BISHOP, Ga. – The No. 1 Auburn equestrian team earned a big win on the road, topping No. 7 Georgia at the UGA Equestrian Complex, 11-6, Friday afternoon. The win moves the Tigers to 5-0 overall and 3-0 in the Southeastern Conference.
"I really like the way this team sticks together and battles as one unit," head coach Greg Williams said. "Even with mistakes here and there today, the team kept momentum up and finished strong. Road wins are hard to come by in this sport and we love coming back to the Plains with one."
Three Tigers took home all four Most Outstanding Performer honors on the day. Sophomore Taylor St. Jacques swept the Hunter Seat awards, while classmate Deanna Green secured MOP in Horsemanship and senior Ali Fratessa earned her second on the season in Reining.
Auburn kicked off the day with a 5-4 edge at intermission following Equitation Over Fences and Reining.
St. Jacques picked up the first win of the day for the Tigers in Fences, scoring a season-high 90 on her MOP ride. Freshmen Emma Kurtz and McKayla Langmeier followed with wins for the Tigers. Kurtz scored a career-best 89 points to top Hayley Mairano's 76. Langmeier capped the first half of her first year on the Plains undefeated, improving to 4-0 in the event with 87 points. Senior Caitlin Boyle picked up an 88-88 tie vs. her Bulldog opponent.
Auburn earned two victories in Reining, starting with a winning ride from Green. The Pilot Point, Texas, product edged Courtney Blumer, 73.5-73, in the first match up of the event. Fratessa led all student-athletes with 75 points in her MOP win, setting a season high. The win pushed the Wheelock, Texas, native to 4-1 on the year.
Action returned with Equitation on the Flat and the Tigers bested the Bulldogs, 2-1. Langmeier scored a career-best 87 points in her win to improve to 3-0 on the year. St. Jacques capped the event with 89 points and the victory over Madison Newman for another MOP. Boyle scored a 90 on her ride and tied Ali Tritschler, while classmate Hayley Iannotti's 87 was also good for a tie against her opponent.
The Horsemanship corps put an exclamation on the day with a 4-1 victory vs. the Bulldogs. Senior Lauren Diaz bested Graysen Stroud, 75-73, to remain undefeated, improving to 5-0 overall. The Heath, Ohio, product also scored a 75 or better for the third time this season. Junior Kara Kaufmann finished with a season-high 75.5 to best her opponent's 73.5.
Sophomore Taylor Searles and Green capped the day with victories starting with Searles. Her 75 topped Lila Owens' 74.5 for her third win on the year. Green led all student-athletes with a 76, setting a season best on her MOP ride.
The Tigers continue with the second portion of the season when they travel to the West Coast, Feb. 1-2. The squad opens with an away meet at Fresno State before facing Delaware State in a neutral-site contest in Fresno.
#1 AUBURN 11, #7 GEORGIA 6
Equitation Over Fences
Maddy Darst (UGA) def. Ashton Alexander (AU), 88-63
Taylor St. Jacques (AU)** def. Ali Tritschler (UGA), 90-88
Emma Kurtz (AU) def. Hayley Mairano (UGA), 89-76
McKayla Langmeier (AU) def. Emma Mandarino (UGA), 87-84
Caitlin Boyle (AU) tied Sydney Hutchins (UGA), 88-88
Equitation on the Flat
Hayley Mairano (UGA) def. Ashton Alexander (AU), 80-77
Caitlin Boyle (AU) tied Ali Tritschler (UGA), 90-90
McKayla Langmeier (AU) def. Maddy Darst (UGA), 87-77
Hayley Iannotti (AU) tied Grace Bridges (UGA), 87-87
Taylor St. Jacques (AU)** def. Madison Newman (UGA), 89-87
Horsemanship
Lauren Diaz (AU) def. Graysen Stroud (UGA), 75-73
Kara Kaufmann (AU) def. Taylor Burgess (UGA), 75.5-73.5
Lexie Lane (UGA) def. Kelsey Jung (AU), 71.5-71
Taylor Searles (AU) def. Lila Owens (UGA), 75-74.5
Deanna Green (AU)** def. Madison Anger (UGA), 76-73.5
Reining
Deanna Green (AU) def. Courtney Blumer (UGA), 73.5-73
Julia Spreng (UGA) def. Betsy Brown (AU), 73.5-72.5
Ali Fratessa (AU)** def. Annabeth Payne (UGA), 75-73
Graysen Stroud (UGA) def. Blair McFarlin (AU), 72-70
Jordan Carpenter (UGA) def. Terri-June Granger (AU), 74-73.5
