Columbia, South Carolina, September 30, 2025
News Summary
The No. 4 South Carolina equestrian team achieved a significant win against the No. 2 Southern Methodist University in their season opener. This victory, their first over SMU in five meetings, featured standout performances, especially from senior Mattie McNeill, who earned a career-high score in Reining. The Gamecocks led initially, faced a comeback from SMU, but ultimately clinched the match with a final score of 10-9. Following this thrilling opener, South Carolina prepares to compete against Texas A&M.
Columbia, South Carolina – The No. 4 South Carolina equestrian team secured a thrilling 10-9 victory over the No. 2 Southern Methodist University (SMU) in their season opener at One Wood Farm on September 26, 2025. This victory marks a significant achievement for South Carolina as it is their first win against SMU in their last five meetings.
Senior Mattie McNeill delivered an outstanding performance, earning a career-high score of 72 in Reining. Her win by just half a point clinched the decisive 10th point for the Gamecocks. South Carolina also dominated the jumping seats competition, with both Most Outstanding Performer honors awarded to the team; Natalie Jayne was recognized for her performance in Fences, while Sarah Rabb was awarded for her Flat performance.
The match opened strongly for South Carolina as they took an early lead of 2-0 in Fences, with Alyssa Bauer and Natalie Jayne both claiming victories. However, SMU quickly responded, collecting three consecutive points, which included wins in both Fences and the first Horsemanship point. The game saw Grace Raab secure a tight 80-79 victory in Fences, leveling the score at 3-3.
After SMU took the lead with the subsequent Horsemanship point, wins by Carly Jenkins and Jenna Berghorst allowed South Carolina to regain their advantage at halftime, leading the match 5-4.
In the second half, the teams traded points in Flat, with Jayne regaining the lead for South Carolina at 6-5. However, SMU responded by winning a Flat point and then taking the lead again in Reining at 7-6.
South Carolina’s momentum shifted when Sarah Rabb scored an 83 on Flat, surpassing SMU’s top score of 78, igniting a rally for the Gamecocks. Olivia Cardi further solidified their lead with a score of 72.5 in Reining, bringing the score to 8-7. In her first collegiate meet, Vanessa McCaughley delivered a crucial one-point win in Flat, increasing the advantage to 9-7 with only three Reining points remaining.
McNeill’s decisive career-high score not only eclipsed her opponent’s 71.5 but also solidified South Carolina’s victory, concluding the match 10-9. Looking ahead, the Gamecocks will face off against SEC rival Texas A&M on October 17, 2025, who is currently ranked fifth in the NCEA Preseason Coaches Poll. Fans are encouraged to check GamecocksOnline.com and the team’s social media accounts for updates.
Key Match Scores
| Event | South Carolina | SMU |
|---|---|---|
| Fences – Alyssa Bauer | 84 | 83 |
| Fences – Natalie Jayne | 85 | 82 |
| Fences – Grace Raab | 80 | 79 |
| Reining – Olivia Cardi | 72.5 | |
| Reining – Mattie McNeill | 72 | 71.5 |
Frequently Asked Questions
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Additional Resources
- GamecocksOnline: Equestrian Rallies Past No. 2 SMU
- Wikipedia: South Carolina Gamecocks
- SMU Mustangs: Equestrian Second-Ranked Mustangs Fall
- Google Search: South Carolina Equestrian
- Auburn Tigers: Second Half Surge Leads No. 1 Auburn
- Google Scholar: Equestrian Competition South Carolina
- Georgia Bulldogs: Equestrian No. 7 Georgia to Host No. 8 South Carolina
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Equestrian
- SI: Upsets in Equestrian Conference Titles
- Google News: South Carolina Equestrian Victory
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