MARTIN, Tenn. — Lauren Langbaum and
Charlize Zuraek each won their head-to-head rides in reining to bring the UC Davis equestrian team to within a point of Delaware State heading into the final rides of the meet, but the Hornets' Aidan Stetzer scored a 139 to claim a three-point win and lift them to an 9-7 victory over the Aggies in the quarterfinals of the Eastern College Athletic Conference Championships on Thursday at the Ned McWherter Agricultural Pavilion in Martin, Tenn.
Competing in its first-ever conference championship meet after the 2020 edition was cancelled due to the pandemic, UC Davis finished the meet at 1-4 overall, while Delaware State advances to face top-seeded SMU in a semifinal on Friday.
Zuraek's reining ride was enough to earn her the first Most Outstanding Performance honor of her career, standing as one of three Aggie MOPs for the meet.
Keely Laughlin earned her third career MOP thanks to her — and her second on the flat — after scoring a combined 162 on a re-ride, while
Jordan Schween scored a 147.5 in horsemanship for her first career MOP and the first by an Aggie in the event since
Katie Flinn on Feb. 7, 2020.
Ella Longo started the day off by earning UC Davis' lone point in fences, defeating Jordan Wicklund, 147-146, but Delaware State answered with three straight to take the early lead in the meet. Laughlin scored a team-high 153, including a 78 from one of the two judges, while
Carly Sweeney added a combined 149.
The Aggies answered back in a big way to tie things up at the halfway point of the meet, as Schween (147.5),
Amber Nusser (146.5), and
Maddie Gregory (141.5), all scored points, while
Sarah Finkel scored a 144.5, as UC Davis won horsemanship, 3-1. Schween earned a score of 74 from one of the judges, which would rank tied for sixth on the school's all-time list, to go with a 73.5, while Nusser added a second 73.5 and Gregory earned a 73.
It was the first time that UC Davis has won horsemanship since a 4-0 victory over UT-Martin on Feb. 7, 2020, and only the third time the Aggies have won the event in school history.
The Hornets regained the lead by taking three of the four head-to-head rides on the flat for a 7-5 advantage overall, with Laughlin earning scores of 84 — which would rank tied for seventh on the school's all-time list — and 78 en route to winning her point.
That set the stage for reining as Langbaum scored a 141 followed by Zuraek's 140 to bring the Aggies to within a point at 8-7. Needing a win to force the decision to a tiebreaker,
Macey Newkirk scored a 136 in her ride to close out the first half of the event, but Stetzer's pair of 69.5's topped the sophomore's score, clinching the Delaware State win.
2021 ECAC EQUESTRIAN CHAMPIONSHIP QUARTERFINALS
DELAWARE 8, #9 UC DAVIS 7
March 25, 2021 • Ned McWherter Agricultural Pavilion • Martin, Tenn.
Fences (Delaware State, 3-1)
Ella Longo (UCD) def. Jordan Wicklund (DSU), 147-146
Sydney Wicklund (DSU) def.
Sierra Gundersen (UCD), 142-132
Erin Gordon (DSU) def.
Keely Laughlin (UCD), 156-153
Zoe Kirsch (DSU)* def.
Carly Sweeney (UCD), 164-149
Flat (Delaware State, 3-1)
Sydney Wicklund (DSU) def.
Carly Sweeney (UCD), 153-143
Keely Laughlin (UCD)* def. Victoria Croston (DSU), 162-157
Zoe Kirsch (DSU) def.
Sierra Gundersen (UCD), 144-140
Erin Gordon (DSU) def.
Ella Longo (UCD), 146-0
Horsemanship (UC Davis, 3-1)
Maddie Gregory (UCD) def. Alexis Grogan (DSU), 141.5-133
Jordan Schween (UCD)* def. Kelsey McArthur (DSU), 147.5-144
Kelsey Gardiner (DSU) def.
Sarah Finkel (UCD), 145.5-144.5
Amber Nusser (UCD) def. Casey Johnson (DSU), 146.5-146
Reining (Tied 2-2)
Abby Craver (DSU) def.
Kendal Scheiner (UCD), 139-137.5
Lauren Langbaum (UCD) def. Amber Van Segbrook (DSU), 141-140.5
Charlize Zuraek (UCD)* def. Anastasia Brugger (DSU), 140-0
Aidan Stetzer (DSU) def.
Macey Newkirk (UCD), 139-136
* denotes Most Outstanding Performancce
ABOUT UC DAVIS
Over 700 student-athletes across 25 intercollegiate athletics teams, following the addition of equestrian and women's beach volleyball in 2018, represent the fifth-ranked public school in the nation.
Centrally located between San Francisco, Lake Tahoe and the Napa Valley, UC Davis is known nationwide as a leader in Title IX gender equity and leadership, ranks annually in the top 10 in diversity and students' social mobility and offers an unrivaled student-athlete experience that features the ideal combination of elite academics, Division I athletics and personal growth.
UC Davis is uncommonly committed to preparing student-athletes for life after graduation with Aggie EVO — an innovative student-athlete outcomes program that helps young women and men develop passions, gain real-world experience, and enjoy a successful launch to full-time employment or graduate school. Through Aggie EVO, Intercollegiate Athletics provides unmatched resources and a vast network of working professionals to ensure post-graduation success for its student-athletes.
