Oct. 6, 2017
AUBURN, Ala. ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" The No. 3 Auburn equestrian team continued its homestand Friday and Ole Miss in an exhibition meet, 16-2, at the Auburn University Equestrian Center.
"This group created a great team atmosphere today and it was fun to have some new faces compete," head coach Greg Williams said. "We really elevated our riding this week and I'm very happy with that. We now are going to get into the heavier NCEA meets and are going against strong teams so I'm very happy with not only today's efforts, but the week as a whole."
The Horsemanship crew got things started with a sweep, winning 5-0 vs. the Rebels. Freshmen Taylor Searles and Deanna Green tied for the team's top scorers as both picked up 74.5-0 wins in their individual matches. Green was awarded Most Outstanding Performer (MOP) honors. Classmate Anna Enos scored 69.5 points in her win, while redshirt junior Kelsey Jung bested Elizabeth Wooten, 72-70.5. Sophomore Sydney Hoffa capped the first half for Western with a solid 73 to take the final point in Horsemanship.
In Equitation Over Fences, sophomore Anna Claire Smith had a meet-best 81 points in her victory, securing the MOP nod. Junior Kennedy Knapic opened the event with a 79-78 win over Emory Barnes, while freshman Emma Crosbie earned 80 points in her first career victory at Auburn. Senior Caitlin Creel beat Shannon Hourin, 75-61, as the Tigers took four team points into intermission.
Following the break, the Equitation on the Flat corps finished with the sweep over Ole Miss and had a pair of riders earn 80+ points. Sophomore Becky Kozma was honored as MOP after outscoring her opponent by 24 points with an 83. Freshman Helen Ulrich totaled 82 points in the first victory of her career on The Plains.
Joining Kozma and Ulrich in the win column were juniors Mackenzie Michaels and Casey Schmitz and sophomore Lillian Wagner. Michaels topped Colleen Stimola, 75-54, while Schmitz bested Parker Walters, 71-55. Wagner finished with 73 points in her victory over Barnes.
The Tigers picked up a pair of wins in Reining, which saw only three matches compared to the usual five. Freshman Nicole Ellis kicked it off with a team-best 72 points and Searles capped the day with 68 points in her second victory of the meet.
The Tigers take a couple weeks off before hosting nationally-ranked Baylor at the Auburn University Equestrian Center, Oct. 21. The non-conference meet is set for 11 a.m. CT and admission is free.
#3 AUBURN 16, OLE MISS 2
Equitation on the Flat
Mackenzie Michaels (AU) def. Colleen Stimola (UM), 75-54
Casey Schmitz (AU) def. Parker Walters (UM), 71-55
Lillian Wagner (AU) def. Emory Barnes (UM), 73-61
Becky Kozma (AU)* def. Meredith Foster (UM), 83-59
Helen Ulrich (AU) def. Shannon Hourin (UM), 82-62
Equitation Over Fences
Kennedy Knapic (AU) def. Emory Barnes (UM), 79-78
Emma Crosbie (AU) def. Meredith Foster (UM), 80-40
Caitlin Creel (AU) def. Shannon Hourin (UM), 75-61
Anna Claire Smith (AU)* def. Parker Walters (UM), 81-68
Colleen Stimola (UM) def. Abby Wagner (AU), 78-77
Horsemanship
Anna Enos (AU) def. Emory Barnes (UM), 69.5-0
Taylor Searles (AU) def. Rowan Baird (UM), 74.5-0
Deanna Green (AU)* def. Shannon Hourin (UM), 74.5-0
Kelsey Jung (AU) def. Elizabeth Wooten (UM), 72-70.5
Sydney Hoffa (AU) def. Colleen Stimola (UM), 73-71.5
Reining
Nicole Ellis (AU) def. Emory Barnes (UM), 72-0
Elizabeth Wooten (UM)* def. Deanna Green (AU), 72-71.5
Taylor Searles (AU) def. Colleen Stimola (UM), 68-0
* - Denotes Most Outstanding Performer
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