Nov. 17, 2017
BLYTHEWOOD, S.C. ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" The No. 4 Auburn equestrian team closed out the fall season with a statement, topping No. 10 South Carolina on the road, 13-6. The win moved the Tigers to 3-2 overall and 1-2 in the Southeastern Conference.
"For two weekends we failed to focus on the horses at hand," head coach Greg Williams said. "Today, we got back to riding like we know we can. The credit goes to coaches Jessica Braswell and Mary Meneely and this group of student-athletes. They added grit to the talent and came away with a solid win."
The Horsemanship crew kicked things off with a 4-0 mark in the event. Redshirt junior Kelsey Jung earned MOP honors with a career-best 77 to top Paige Stopperich's 73. The MOP recognition is also the first of Jung's career on the Plains and with her win, she moved to 5-1 on the season.
Freshman Deanna Green also improved to 5-1 in the event with a 74.73.5 victory over Madison Thiel. Juniors Megan Rauh and Lauren Diaz picked up wins, scoring 72 points and 75.5 points, respectively. Sophomore Kara Kaufmann rode to a tie with Megan Overberg, earning 77.5 points for her ride.
Equitation on the Flat finished 3-2 vs. the Gamecocks prior to intermission. Freshman Taylor St. Jacques earned her first-career win as a Tiger and secured MOP honors with a 90-83 victory over Madison Sellman. Juniors Caitlin Boyle and Hayley Iannotti remained undefeated in the event as each improved to 6-0 overall. Boyle topped Billi Brandner, 72-57, while Iannotti bested Lauren Fabiano, 86-79.
Competition resumed with Equitation Over Fences, seeing the Tigers go 3-2 against South Carolina. St. Jacques picked up her second win of the day, topping Sarah Isgett, 89-80. Classmate Gia Rinaldi scored a team-best 90 points in her win over Sellman, while Boyle's second victory vs. the Gamecocks came with an 85-84 win vs. Chloe Schmidt.
Auburn capped the day with a 3-2 mark in Reining to finish with 13 points in the team victory. Freshman Terri-June Granger moved to 4-1 overall on the year with a 69-67 win over Caroline Gute. Junior Blair McFarlin also improved to 4-1 as she bested Paisley Roberts, 67-66.5, while classmate Ali Fratessa came away with a 64.5-57.5 victory vs. Jordan Scott.
Auburn takes a break from competition before returning to the arena in January. The Tigers will head to Alabama for a Hunt Seat-only exhibition meet, Jan. 19. The team will follow with a busy weekend on the road, facing Baylor (Feb. 2) and Oklahoma State (Feb. 3) away from the Plains.
#4 AUBURN , #10 SOUTH CAROLINA
Equitation on the Flat
Taylor St. Jacques (AU)* def. Madison Sellman (SC), 90-83
Caitlin Boyle (AU) def. Billi Brandner (SC), 72-57
Madison Brayman (SC) def. Gia Rinaldi (AU), 84-73
Chloe Schmidt (SC) def. Ashton Alexander (AU), 81-79
Hayley Iannotti (AU) def. Lauren Fabiano (SC), 86-79
Equitation Over Fences
Taylor St. Jacques (AU) def. Sarah Isgett (SC), 89-80
Gia Rinaldi (AU) def. Madison Sellman (SC), 90-72
Madison Brayman (SC) def. Ashton Alexander (AU), 88-75
Caitlin Boyle (AU) def. Chloe Schmidt (SC), 85-84
Lauren Fabiano (SC)* def. Hayley Iannotti (AU), 91-86
Horsemanship
Kelsey Jung (AU)* def. Paige Stopperich (SC), 77-73
Deanna Green (AU) def. Madison Thiel (SC), 74-73.5
Kara Kaufmann (AU) tied Megan Overberg (SC), 77.5-77.5
Megan Rauh (AU) def. Meredith Milton (SC), 72-71.5
Lauren Diaz (AU) def. Quinn Brandt (SC), 75.5-74
Reining
Bailey Walters (SC) def. Betsy Brown (AU), 62-0
Terri-June Granger (AU) def. Caroline Gute (SC), 69-67
Ali Fratessa (AU) def. Jordan Scott (SC), 64.5-57.5
Blair McFarlin (AU) def. Paisley Roberts (SC), 67-66.5
Bridgett White (SC)* def. Alexa Rivard (AU), 70-61.5
* - Denotes Most Outstanding Performer
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