DALLAS – The No. 1 Auburn equestrian team kicked off a tough road swing with a strong showing at No. 9 SMU, topping the Mustangs Friday afternoon, 12-6. The win moved the Tigers to 5-0 on the season.
"Our team is riding really well," head coach Greg Williams said. "We made mistakes that we can adjust for in short order. We can't leave any easy points on the table for good teams like SMU, so we had some learning opportunities today."
The Western corps had an impressive showing, finishing 6-2-2 on the day against the Mustangs and seeing big scores in both events.
Horsemanship opened the day with a 4-1 record vs. SMU, starting with a 75.5-71 victory for freshman Maddie Spak. Senior Kara Kaufmann picked up another win, scoring 75 points to best her opponent's 70.5. Junior Taylor Searles earned her first MOP of the season, tying her career high with a 77.5 for the team point. Classmate Deanna Green closed out the event with a 77-71.5 win over Aubrey Alderman.
Reining sealed the team victory as the final event of the day, going 2-1-2 against an SMU Reining squad that advanced to the NCEA reining final last year. Freshman Kayla Shelnutt put up a big score, tying her opponent with a career-high 76. Classmate Jen Kasper followed with a 73-72 victory before Green tied SMU's Dani Latimer, 74.5-74.5. Junior Terri-June Granger earned MOP recognition after besting Alderman, 72.5-66.5.
Jumping Seat opened with a 3-2 victory over SMU in Flat, seeing MOP honors from freshman Ava Stearns. The Chilmark, Mass., product topped her opponent by 38 points with a 91-53 victory. Sophomore Emma Kurtz opened it up with a 54-44 win, while junior Taylor St. Jacques capped the event with a 78-75 edge over Mary Elizabeth Cordia.
Fences followed with another 3-2 win vs. the Mustangs. Sophomore Meghan Knapic earned a 79-76 win and Kurtz improved to 7-0-0 in the event with a 79-76 edge over Olivia Woodson. St. Jacques once again closed things out with an impressive 85-55 win.
The Tigers close out their road swing in Texas with a Saturday showdown at conference rival Texas A&M. No. 1 Auburn and No. 4 Aggies will go head-to-head at 11 a.m. CT at the Hildebrand Equestrian Complex in College Station.
#1 AUBURN 12, #9 SMU 6
Fences
Meghan Knapic (AU) def. Tali DeJong (SMU), 78-73
Emma Kurtz (AU) def. Olivia Woodson (SMU), 79-76
Vivan Yowan (SMU)* def. McKayla Langmeier (AU), 79-72
Devin Seek (SMU) def. Ava Stearns (AU), 86-85
Taylor St. Jacques (AU) def. Ashley Vogel (SMU), 85-55
Flat
Emma Kurtz (AU) def. Kirsten Ostling (SMU, 54-44
Vivan Yowan (SMU) def. Anna Claire Smith (AU), 82-70
Haley Zimmerman (SMU) def. McKayla Langmeier (AU), 71-64
Ava Stearns (AU)* def. Madi Johnson (SMU), 91-53
Taylor St. Jacques (AU) def. Mary Elizabeth Cordia (SMU), 78-75
Horsemanship
Maddie Spak (AU) def. Mallory Vroegh (SMU), 75.5-71
Lily Anderson (SMU) def. Olivia Tordoff (AU), 76.5-75.5
Kara Kaufmann (AU) def. Payton Neiberger (SMU), 75-70.5
Taylor Searles (AU)* def. Megan Waldron (SMU), 77.5-76.5
Deanna Green (AU) def. Aubrey Alderman (SMU), 77-71.5
Reining
Kayla Shelnutt (AU) tied Taylor Zimmerman (SMU), 76-76
Jen Kasper (AU) def. Holly Lansidel (SMU), 73-72
Savannah Ostner (SMU) def. Boo Kammerer (AU), 72-70
Deanna Green (AU) tied Dani Latimer (SMU), 74.5-74.5
Terri-June Granger (AU)* def. Aubrey Alderman (SMU), 72.5-66.5