FRESNO, Calif. - The No. 6 Fresno State equestrian team opened up the spring season with two dominant wins over Delaware State and the University of Minnesota Crookston at the Student Horse Center on Thursday. Fresno State defeated Delaware State 16-4 to open the day, and followed up with a 18-2 win over Minnesota Crookston to close out the day.
The Bulldogs took home seven Most Outstanding Performer honors, of the eight total. Olivia Ferro took home the fences MOP in both meets. Against Delaware State, Paris Mahoney earned the flat honor, and Emma Hanson earned the horsemanship honor. Against UMC, Yasmin Roman earned the flat award, Abby Goddard earned the horsemanship honor and Alana Becker took home the reining MOP.
Fresno State improves to 6-3 overall on the year.
How it happened
Fresno State and Delaware State kicked things off in the horsemanship and fences first. The Bulldogs took the horsemanship 4-1 with wins by Hailey Olson, Kendra Lee, Emma Hanson and Aubrey Gerdes. Hanson won the MOP honor with a 76.5 to her opponent's 74. It was her first career point, and first career MOP honor.
In the fences, the Bulldogs also won 4-1. Paris Mahoney, Paloma Primavera, Molly Stewart and Olivia Ferro earned their points for the 'Dogs. Ferro earned the MOP with an 80 against the Hornets.
Keeping the fences up, Fresno State warmed up to face UMC in that jumping seat event and moved on to take on Delaware State in the reining.
The Bulldogs swept the fences against UMC with points by Primavera, Ferro, Pritchard, Stewart and Mahoney. Ferro picked up her second MOP of the day with a 84-50 win.
In the western arena, Fresno State defeated Delaware State 4-1 in the reining. The Bulldogs earned points by Shelby Robinette, Alana Becker, Adrianna Runzo and Alison Heupel. Becker saw the highest score for the 'Dogs with a 71.5 while Robinette had the largest margin of victory with a 68.5-64.5.
The Bulldogs and Hornets wrapped things up in the flat with Fresno State taking another 4-1 win. Yasmin Roman, Stewart, Mahoney and Autumn Bradbury earned their points. In her MOP ride, Mahoney scored an 81 to her opponent's 76.
UMC earned its only two points of the meet in the horsemanship. The Bulldogs' three points were earned by Goddard, Lee and Gerdes. Goddard earned the MOP with a score of 74.
The Bulldogs swept in the flat with points from Mahoney, Bradbury, Lindvall, Roman and Stewart. Roman earned her second MOP of the season with an 80-68 win.
Rounding things out in the reining, the Bulldogs saw another 5-0 sweep. Becker, Robinette, Brogan Hill, Runzo and Heupel secured their points. Becker earned her first MOP of the season with a 72-70 win. Her 72 on Thursday was a season-best.
Up Next
Fresno State remains home to face Baylor on Feb. 7 at the Student Horse Center.