Jan. 28, 2012
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Auburn, Ala. -
The top-ranked Auburn equestrian team opened the spring portion of the season by defeating No. 4 Oklahoma State, 11-8, Saturday afternoon at the Auburn University Horse Center. The Tigers improved to 7-1 while the Cowgirls fell to 2-4.
"Coming off the break, you never really know what you have," Auburn head coach Greg Williams said. "I was really happy with the way the coaches were doing everything. I thought the coaches absolutely had them prepared. As good as I knew Oklahoma State was, I really didn't expect them to come in and hit that hard right in the beginning. They came here and went all-out. It was a tough fought meet, and I was glad our gals held out all the way to the end. They never stopped. They kept bringing it right back. That's why they won because they just stayed in it."
Auburn began the day with Equitation over Fences in the Hunt Seat arena and Horsemanship in the Western arena. At the halfway point of the meet, the score was tied, 5-5, as the Tigers defeated Oklahoma State, 3-2, in Equitation over Fences, but fell, 3-2, in Horsemanship.
Maggie McAlary was named MVP in Equitation over Fences, besting Oklahoma State's Ali Rose, 81-74. Christina Lin defeated Samantha Harrison, 80-73, and Jennifer Waxman added a third point for the Tigers, defeating Sammy Elser 81-78.
In Horsemanship, Indy Roper defeated Lindsey McMullen, 73-71.5, and Stephanie Rucci bested Marissa Dalton, 72.5-66.
The meet came down to the final two events as Auburn took home MVP titles in both Hunt Seat Equitation on the Flat and Western Reining and won both events.
In Equitation on the Flat, MVP Jennifer Delman defeated Ali Rose, 81-74. Other Auburn winners were Maggie McAlary, besting Andrea Robbins, 77-75, and Anna Becker, defeating Allison Dooman, 77-75. The Tigers won the event, 3-2.
In the Western arena, Auburn won Reining, 3-1, behind MVP Indy Roper as she defeated Caroline Daniels, 71.5-70. Jillian Fuller bested Katy Krshka, 70-64.5, and Stephanie Rucci beat Christy McElreath, 69-68.
The Tigers return to action Saturday, February 18, as they take on rival Georgia at 1 p.m. CT at the Auburn University Horse Center. Admission is free.