Kearns sets MOP record in 10-8 equestrian loss at No. 2 A&M

[PonyPride]

From SMUMustangs.com:

Kearns Sets MOP Program Record In SMU's 10-8 Loss At No. 2 Texas A&M

COLLEGE STATION, Texas (SMU) – Nya Kearns earned her 18th career MOP, an SMU equestrian program record, in the Mustangs' 10-8 loss to No. 2 Texas A&M on Saturday.

Kearns' MOP ride in Horsemanship marked the most ever earned in the program in all events, surpassing Schaefer Raposa.

SMU moves to 7-4 on the year, including a 1-1 season split with Texas A&M.

The Mustangs swept the Most Outstanding Performer (MOP) award, with Katy Merchant (Flat), Shelby Clausen (Reining) and Augusta Iwasaki (Fences) joining Kearns (Horsemanship).

The meet started with the Flat and Reining occurring simultaneously.

Merchant got the Mustangs off to a hot start on the Flat, scoring an event-high 93 in her MOP ride to beat Texas A&M's Devon H. Thomas (85). Augusta Iwasaki followed with an 89-84 win over Devan M. Thomas for SMU's second point on the Flat.

SMU picked up one point in a reining event that saw two ties. Clausen earned her MOP in her 71.5-69.5 win over Texas A&M's Gracie Casebolt. Clausen's 71.5 tied Taylor Zimmerman for a reining-high score on the day.

The second half saw Fences and Horsemanship coincide. SMU would go on to take the Fences event (3-2).

Iwasaki earned her second win of the day in a 90-81 MOP ride over Texas A&M's Kate Egan. Hensley Humphries came through next, beating Devon H. Thomas 88-83 for SMU's second event point. Hannah Hoch then defeated Ali Treuting 85-80 to secure the Fences win for the Mustangs.

Nya Kearns scored SMU's first Horsemanship point with her MOP ride, defeating Texas A&M's Millie Landon 75.5-73. Alexa Black posted the Mustangs' second point of the event in her 74.5-63.5 victory against Ella Patek.

SMU travels to face No. 6 Auburn for its final meet of a three-week road stretch at the Auburn Equestrian Center on Saturday at 11 a.m.