BU 0)
Amy Biffle (USC) def. Michelle Reynolds (BU) 102.5-109
Lydia Roof (USC) def. Amber Mooney (BU) 135-119.5
Rebekah Roof (USC) def. Katie Buss (BU) 134.5-133.5
Chloe Grey (USC) def. Madelyn Mooney (BU) 139-133
Horsemanship (BU 4, USC 0)
Lindsay Douglas (BU) def. Katie Grossnickle (USC) 140.5-138
Meghan Murphy (BU) def. Hailey Thornton (USC) 145-141
Lindsey Tomko (BU) def. Maggie Fortune (USC) 149.5-139
Allison Orosz (BU) def. Emily Bookwalter (USC) 144-140.5
Baylor riders fell in individual competition. In Equitation over Fences, Auburn's Anna Schierholz defeated Nicole Brown 171.5-166, while Georgia's Kelley Cowperthwait edged past Lisa Goldman 167.5-167. In Horsemanship, Texas A&M's Caroline Gunn rode past Allison Orosz 144-131.
