March 25, 2017
AUBURN, Ala. ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" The No. 2 seed Auburn equestrian team's comeback bid fell just short as No. 1 seed Georgia held for a 10-9 win to capture the 2017 SEC Championship Saturday at the Auburn University Horse Center.
"I couldn't be more proud of our rides from start to finish today," head coach Greg Williams said. "I thought we rode well enough to beat anybody. Today didn't end the way we would have liked, but I'm looking forward to our chances at nationals."
The Bulldogs held a 6-3 advantage after the first half of competition with Equitation on the Flat and Reining remaining.
Auburn (9-4) cut the Georgia lead at the conclusion of Flat as the Tigers went 3-2 in the event. A trio of Tigers picked up wins with seniors Ashley Foster and Tory Hoft leading the way. Foster, a Brookeville, Md., product, put together a solid ride to score a 165 for a win. Hoft, of Raleigh, N.C., had one of the best rides of the day as she earned a great score of 175, beating Addy Cord's 141. Sophomore Hayley Iannotti added a 160-146 victory for Auburn.
It all came down to Reining as the Bulldogs held a slim 8-6 lead with five matches remaining. Freshman Kara Kaufmann kicked things off for Auburn with an outstanding ride, scoring a 144.5 to earn MOP honors. Junior Alexa Rivard followed with a 142-139.5 win over Graysen Stroud, locking things up at 8-all. Georgia, however, held on and took the next two wins to seal the team victory.
Sophomore Betsy Brown closed out the day with another great ride in Reining for the Tigers. The Waxhaw, N.C., product finished the championships undefeated as she edged Claudia Spreng, 143.5-143.
Auburn bested Georgia in Equitation Over Fences to open the day, going 3-1 in the event. Sophomore Caitlin Boyle was the discipline's MOP as she scored a 177 in her victory. Foster and Iannotti each picked up victories with Foster defeating Maddy Darst, 161-132, and Iannotti besting Emma Mandarino, 171-153.
Georgia riders captured all five points in Horsemanship.
Auburn continues the postseason at the NCEA Championships. The multi-day event is set for April 13-15 in the Extraco Events Center in Waco, Texas.
#1 GEORGIA 10, #2 AUBURN 9
Equitation on the Flat
Liza Finsness (UGA) def. Caitlin Boyle (AU), 160-144
Meg O'Mara (UGA)* def. Ashton Alexander (AU), 174-160
Ashley Foster (AU) def. Sydney Hutchins (UGA), 165-151
Tory Hoft (AU) def. Addyson Cord (UGA), 175-141
Hayley Iannotti (AU) def. Madison Newman (UGA), 160-146
Equitation Over Fences
Ashton Alexander (AU) tied Sydney Hutchins (UGA), 161-161
Caitlin Boyle (AU)* def. Liza Finsness (UGA), 177-77
Ashley Foster (AU) def. Maddy Darst (UGA), 161-132
Meg O'Mara (UGA) def. Alex Ladove (AU), 174-162
Hayley Iannotti (AU) def. Emma Mandarino (UGA), 171-153
Horsemanship
Graysen Stroud (UGA) def. Lauren Diaz (AU), 149.5-148.5
Payton Anderson (UGA) def. Hannah Stephens (AU), 149.5-148.5
Bailey Anderson (UGA) def. Megan Rauh (AU), 154-146
Sammie Johnson (UGA)* def. Kelsey Jung (AU), 154.5-154
Madison Anger (UGA) def. Kara Kaufmann (AU), 150.5-144
Reining
Kara Kaufmann (AU)* def. Charley Thiel (UGA), 144.5-133
Alexa Rivard (AU) def. Graysen Stroud (UGA), 142-139.5
Kyndall Harper (UGA) def. Blair McFarlin (AU), 143-139.5
Lindsey Cheek (UGA) def. Lauren Diaz (AU), 139.5-138.5
Betsy Brown (AU) def. Claudia Spreng (UGA), 143.5-143
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