RUSTBURG, Va. --- For the second time in as many weeks, University of Lynchburg riders lift a piece of conference hardware as the nationally second-ranked Hornets used tiebreakers to defeat top-ranked Sweet Briar College to claim the ODAC Single Discipline Equestrian Championship title.
This was the second-ever season for ODAC NCEA-style single-discipline equestrian with the Hornets hoisting its trophy for a second time. This year's result was a bit different than last year's 7-3 triumph for the Hornets over the Vixens. Overall score tiebreakers were needed after Lynchburg and Sweet Briar tied, 5-5, after 10 rides over fences and 10 more on the flat. The Hornets racked up 777.5 points to overcome the Vixens' 674.0 markers to pair this championship with the ODAC traditional equestrian title they won a week ago Thursday.
The top four squads in the NCEA's rankings -- currently Sweet Briar, Lynchburg, Dartmouth and the College of Charleston -- will compete in the NCEA National Championship slated for April 16-19 at the World Equestrian Center in Ocala, Fla.
Sweet Briar led Saturday's showdown after the opening fences session. The first point of the day went to Maggie Booth with an 83.5 average following judges scores of 85 and 82. Naomi Dachis made it 2-0 SBC with an 81.5 score (77-86), and Katherine Atherton picked up the Vixen's third point to close the session at 81.5 (80-83). Lynchburg's Lucy Metzler at 83.5 (83-84) and Abigail Zemp at 65.5 (63-68) accounted for the Hornets' two points in the third and fourth matchups, respectively.
On the flat, Sweet Briar went ahead, 4-2, after Wyette Fallon won the first matchup with a 76.5 score (77-76). Lynchburg won the next three showdowns with Fallyn Belcastro posting an 84.5 (82-87), Devyn Borden earning a 78.0 (77-79), and Metzler garnering a second point for a 5-4 lead at 83.5 (86-81). Ella Peterson won the final matchup with a 72.5 (70-75) for SBC, leaving Lynchburg with a 3-2 win for the session and knotting the overall tally at 5-5.
TOURNAMENT MOP - ON THE FLAT: Lucy Metzler, Lynchburg
TOURNAMENT MOP - OVER FENCES: Maggie Booth, SBC
ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM - ON THE FLAT
- Lucy Metzler, Lynchburg
- Fallyn Belcastro, Lynchburg
- Willow Wright, Bridgewater
- Wyette Felton, Sweet Briar
ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM - OVER FENCES
- Margaret Brown, Bridgewater
- Olivia Caramouche, Sewanee
- Katherine Atherton, Sweet Briar
- Maggie Booth, Sweet Briar