Feb. 16, 2017
AUBURN, Ala. -- The No. 4 Auburn equestrian team concludes the home portion of its 2016-17 season Saturday, Feb. 18, hosting UT Martin. The Tigers and the Skyhawks get things started at 1 p.m. CT at the Auburn University Horse Center. Admission is free.
"We get to ride with a chip on our shoulder again and get ready for a tough finish to the season," head coach Greg Williams said. "UT Martin is a team that will come in with nothing to lose and that's always a scary thing to face. I think we're ready to match that 'something to prove' attitude and I'm looking forward to a great meet Saturday."
The Tigers are set to honor their six seniors - Caroline Becker, Ashley Foster, Lena Hernig, Tory Hoft, Jacqueline Shilen, Hannah Stephens - prior to the start of the meet.
AUBURN LINEUP
Auburn (4-3, 2-2) will be represented by an experienced group of student-athletes Saturday vs. the Skyhawks.
Hunt Seat opens the day in Equitation Over Fences and will be led by senior Ashley Foster, who is 7-1 in the event this season. She will be joined by sophomores Ashton Alexander, Caitlin Boyle, and Hayley Iannotti, who all have eight starts so far this season in the event. Sophomore Alex Ladove will make her second start after scoring a team-best 86 points last week vs. Georgia.
Alexander, Boyle, Foster, and Iannotti will also represent Auburn in Equitation on the Flat. Senior Tory Hoft is set to compete in the event and enters the weekend with a 7-1 mark on Flat.
An experienced group will ride for the Tigers in Horsemanship as the crew has totaled 25 wins in the event this season. Freshman Kara Kaufmann is undefeated with a 6-0-1 record, while sophomores Megan Rauh and Lauren Diaz each have five wins. Senior Hannah Stephens and junior Kelsey Jung have added four wins a piece for the Tigers this season.
The Reining corps features an experienced trio in junior Alexa Rivard and sophomores Ali Fratessa and Blair McFarlin. Diaz and senior Lena Hernig also earned a spot in the lineup vs. the Skyhawks.
FIFTEENTH SEASON OF VARSITY EQUESTRIAN
The 2016-17 season marks the 15th year of varsity equestrian at Auburn. Head coach Greg Williams has guided the Tigers since the program was recognized by the Athletics Department and has amassed an impressive 122-51 overall record.
In 14 years, Auburn has earned four NCEA Championships (2006, 2011, 2013, 2016), one Southeastern Conference title (2016), three Southern Equestrian Conference crowns (2004, 2010, 2011) and three NCEA Hunt Seat championships (2008, 2011, 2013).
Individually, Auburn boasts 41 All-Americans and 34 All-SEC selections. The Southeastern Conference first began sponsoring equestrian in 2012-13.
AUBURN-UT MARTIN SERIES HISTORY
Saturday's meeting is the 11th time the two teams have squared off in a dual format. The Tigers are 10-0 over the Skyhawks with a 2-0 record at home.
UP NEXT
Auburn concludes the regular season with a tough road slate beginning with an SEC meet at South Carolina, Feb. 25. The Tigers close things out in Texas, facing No. 1 Baylor (March 3) and No. 2 Texas A&M (March 4).
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