April 19, 2018
WACO, Texas -- The No. 2 Auburn equestrian team put together a huge performance Thursday afternoon, defeating No. 6 TCU to reach the 2018 National Collegiate Equestrian Association Championship final. The Tigers bested the Horned Frogs, 12-4, and will take on No. 1 Georgia Saturday at 8:30 a.m. CT.
"A lot of great rides for the team today," head coach Greg Williams said. "I'm extremely proud of the team and we're riding really strong. We didn't let anything fluster us today and we immediately responded to anything that could've derailed us."
Auburn (12-4) and Georgia will face off for the fourth time this season in the team championship final. Georgia holds a 2-1 mark this year, including a win in the SEC Championship.
"These are two of the strongest teams going head-to-head," Williams said. "We're ready for it and looking forward to some tight contests."
The Equitation Over Fences crew picked up another sweep as they topped TCU, 4-0. A pair of Tigers in Taylor St. Jacques and Caitlin Boyle scored a 171 a piece in their victories. Boyle upped her season wins total to 13, while St. Jacques reached her 10th. Junior Ashton Alexander outscored Raegan Rast, 166-137, and classmate Hayley Iannotti scored 158 points in her win.
A pair of freshmen in Deanna Green and Taylor Searles secured a pair of points in Horsemanship. Green earned her 12th win of the season with a 151-148.5 victory over Josie Mootz before Taylor Searles topped Laska Anderson, 150.5-149. Searles stretched her winning streak to seven.
The Tiger Reiners had a huge showing, going 3-1 for Auburn. Freshman Terri-June Granger finished with a match-best 141 to win her 11th of the season. Senior Alexa Rivard also picked up her 11th win of the year, besting Elena Hurd, 138-135.5. Junior Betsy Brown sealed the team victory with a great ride, topping her opponent with 139 points.
Equitation On the Flat finished the long day with a 3-1 win over the Horned Frogs. Iannotti earned her team-leading 15th win of the year, besting Carly Barnett with 150 points. St. Jacques put an exclamation on a big day with 167 points in her win, while Boyle closed out the event with a 165-153 victory.
The team portion of the 2018 NCEA Championship takes a break Friday as the event-only championship returns with quarterfinal and semifinal action. Flat and Fences will both take on South Carolina, while Reining faces Baylor and Horsemanship against SMU. Competition begins at 8:30 a.m. CT in the Extraco Events Center.
#2 AUBURN 12, #6 TCU 4
Equitation on the Flat
Jayme Omand (TCU) def. Ashton Alexander (AU), 150-149
Hayley Iannotti (AU) def. Carly Barnett (TCU), 150-147
Taylor St. Jacques (AU) def. Mady Fithian (TCU), 167-150
Caitlin Boyle (AU) def. Alex Beneson (TCU), 165-153
Equitation Over Fences
Taylor St. Jacques (AU) def. Alex Beneson (TCU), 171-160
Ashton Alexander (AU) def. Raegan Rast (TCU), 166-137
Hayley Iannotti (AU) def. Jayme Omand (TCU), 158-80
Caitlin Boyle (AU) def. Elizabeth McKim (TCU), 171-154
Horsemanship
Deanna Green (AU) def. Josie Mootz (TCU), 151-148.5
Taylor Searles (AU) def. Laska Anderson (TCU), 150.5-149
Cydney Benes (TCU) def. Kelsey Jung (AU), 146.5-137
Jamie Cook (TCU) def. Lauren Diaz (AU), 152-151
Reining
Anna Adams (TCU) def. Blair McFarlin (AU), 137.5-135
Terri-June Granger (AU) def. Claire Dittrich (TCU), 141-139
Alexa Rivard (AU) def. Elena Hurd (TCU), 138-135.5
Betsy Brown (AU) def. Carly Lombard (TCU), 139-137.5
* - Denotes Most Outstanding Performer
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