April 15, 2017
WACO, Texas -- The No. 3 seed Auburn equestrian team's quest for a national championship repeat came up short Saturday as the Tigers fell in a tightly-contested match to SEC rival and No. 2 seed Georgia, 9-7, in the NCEA semifinals. The two teams faced off at the Extraco Events Center in Waco, Texas.
"It was a heartbreaker, but all we can do now is get ready for next year," head coach Greg Williams said. "It hurts not walking away with a championship for the seniors, but we're going to be committed to win it all next year for them. Kudos to the SEC for having to teams in the final and we wish them both the best of luck. It's great that the trophy will stay in the conference again this year."
With the loss, Auburn concludes the season with a 10-5 mark overall.
Georgia moved on to face Texas A&M in the NCEA Championship set to start later Saturday. The Aggies advanced after defeating TCU, 16-0.
The Tigers and Georgia battled to a 4-4 tie following Equitation Over Fences and Reining.
On the Hunt Seat side, sophomores Ashton Alexander and Hayley Iannotti put together outstanding rides for the Tigers to go undefeated in the event for nationals. Alexander topped Georgia's Meg O'Mara, 174-168, while Iannotti's 170 points bested Emma Mandarino's 162.
In Reining, sophomore Betsy Brown continued her winning streak as she came away with the victory over Graysen Stroud, 135.5-133. Junior Alexa Rivard had a great ride on Pep for Auburn, defeating Kyndall Harper, 139-137.
After Georgia took the first point in Equitation on the Flat, Iannotti came back with a point as she topped Addyson Cord, 170-160. With the win, the Wellington, Fla., product concluded her season with a 12-1 mark in the event. Senior Ashley Foster bested her opponent for Auburn, winning 175-145. The Bulldogs, however, would take the final point.
Freshman Kara Kaufmann finished nationals undefeated in Horsemanship. The Belvidere, N.J., product topped Payton Anderson, 149-144.5.
#2 GEORGIA 9, #3 AUBURN 7
Equitation on the Flat
Meg O'Mara (UGA) def. Ashton Alexander (AU), 177-173
Hayley Iannotti (AU) def. Addyson Cord (UGA), 170-160
Ashley Foster (AU) def. Maddie Newman (UGA), 175-145
Liza Finsness (UGA) def. Caitlin Boyle (AU), 163-153
Equitation Over Fences
Ashton Alexander (AU) def. Meg O'Mara (UGA), 174-168
Liza Finsness (UGA) def. Caitlin Boyle (AU), 173-161
Sydney Hutchins (UGA) def. Ashley Foster (AU), 152-110
Hayley Iannotti (AU) def. Emma Mandarino (UGA), 170-162
Horsemanship
Bailey Anderson (UGA) def. Lauren Diaz (AU), 155-146.5
Sammie Johnson (UGA) def. Hannah Stephens (AU), 133.5-129.5
Kara Kaufmann (AU) def. Payton Anderson (UGA), 149-144.5
Graysen Stroud (UGA) def. Kelsey Jung (AU), 150.5-132
Reining
Betsy Brown (AU) def. Graysen Stroud (UGA), 135.5-133
Alexa Rivard (AU) def. Kyndall Harper (UGA), 139-137
Lindsey Cheek (UGA) def. Lauren Diaz (AU), 125-124.5
Claudia Spreng (UGA) def. Blair McFarlin (AU), 139.5-139
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