FOURTH-SEEDED SKYHAWKS FALL 12-4 IN UEC CHAMPIONSHIP SEMIFINALS AGAINST SMU

Friday, March 22

Martin, Tenn.

10 A.M.

UT Martin

SMU

FOURTH-SEEDED SKYHAWKS FALL 12-4 IN UEC CHAMPIONSHIP SEMIFINALS AGAINST SMU

3/22/2019 5:12:00 PM | Equestrian

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Results

MARTIN, Tenn. – The University of Tennessee at Martin's quest for the 2019 United Equestrian Conference title was dashed today as the Skyhawks put up a fight before falling 12-4 to top-seeded SMU in the tournament semifinals.

UT Martin (5-7) split the four awarded team points in equitation on the flat but could only produce two more individual victories the rest of the way. The Skyhawks fell by only six raw points in equitation over fences and were also within striking distance in reining raw points against a Mustang squad that is currently ranked No. 6 in the national polls.

Monika Zoromski was responsible for exactly half of UT Martin's head-to-head wins today, drumming up victories in both Hunter Seat events. The senior out of Saukville, Wis. earned triumphs with 153 points in equitation over fences and 129 points in equitation on the flat.

All-UEC honorees Kelby Kane and Hannah McDonald also generated victories for the Skyhawks today. Kane, who was named UEC Freshman of the Year and an all-conference performer in equitation on the flat, came through with 142 points in the aforementioned event. Less than 24 hours after she was voted on to the All-UEC reining list, McDonald produced a win with 138 points in that event today.

Eight of UT Martin's 12 losses came by six points or less, including all three setbacks in equitation over fences. Brooke Pfeiffer (146 points) came the closest to notching a victory but she was narrowly edged by one point. Kane also compiled a team-best 165 points in the event.

Lucy Eier accumulated a team-high 147 points in horsemanship while Abbie Hopkins additionally generated a team-best 147 points in equitation on the flat. Maddie Mykolaitis (136.5 points) and Noel Meadows (120.5 points on a re-ride) nearly claimed a win in reining but each fell by four points apiece.

"We're obviously disappointed in the results today," Skyhawk head coach Meghan Corvin said. "Certainly, we improved on some things that we struggled with yesterday. We made progress - we saw much improvement in equitation over fences but still struggled to really get the points on the board that we needed to overtake SMU. We're still really excited about hosting the United Equestrian Conference Championships but disappointed that we didn't come home with that championship as the hosts."

In today's other semifinals matchup, No. 3 Fresno State upset No. 2 Delaware State by a 9-7 margin. The No. 1 seed SMU Mustangs will take on the third-seeded Fresno State Bulldogs with the UEC championship trophy on the line on Saturday, March 23 at 10 a.m. in the Ned McWherter Agricultural Pavilion.