WILMER, TX --- The Texas A&M equestrian team’s comeback attempt fell just short on the final ride of the day as the Aggies dropped their spring opener at SMU, 6-4, Friday morning at rainy BuckBranch Farms.

A&M (5-4) suffered the loss despite claiming the overall raw score and taking MVP honors in both disciplines of the competition, which featured only hunter seat riders. The Aggie western team will compete later this evening against TCU at the Fort Worth Stock Show (6 p.m.).

The Mustangs claimed a quick lead by taking the first four rides over fences before senior Lia Chafee began the rally with an MVP-winning 84-40 victory over SMU’s Courtney Line.

Trailing by three points entering equitation on the flat, A&M picked up quick wins by senior Marisa Bernal (84-78) over Line and freshman Haley Buchmiller (76-73) over Greer Hindle to pull within one. The teams then traded victories—including one by Aggie senior Hannah Soibelman—to set up the day’s final ride.

A win would deadlock the overall team score and be decided by raw points, in which the Aggies had the advantage, but the Mustangs’ Julianna Fischer eeked out a one-point win over Chafee, 80-79, to give SMU the overall victory.

Bernal was awarded MVP honors for her efforts on the flat.

Scoring updates throughout the western team’s show against TCU will be provided through the team's official twitter feed at twitter.com/AggieEquestrian and will also be available on aggieathletics.com.

SMU 6, TEXAS A&M 4
Friday, February 3, 2012 – BuckBranch Farms – Wilmer, Texas

Fences: SMU 4, A&M 1
Jordyn Peterson, SMU def. Kori Pickett, A&M, 73-64
Julianna Fischer, SMU def. Emily Williams, A&M, 76-71
Renick Townsend, SMU def. Kelsi Shevlin, A&M, 77-72
Emma Roberts, SMU def. Maggie Earle, A&M, 78-60
Lia Chafee, A&M (MVP) def. Courtney Line, SMU, 84-40
Raw Score: A&M 369, SMU 344

Flat: A&M 3, SMU 2
Marisa Bernal, A&M (MVP) def. Courtney Line, SMU, 84-78
Haley Buchmiller, A&M def. Greer Hindle, SMU, 76-73
Emma Roberts, SMU def. Maggie Earle, A&M, 83-82
Hannah Soibelman, A&M def. Renick Townsend, SMU, 80-79
Julianna Fischer, SMU def. Lia Chafee, A&M, 80-79
Raw Score: A&M 401, SMU 393

Total Raw Score: A&M 770, SMU 737
Records (Hunter Seat): A&M 5-4, SMU 6-4