Feb. 24, 2007
AUBURN - The Auburn equestrian team (4-3) defeated South Carolina 1395.5-1386 on Saturday. Auburn swept South Carolina in the western events 6-4, but lost both hunt seat events 6-4.
"The western team did a great job," said Auburn head coach Greg Williams. "We knew that with South Carolina's good hunt seat team, we would have to make up the difference with western. We were able to do that. I knew that it was going to be very close. There are a couple of points that I wish we would have picked up to prevent that, but I can't be any prouder."
The meet began with Auburn taking a 3-2 win in reining. Senior Julie Gibbes, who is undefeated, and junior Kimberly Tidwell had the high rides of the section with a 71. South Carolina then game back to defeat the Tigers 3-2 in equitation, tying the score 5-5.
Out of the break, Auburn finished horsemanship with a 3-2 win. Clinching the win, the western team put the Tigers up 8-7.
"The western girls were great," said Gibbes. "We stepped up and had good rides in both reining and horsemanship. We worked horsemanship all week, and it really paid off. It was a big western win."
The Gamecocks took three of the first four points in over fences, inching ahead of Auburn 10-9. Sophomore Jessica Braswell went in the arena representing the tying score. She outscored her opponent 81-75 to tie the meet at 10.
Going to the raw score, Auburn defeated South Carolina by only 9.5 points.
"It was close," said Braswell. "I didn't think about it before I went into the arena. I tried to stay focus and give it the best shot that I could. It worked out."
The Tigers continue its two-meet weekend Sunday at 1 pm against UT-Martin at the Auburn Equestrian Center.