AUBURN, Ala. – The No. 1 Auburn equestrian team did something no other program has done in the modern history of the sport. The Tigers put together an undefeated regular season as the squad topped rival and No. 7 Georgia, 17-3, Friday at the Auburn University Equestrian Center.
The win moved the squad to 13-0 overall and 6-0 in the Southeastern Conference
"Going undefeated is just so hard to do with this sport so this is unbelievable," head coach Greg Williams said. "I couldn't be more proud of this team. I think the biggest reason we finished undefeated was the way they conduct themselves out of the arena. They have a great team unity and chemistry and they are a force to be reckoned with."
Auburn also recognized the 15 members of the 2019 senior class during the meet. The group holds a 56-10 record over four seasons with two national championships and one conference title.
"Hats off to the senior leadership on this team," Williams said. "This class is really special and the one thing they are trying to do is push the underclassmen into roles of leadership. They want to leave a legacy of here and are on their way to that."
Auburn opened up the meet with a pair of 4-1 wins in Equitation on the Flat and Horsemanship. Senior Hayley Iannotti kicked off the day with a 75-74 edge over her opponent before sophomore Taylor St. Jacques picked up her sixth MOP in the event this season with 81 points in her win. Senior Ashton Alexander and freshman Emma Kurtz capped Flat with a pair of victories.
In Horsemanship, senior Lauren Diaz continued her impressive final season on the Plains with a 71.5-69.5 victory. The win pushed the Heath, Ohio, product to 12-1 on the year.
Sophomore Taylor Searles followed with her MOP ride, scoring 76 points to best her opponent's 71. Senior Kelsey Jung edged Lexie Lane, 72.5-72, before sophomore Deanna Green earned 75.5 points to win her match.
The Equitation Over Fences corps continued the big day with another 4-1 win over the Bulldogs. Senior Caitlin Boyle edged her opponent with 82 points and was followed by a big ride from freshman McKayla Langmeier. The East Granby, Conn., product scored 86 points in her win, picking up MOP and remaining undefeated in the event. Alexander and St. Jacques followed with 80 and 84 points, respectively, to pick up wins for the Tigers.
Putting an exclamation on the day was the Reining crew as they swept Georgia, 5-0. Green and classmate Terri-June Granger opened up with wins before a trio of seniors capped things off. Senior Ali Fratessa bested her opponent by two points to earn her team-leading ninth win of the year. Classmate Blair McFarlin followed with another two-point victory and senior Betsy Brown sealed the deal with 72.5 points in her win for MOP.
Postseason action kicks off March 29-30 at the 2019 SEC Championship. The two-day meet will be held in College Station, Texas, and is hosted by Texas A&M.
#1 AUBURN 17, #7 GEORGIA 3
Equitation Over Fences
Maddy Darst (UGA) def. Hayley Iannotti (AU), 81-78
Caitlin Boyle (AU) def. Emma Mandarino (UGA), 82-81
McKayla Langmeier (AU)* def. Sydney Hutchins (UGA), 86-0
Ashton Alexander (AU) def. Hayley Mairano (UGA), 80-73
Taylor St. Jacques (AU) def. Ali Tritschler (UGA), 84-79
Equitation on the Flat
Hayley Iannotti (AU) def. Madison Newman (UGA), 75-74
Taylor St. Jacques (AU)* def. Grace Bridges (UGA), 81-75
Maddy Darst (UGA) def. Caitlin Boyle (AU), 76-69
Ashton Alexander (AU) def. Ali Tritschler (UGA), 74-73
Emma Kurtz (AU) def. Hayley Mairano (UGA), 78-73
Horsemanship
Lauren Diaz (AU) def. Graysen Stroud (UGA), 71.5-69.5
Sara Lewis (UGA) def. Kara Kaufmann (AU), 72.5-69
Taylor Searles (AU)* def. Maddie Anger (UGA), 76-71
Kelsey Jung (AU) def. Lexie Lane (UGA), 72.5-72
Deanna Green (AU) def. Maddie Fiorante (UGA), 75.5-71.5
Reining
Deanna Green (AU) def. Graysen Stroud (UGA), 71.5-70
Terri-June Granger (AU) def. Jordan Carpenter (UGA), 70.5-68.5
Ali Fratessa (AU) def. Julia Spreng (UGA), 68.5-66.5
Blair McFarlin (AU) def. Annabeth Payne (UGA), 70.5-68.5
Betsy Brown (AU)* def. Courtney Blumer (UGA), 72.5-68.5