FRESNO, Calif. — Freshman
Carly Sweeney earned Most Outstanding Performance awards in both fences and on the flat, joining teammate
Ella Longo with 2-0 records in a meet that came down to the final rides of the day, but host and No. 5-ranked Fresno State had just enough to edge UC Davis, 10-9, on Thursday afternoon at the Student Horse Center in Fresno, Calif.
It was the second meet against the Bulldogs decided by a 10-9 score, joining the season-opening battle that came down to the final ride of the night. The Aggies fell to 0-3 overall with the loss.
With a 10-point win in fences and a six-point triumph on the flat, Sweeney become only the second Aggie to win a pair of MOP awards in the same meet, joining
Sabin Marquardt who did so in the same two events against Fresno State on Nov. 15, 2019. They are the second and third MOP awards for Sweeney this season after she earned the honor on the flat in the season opener against the Bulldogs.
Sweeney's three awards this season stand behind only Marquardt's four awards in 2019-20 on both the program's single-season and career lists.
UC Davis trailed 9-6 after reining, getting wins from
Amber Nusser, who posted her first win of the year with a 67-65.5 win over Lexee Padrick, and
Macey Newkirk, who defeated Bailey Alexander for the third time this year with a 68-67.5 win.
The Aggies nearly took two other points in the event, with two of their head-to-head losses decided by half a point each.
Lauren Langbaum was edged by Paley Capachi, 68.5-68.0, and
Charlize Zuraek dropped a narrow decision to Julianne Kelley by the score of 69.0-68.5.
That sent the meet to the flat, where UC Davis would need to win at least four of the head-to-head rides to force a tie. Longo and
Nicole Beales earned points to lead-off the flat, but Cecily Hayes took her head-to-head battle with
Sierra Gundersen, forcing the Aggies to win the final two to sent the meet to a tiebreaker.
Keely Laughlin scored a season-high 75 on her ride, but that was matched by Ana Bertozzi, as Sweeney posted her win over Sara Tuck in the final ride of the day.
UC Davis opened the day with a 3-2 win in fences, marking the third consecutive win in the event against the Bulldogs and improving the Aggies to 5-2 in the event in the seven all-time meetings with Fresno State.
Gundersen earned her first win of the year with a 72, Longo posting her second-highest score of the season in fences with a 77 to move to 3-0 in the event this season, while Sweeney scored the first point of the day with a season-high 79.
In horsemanship,
Maddie Gregory netted the Aggies' lone point in the event, scoring a 72.0-64.5 win over Emily Maul in the third head-to-head meeting between the two this season.
Sarah Finkel made her debut in the event, scoring a 72.5, while
Jordan Schween scored a season-high 71.5 in her ride against the Bulldogs' Brooklyn Moch.
UC Davis and Fresno State meet one more time this season on Saturday (March 13) at Noon at the UC Davis Equestrian Center. Live scoring will be available at
https://ucdavisaggies.com/sports/2021/3/5/equestrian-live-scoring-FresnoState-031321.aspx.
#5 FRESNO STATE 10, UC DAVIS 9
March 11, 2021 • Student Horse Center • Fresno, Calif.
Fences (UC Davis, 3-2)
Cecily Hayes (FSU) def.
Keely Laughlin (UCD), 75-55
Carly Sweeney (UCD)* def. Ana Bertozzi (FSU), 79-69
Ella Longo (UCD) def. Grace Mathias (FSU), 77-76
Sierra Gundersen (UCD) def. Sara Tuck (FSU), 72-67
Lizzie Stodden (FSU) def.
Nicole Beales (UCD), 74-36
Flat (UC Davis, 3-1-1)
Ella Longo (UCD) def. Taylor Holstead (FSU), 63-62
Nicole Beales (UCD) def. Grace Mathias (FSU), 70-69
Cecily Hayes (FSU) def.
Sierra Gundersen (UCD), 72-69
Keely Laughlin (UCD) tied Ana Bertozzi (FSU), 75-75
Carly Sweeney (UCD)* def. Sara Tuck (FSU), 70-64
Horsemanship (Fresno State, 4-1)
Hannah Buijs (FSU) def.
Amber Nusser (UCD), 73.5-72.5
Alexis Steele (FSU) def.
Kayla Hickey (UCD), 73.5-71.5
Maddie Gregory (UCD) def. Emily Maul (FSU), 72.0-64.5
Kameron Thorn (FSU)* def.
Sarah Finkel (UCD), 75.5-72.5
Brooklyn Moch (FSU) def.
Jordan Schween (UCD), 73.0-71.5
Reining (Fresno State, 3-2)
Paley Capachi (FSU) def.
Lauren Langbaum (UCD), 68.5-68.0
Ashley Jackson (FSU)* def.
Kendal Scheiner (UCD), 69.5-66.5
Julianne Kelley (FSU) def.
Charlize Zuraek (UCD), 69.0-68.5
Macey Newkirk (UCD) def. Bailey Alexander (FSU), 68.0-67.5
Amber Nusser (UCD) def. Lexee Padrick (FSU), 67.0-65.5
* denotes Most Outstanding Player
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