SWEET BRIAR, Va. — The 2019-20 NCEA season opened with Sweet Briar grabbing three of the five available points in fences as the Vixens hosted No. 9 Fresno State at the Harriet Howell Rogers Riding Center.
 
Despite winning fences, Sweet Briar was edged on the day by the visiting Bulldogs.

Competing in fences to begin Saturday's meet, Sweet Briar sophomore Maggie Fraley (White Haven, Pa.) got the day started with a 78.0 on Dimitri. The Bulldogs' Erica Rosinski delivered an 80.0 on Divo in Fresno States first ride of the day, which was followed by a 50.0 on Ray by Sweet Briar junior Katie Balding (Williamsburg, Va.).
 
The final Vixens' rider in the opening round of fences, sophomore Britt Larson-Jackson (Washington, D.C.) posted a 55 on Dorado before the second round of fences got underway.
 
Sweet Briar's first point was secured by Fraley's early ride, when Hana Beiling came up short with a 77.0. Junior Lily Peterson (Ashland, Va.) was set to ride against Rosinski's 80 on Divo, and delivered an 81.0 to notch a second Vixens point. Peterson's 81 is the third highest fences score of her collegiate career.
 
Balding's score held up with Hailey Livingston scoring a 45 on fences, to earn a third fences point for Sweet Briar. An impressive 83 from Ana Bertozzi, who would earn most outstanding performer in fences for Fresno State, in the opening round was enough to earn the Bulldogs a first point.
 
Annastasia Anstead earned a second point for Fresno State with a 73 on Dorado.
 
Sweet Briar opens the season with a fences victory against a ranked opponent for the second-straight season after earning the fences advantage over SMU in last season's opener and brings Sweet Briar's all-time fences record to 8-8.
 
Following fences, which saw the collegiate debut of first-year Sophie Kane (Carbondale, Colo.), flat kicked off for Sweet Briar with the first collegiate ride for first-year Maggie Saunders (Troy, Va.). Saunders opened her collegiate career riding Luciano to a 72.0 on flat.
 
Peterson posted a 74.0 on Mulligan to close out the Vixens' opening round of flat.
 
Kane tallied a 71.0 on dance, but Anstead picked up a point for Fresno State. Cecily Hayes earned MOP on flat with an 80 on Luciano and a second Bulldogs' point.
 
Balding earned 66.0 on Cardino, while Larson-Jackson closed out the day with a 71.0 on Emmett. Larson-Jackson's ride was the lone Sweet Briar flat point with her ride edging out a 67.0 from Alivia Hart.
 
The season continues for Sweet Briar as the Vixens visit Georgia on September 27 with rides scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. in Bishop, Ga.