No. 7 Georgia Tops No. 6 South Carolina, 15-4

Friday, October 13

Bishop, Ga.

2:00 p.m.

University of Georgia

South Carolina

Photo by: Kayla Renie/UGAAA

October 13, 2023 | Equestrian

BISHOP, Ga. --- The No. 7 University of Georgia equestrian team topped No. 6 South Carolina, 15-4, on an overcast Friday afternoon at the UGA Equestrian Complex.

Georgia riders collected all four Most Outstanding Performer honors. Senior Nora Andrews was recognized in Flat after defeating South Carolina's Sophie Mitchell by 10 points with a score of 89.  This marks her first MOP of the year, the fifth of her career.  A score of 89 is the second- highest score she's received as a Bulldog. Sophomore Tessa Brown was honored after receiving a 90 for her Fences course, her career-high score and third overall MOP. Junior Jillian Stopperich won the honors in Horsemanship after scoring a 77, her first of the season and fourth of her career. Freshman Cadence Eger received the recognition in Reining with a score of 71.5. This marked the first win and MOP honor of the young Bulldog's career.

"It was a great day to come out here and really put to work what we've been wanting to see in these last couple competitions," head coach Meghan Boenig said. "What I'm probably most proud of is the mindset that we saw not only before the meet but continued through the meet, which really helps put the extraordinary high, big, scores. They had to be risky they had to go for it and really ride each step. Coming out and executing today, we really put in the work; we had something to prove and I think we did that. I am really proud of all those MOPs, but we're not stopping here. We have a lot of work that we need to do, turning around really quickly to Auburn next week. So, this puts us on a good path but we cannot stop."

Competition started in Flat with the Bulldogs trotting to a 4-1 lead. Andrews put the Bulldogs on the board with her MOP-winning ride.  The Gamecocks took the next point before Georgia won the last three. Senior Jordan Toering and junior Catalina Peralta won their rides with scores of 85 and 87, respectively.  Junior Jessica Guginsky finished the event defeating her opponent by two with a score of 79.

The Bulldogs added three points in Reining.  In her first ride at home, freshman Cadence Eger edged her opponent by half a point with a score of 71.5. South Carolina won the next two points. Fifth-year senior Caitlin Lyons and sophomore Shelby Lynch both received a score of 69.5 for their rides to win the last two Reining points for Georgia.

Georgia held a 7-3 lead at the halfway point of the meet.

Continuing in Fences, the Bulldogs won four more points.  South Carolina grabbed the first point of the event.  Then sophomore Tessa Brown rode to a career-high score of 90 to win her point and MOP honors. Senior Emma Reichow followed with a score of 87 to win by a four-point margin.  Peralta rode in the ninth spot, edging her Gamecock counterpart by one with a score of 89, the second-highest of her career.  Senior Jennifer Staniloff received an 87 for her course to win the final Jumping Seat point of the day.

Finishing in Horsemanship, the Bulldogs added another four points. Georgia riders won the first three rides. Junior Austin Layer won the first point of her career by half a point after scoring a 74.5.  Juniors Jillian Stopperich and Jordan Davis followed with scores of 77 and 76.5, respectively.  Gracie Himes pushed her point with a score of 75 before the meet ended with senior Leah Anderson receiving a 76 for her ride and winning the final point of the day.

Georgia is on the road next week as the Bulldogs travel to Auburn to face the Tigers on Friday, October 20 at 3 p.m. CT.

HOW TO FOLLOW GEORGIA EQUESTRIAN: For complete information on Georgia equestrian, follow the team on its social media channels via @UGAEquestrian on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.