Sept. 25, 2010
MARTIN, Tenn. - The Texas A&M equestrian team opened its season Saturday afternoon with a 14-5 victory over Tennessee-Martin at the Ned McWherter Agricultural Complex.
Making its first trip to Martin and facing UTM for the first time, the Aggies (1-0) scored seven points in both hunter seat and western in sweeping all four disciplines. The Skyhawks fell to 0-1.
"This was a great way to start the season," head coach Tana McKay said. "We went on the road, rode a completely new set of horses and faced an opponent we've never seen before and had a solid all-around victory. I'm proud of the girls, they rode really well today."
A&M's two-time defending national champion western squad had little trouble with the hosts, winning seven of 10 rides and earning a draw in another. Junior Katie Lisabeth earned her fifth career MVP honor with a victory in horsemanship, while fellow junior Abigail Grabein took the honors in reining. Also tallying victories for the Aggies on the western side were Cassie Mantor and Randi Standley in horsemanship and Standley, Courtney Dawe and Becca Murray in reining.
The hunter seat team fared just as well, downing the Skyhawks, 7-3. Despite suffering a three-point loss, junior Maggie Earle earned her second career MVP honor on the flat, while teammates Megan Webb, Hannah Soibelman and Elizabeth Solch secured the discipline victory. Over fences, A&M took four of five rides with Earle, Lia Chafee, Brooke Coleman and Kori Pickett picking up victories. Coleman, a senior, set a new career high with an 86-point ride.
Texas A&M returns to action and opens its home season on Sunday, Oct. 10 when the Aggies host SMU in a hunter-seat only show at the Brazos County Expo Complex.