No. 5 equestrian starts strong, dominates No. 2 TCU, 15-4

[PonyPride]

From SMUMustangs.com:

Fifth-Ranked Mustangs Start Strong, Dominate No. 2 TCU, 15-4

DALLAS (SMU) – The fifth-ranked SMU equestrian team capitalized off a fast start en route to a dominating, 15-4, victory over No. 2 TCU on Friday at Dallas Equestrian Center.

SMU improves to 2-3 on the season, while the Horned Frogs fall to 5-2.

The Mustangs picked a 4-1 victory in fences and went 5-0 in horsemanship during the first half to open up their home opener. The second half saw SMU pick up a 3-1 win on the flat and 3-2 victory in reining.

With the victory, the Mustangs earn a 15-14 advantage in the series against their crosstown rival. SMU also avenges its season-opening loss to the Horned Frogs in Burleson. The 11-point margin of victory is the second-largest win by either team in the series, behind only SMU's 17-1 victory in Dallas on February 29, 2020.

SMU also swept the MOP honors, with Hannah Hoch, Nya Kearns, Elli Yeager and Addi Schmersal all picking up the accolade in their respective events.

The Mustangs started the day off fast, winning four matchups in fences to claim an early lead. Augusta Iwasaki, Yeager, Katelyn VanDenburg and Hoch all recorded victories for SMU.

Iwasaki's victory puts her at a perfect 5-0 on the season in the event. The junior has now won seven consecutive matchups dating back to the NCEA semifinals. Hoch earned the MOP accolade, her first of the season.

During horsemanship, SMU recorded its second sweep in three meets with a resounding 5-0 victory over the Horned Frogs. Kearns, Alexa Black, Ava Blyth, Violet Shetler and Jayna Lagace collected the five victories for the Mustangs.

Kearns earned her fifth horsemanship win of the season to continue her perfect record. The graduate student also picked up the MOP for the event, her third of the season and 26th of her career.

The Mustangs continued their success early in the second half, picking up three victories on the flat to extend the lead. Hensley Humphries recorded an 80, Yeager saw an 88 and Iwasaki scored a 77 to all gain victories for SMU.

Yeager picked up the MOP accolade, her fourth of the season in the event.

With the competition already put away entering the final event, SMU picked up a 3-2 victory in reining to close out the meet. Chalyce Head, Shelby Clausen and Schmersal all saw victories in the event.

Schmersal was named the MOP following the event, marking the first MOP of the freshman's early career. Her score of 74 in the event also marked the highest by a Mustang this season.

Fifth-ranked SMU is back in action at home on November 9 at 11 a.m. when it faces Baylor.

[Charleston Pony]

Always good to beat TCU in anything we are competing against them in