Delaware State Hornets Earn #5 Ranking In National Collegiate Equestrian Association Poll

WACO, Texas -- The Delaware State equestrian Flat riders are No. 5 in the country, according to a National Collegiate Equestrian Association poll released today. The NCEA has announced the first set of Event Rankings for 2017-18 collegiate season, as determined by the group’s selection committee.

Delaware State ranks fifth in Equitation on the Flat poll. Among the Hornets’ highlights on the Flat this season was an upset in the event of No. 1 Georgia on Nov. 17. The Hornets won three of the five rides, led by freshman Erin Gordon (Highlands Ranch, Co.) who topped the team with a winning score of 78. Hayley Anderson (sr.; Ne Boston, N.H.) also earned a point on the Flat for the Hornets with a score of 75 vs. UGA. Molly Gara (so.; Chicago, Ill.) captured Delaware State’s third point on the Flat with 73, while DSU’s Zoe Kirsch (fr.; Pittstown, N.J.) posted a solid mark of 76 in the Georgia contest.

Also this season, Anderson was selected as the United Equestrian Conference Flat Rider of the Month for Oct. 2017 after posting a 2-1 record and earning two Most Outstanding Performer awards. She had an average score of 84.33 in the month, including two 90-plus marks. The average victory margin was 10.5 in her two October wins.

In the summer of 2017, the NCEA Board of Directors approved a change to the National Championship format which includes four Event titles that will be included in the April 2018 NCEA National Championship. The Event titles will be determined through a head-to-head bracket format in each of the four events that comprise a head-to-head in-season meet. The Event rankings are determined by the NCEA Selection Committee and are released to the National Championship. The final set of rankings will be used to seed teams for the Event title competitions in Waco, Texas.

The Delaware State equestrian team will begin the 2018 portion of its schedule on Feb. 9 at South Dakota State. The next home competition is scheduled for March 2-3 against South Carolina and Baylor.

JANUARY 16, 2018 EVENT RANKINGS: EQUITATION ON THE FLAT

1. SMU

2. AUBURN

3. TEXAS A&M

4. FRESNO ST.

5. DELAWARE STATE

6. GEORGIA

7. OKLAHOMA ST.

8. UT-MARTIN

9. SOUTH DAKOTA ST.

10. SOUTH CAROLINA

DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS