AUBURN, Ala. – The No. 1 Auburn equestrian team welcomes No. 5 Oklahoma State to the Plains, Friday, Oct. 19. The two squads will go head-to-head at 3 p.m. CT at the Auburn University Equestrian Center.
"We're facing a really good team coming in this weekend," head coach Greg Williams said. "Oklahoma State just finished beating Baylor, who is a highly-ranked team. This is going to be a good showdown between the SEC and the Big 12 as the Cowgirls always bring it in competition. We're looking forward to a great meet Friday and hope to see the Auburn Family out in numbers."
PROMOTIONS
It is a 'Carnival on the Plains' at the Auburn University Equestrian Center. The first 125 Tiger fans will receive an Auburn Equestrian Boot Koozie. There will also be a face painting artist from 3:30-5:30 for fans that want to show their support for the Tigers.
It is finally fall and the AU Equestrian Center knows it. A mini pumpkin painting session will also be available during the meet. If that was not enough, Aubie will be there cheering for the No. 1 Auburn equestrian team.
As always, the Kid's Zone will be available as long as the weather cooperates. Available for young fans will be an inflatable bounce house and other fun yard games. Pony rides and 'Paint a Pony' will be out for kids as well.
AUBURN LINEUP
Head coach Greg Williams will be relying on experience when the Tigers face the Cowgirls Friday afternoon.
Senior All-Americans Ashton Alexander, Caitlin Boyle and Hayley Iannotti highlight the Hunt Seat portion of the meet as the trio will compete in both Equitation Over Fences and Equitation on the Flat. Sophomore All-American Taylor St. Jacques is also slated to ride in both events for the Tigers.
Freshmen Emma Kurtz and McKayla Langmeier will split the final spot for Auburn. Kurtz is set to ride for points in Flat, while Langmeier will go in Fences. Kurtz and senior Alex Ladove are down to compete in exhibition in Fences, while Langmeier and junior Becky Kozma will ride in exhibition in Flat.
On the Western side, experience is the name of the game for the Tigers. Horsemanship will be led by a pair of undefeated seniors in Lauren Diaz and Kelsey Jung. The duo stand at 2-0 on the year. Sophomore Deanna Green returns to the lineup after her MOP ride vs. South Carolina (9/28), while junior Kara Kaufmann and sophomore Taylor Searles round out the five. Freshman Emma Brown will ride in exhibition for the Tigers.
Seniors Betsy Brown, Ali Fratessa and Blair McFarlin highlight the Reining crew as all three picked up victories in the first two meets. Fratessa recently earned MOP vs. the Gamecocks, while McFarlin picked up MOP honors in the season-opener at UT Martin (9/20). Sophomores Terri-June Granger and Green will also ride for the squad.
AUBURN-OKLAHOMA STATE SERIES HISTORY
The Tigers and Cowgirls have faced each other 13 times and Auburn leads the way with 10 wins in the series history.
Auburn is 7-1 against the Cowgirls at home on the Plains. The last time the Tigers dropped a home meet against Oklahoma State was during the 2013-14 season, when a score of 11-9 was enough for the visitors to take the victory on the road.
UP NEXT
Auburn will return to conference play when the No. 2 Texas A&M Aggies visit the Auburn University Equestrian Center at 3 p.m. CT, Nov. 2. This meet will be the last home meet of the fall season and admission is free.
