A&M Downs Delaware State, 7-6

Friday, September 23

Dover, Del.

3:00 PM

Texas A&M

Delaware State

Sep 23, 2011 | Equestrian

By: Texas A&M Athletics

Junior Emma Myers scored a one-point win in a winner-take-all ride-off to lift the Texas A&M equestrian team to a 7-6 victory over Delaware State at the Gambler's Choice Equestrian Center in the season opener for both teams.

The Aggies (1-0) held a 6-5 lead after reining, but after a pair of draws it would take two re-rides to determine the winner. The Hornets (0-1) claimed the first to tie the score at six, but Myers outscored her opponent, McKenzie Trueba, 66.5-65.5, to seal the win for A&M.

In a strong showing Friday, the Aggies claimed three of four possible MVP awards in the respective disciplines.

The first half of the show was held concurrently, with horsemanship and fences competitions going on at the same time. Junior Kori Pickett got things off to a good start, claiming MVP honors after a 77-60 victory over DSU's Breann Huyett over fences. Pickett's win, combined with an MVP-winning 73-point ride by junior Carey Nowacek in horsemanship and a pair of victories by juniors Amanda Brightwell and Cassie Mantor, gave A&M a 4-3 lead at the halfway point.

Heavy rains then forced the remainder of the competition indoors, and it was then the Hornets began to grab some momentum. After two wins and a draw on the flat, Delaware State tied the show at 5 heading into the final discipline. Leading the Aggies on the flat was senior Lia Chafee, who tallied a 2-point win over DSU's Shelby Bonniville.

Senior Courtney Dawe started things off well for the A&M reiners with a 74-point MVP ride and a 16 ½-point victory over the Hornets' Kali Voshell to put the Aggies up, 6-5. After Becca Murray tied with her opponent, both Myers and senior Abigail Grabein were forced to re-ride, setting up the dramatic finish.

The victory was Texas A&M's sixth in a row in season openers dating back to the start of the varsity equestrian format in the fall of 2006, and the Aggies' second in as many tries over the Hornets.

The Aggies wrap up their road trip on Saturday against Fresno State. Show time is set for 8 a.m. (CT) and updates will be available via twitter at @AggieEquestrian.

TEXAS A&M 7, DELAWARE STATE 6
Gambler's Choice Equestrian Center – Dover, Delaware
Records; A&M (1-0), DSU (0-1)

HUNTER SEAT: DSU 4, A&M 2

Equitation over Fences: DSU 2, A&M 1
Kori Pickett (MVP), A&M def. Breann Huyett, DSU, 77-60
Erin Engard, DSU def. Lia Chafee, A&M, 67-62
Alyssa Berfield, DSU tied CiCi Riddle, A&M, 65-65
Caroline Foltz, DSU def. Emily Williams, A&M, 66-64

Equitation on the Flat: DSU 2, A&M 1
Lia Chafee, A&M def. Shelby Bonniville, DSU, 72-70
Erin Engard, DSU def. Kristin Bell, A&M, 62-0
Caroline Foltz (MVP), DSU, def. Paige Russell, A&M, 77-69
Alyssa Berfield, DSU tied Maggie Earle, A&M, 64-64

WESTERN: A&M 5, DSU 2

Horsemanship: A&M 3, DSU 1
Amanda Brightwell, A&M def. McKenzie Trueba, DSU, 70.5-69.5
Cassie Mantor, A&M def. Shelby Bonneville, DSU, 72-67.5
Carey Nowacek (MVP), A&M def. Brittni Collins, DSU, 73-72.5
Tayler Scuse, DSU def. Katie Lisabeth, A&M, 72-65.5

Reining: A&M 2, DSU 1
Courtney Dawe (MVP), A&M def. Kali Voshell, DSU, 74-57.5
Becca Murray, A&M tied Breann Huyett, DSU, 72-72
Megan Foley, DSU def. Abigail Grabein, A&M, 68-65
Emma Myers, A&M def. McKenzie Trueba, DSU, 66.5-65.5