Oct. 3, 2014

Official Scoresheet

Gamecock junior Samantha Kraus won her second career Most Outstanding Player award on Friday, as she posted an event-high score (84) in equitation on the flat to win her point.

BLYTHEWOOD, S.C. – Fifth-ranked South Carolina dropped its SEC opener to No. 1 Georgia, 11-9, on Friday at One Wood Farm. The Gamecocks drop to 0-2 overall and 0-1 in conference action, while the Bulldogs are now 1-0 overall and in SEC play

“I’m disappointed in the loss because there are places we could have ridden better,” South Carolina head coach Boo Major said. I am very proud of the effort made by the entire team. It was tied all the way up until the last ride but just wasn’t in the cards for us today.”

The Gamecocks scored the opening point of Friday’s meet, when South Carolina senior Katherine Schmidt topped Georgi’a Addy Cord, 85-82, in her 101st career ride as a Gamecock. The Bulldogs won the next jumping point and the first reining point to take a 2-1 lead, but South Carolina’s Amber Henter tied the score at two apiece when edged Bulldog rider Allison Haupt, 85-82. The Gamecocks took a 3-2 lead when redshirt junior Samantha Smith knocked off Georgia’s Megan Southam, 88-87.

Georgia won back-to-back points in the jumping and reining arenas to a take 4-3 lead, but the Gamecocks rallied with back-to-back reining points as senior Layla Choate and junior Sarah Bouchard helped give Carolina a 5-4 lead. Choate picked up a 72.5-66.5 win over Georgia’s Charley Thiel to win her second point of the season, and Bouchard followed with a 69.5-69 win over Lauren Tieche for her first point of the year. The Bulldogs won the final reining point to tie the meet at 5-5.

With equitation on the flat and horsemanship running simultaneously in the upper arena, the Gamecocks and Bulldogs traded points back and forth. Carolina look a 6-5 lead when junior Samantha Kraus won her second career MVP, knocking off Georgia’s Megan Southam, 84-79. The Gamecocks went up 7-5 a moments later when sophomore Courtney Allen edged the Bulldogs’ Bailey Anderson, 72-70.5, in the horsemanship ring.

But the Bulldogs rallied, winning five consecutive points to take a 10-7 lead. The Gamecocks stayed in it, when western captain Sam Chiodo defeated Georgia’s Heather Schmidt, 74.5-71.5 to cut the Bulldogs’ lead to 10-8. Moments later, senior Adele Norton cut Georgia’s lead to one point when she knocked off the Bulldogs’ Emma Schauder, 74-68. But after being a granted a re-ride, Georgia’s Rachel Kolb edged Gamecock sophomore Bailey Mierzejewski, 72.5-72, preserving the win for the Bulldogs.

The Gamecocks continue SEC action next Friday, when South Carolina travels to Auburn, Ala. to face the Auburn Tigers. Friday’s meet will begin at 4 p.m. ET at the Auburn University Horse Center.

SC-UGA Play-by-Play
1-0 Katherine Schmidt defeats Addy Cord, 85-82, on Batman.
1-1 Liza Finsness defeats Alexa Anthony, 86-76, on Keaton.
1-2 Kyndall Harper defeats Bailey Walters, 73-64, on Puzzle.
2-2 Amber Henter defeats Allison Haupt, 85-82, on Cody.
3-2 Samantha Smith defeats Megan Southam, 88-87, on Indie.
3-3 Claudia Spreng defeats Cody McMillion, 69.5-68.5, on Puffin.
3-4 Kylee Arbuckle defeats Samantha Kraus, 74-72, on Eddie.
4-4 Layla Choate defeats Charley Thiel, 72.5-66.5, on Fiona.
5-4 Sarah Bouchard defeats Lauren Tieche, 69.5-69, on Wrangler.
5-5 Lauren Garmon defeats Haiden De Jane, 66.5-60.5, on Skeeto.
6-5 Samantha Kraus defeats Megan Southam, 84-79, on Keaton.
7-5 Courtney Allen defeats Bailey Anderson, 72-70.5, on Amos.
7-6 Kylee Arbuckle defeats Samantha Smith, 77-74, on Toby.
7-7 Addy Cord defeats Katherine Schmidt, 81-80, on Fina.
7-8 Paige Stawicki defeats Abigail Pait, 75.5-73.5, on Reggie.
7-9 Sara Parr defeats Kelsey Urban, 73-67.5, on Paddy.
7-10 Liza Finsness defeats Alexa Anthony, 72-71, on Mike.
8-10 Sam Chiodo defeats Heather Schmidt, 74.5-71.5, on Barbie.
9-10 Adele Norton defeats Emma Schauder, 74-68, on Tucker.
9-11: Rachel Kolb defeats Bailey Mierzejewski, 72.5-72, on Skeeto.
9-11: Final Score – Georgia defeats South Carolina.