Feb. 7, 2009
AUBURN, Ala. - The top-ranked Auburn equestrian team (4-1) was handed its first loss of the season Saturday as seventh-ranked and conference rival South Carolina (4-4) defeated the Tigers 10-8. The Gamecocks defeated the Tigers 5-4 in Hunt Seat and 5-4 in Western.
"Most of the scores in this meet weren't so high," said Auburn head coach Greg Williams. "They weren't going to be hard to overcome, and that should have been something we should have been able to do on our own horses.
"We had some (riders) just not have a good plan and try to do too much.
We had some that just didn't ride with enough focus; they just sort of let our own horses take them out. We helped just give them a win today and that is something we can`t do."
South Carolina won two events and tied another. The Gamecocks took MVP honors in three events making up for the loss to Auburn on Oct. 4, 2008.
South Carolina won Hunt Seat Equitation over Fences 3-2 behind MVP Megan Massaro, who defeated Jessica Braswell 92-80. Other Gamecock winners included Rachel Koggan over Grace Socha 90-85 and Nicole Bourgeois over Dottie Grubb 85-80. Tiger winners included Elise Fraza over Eleanor Kunsman 82-72 and Anna Schierholz over Courtney Reese 91-87.
Auburn tied South Carolina in Hunt Seat Equitation on the Flat 2-2. South Carolina's Victoria Middleton won MVP honors defeating Ali Loprete 91-88. Other Gamecock winners include Megan Massaro over Rebecca Rifkin 83-79. Tiger winners included Jenny Reinhart over Sarah Stephens 84-79 and Katie Breedlove over Alex Haskell 74-71. Tying with a score of 86 were Auburn's Chelsea Anheuser and South Carolina's Carly Babcock.
South Carolina won Western Horsemanship 3-1. Auburn's Jessica Jones won MVP honors tying Hailey Thornton with a score of 74. Other Tiger winners include Sarah Whitaker over Amy Biffle 73.5-69. Gamecock winners included Emily Bookwalter over Kylie Miller 71-70, Katie Grossnickle over Shannon Hinton 68-67.5 and Maggie Fortune over Courtney Kobak 69.5-68.
Auburn won Western Reining 3-2. South Carolina's Chloe Gray won MVP honors defeating Ashton Fairey 72-71.5. Other Gamecock winners include Hailey Thornton over Kelsey George 72-67. Tiger winners included Paige Monfore over Rebekah Roof 71-65, Lyndsey Jordan over Lydia Roof 71-63.5 and Kim Pope over Amy Biffle 64-0 (0 refers to a no score because of a penalty).
Auburn travels to Athens, Ga., to face conference rival Georgia Feb. 28 at 1 p.m. CT.