DAVIS, Calif. – The No. 1 Auburn equestrian opened up the spring portion of the 2019-20 season with a 13-7 victory at UC Davis Friday, Jan. 31. The win moved the Tigers to 8-0 on the year.
"I'm always happy with road wins," head coach Greg Williams said. "I just wish we would have ridden harder as we closed out the meet and it starts with me to ask our team to keep that intensity going into the final event.
"Coaches Mary Meneely and Jessica Braswell have done a great job of having them ready to compete everyday so I'm proud of the fight today," Williams added. "It was fun being here at UC Davis for the first time. They are a well-coached team that is quickly making strides in our sport."
Juniors Taylor St. Jacques and Taylor Searles came away with MOP honors for the Tigers. St. Jacques was awarded in both Fences and Flat, while Searles took home the honor in Horsemanship.
Auburn saw a pair of 4-1 victories from Horsemanship and Flat to highlight the day.
Horsemanship opened with a 73.5-71 victory for freshman Olivia Tordoff as the Powell, Ohio, product upped her season win total to six. Junior Deanna Green followed with 72 points in her win to improve to 7-0-1 in the event on the year. Freshman Maddie Spak earned 71.5 points in her victory and Searles closed out with a meet-best 75.5 on her MOP ride.
Auburn's Flat corps followed and sophomore McKayla Langmeier kicked things off with a 78-64 win over Alexis Sokolov. St. Jacques was awarded 82 points for her MOP ride, while freshman Paige Matthies picked up a 73-62 victory. Sophomore Emma Kurtz anchored the event with a 68-50 win over her Aggie opponent.
Fences opened up the meet with a 3-2 victory over UC Davis. St. Jacques put together an 85-72 win over Sabin Marquardt to take MOP honors. Sophomore Meghan Knapic improved to 7-1-0 in the event with an 83-74 victory and freshman Ava Stearns outscored her opponent, 79-35, for the win.
The Reining corps picked up two points for the Tigers to close out the day. Freshman Jen Kasper and Green scored 60.5 and 66.5 points, respectively, for wins.
The Tigers return to competition Saturday, Feb. 1, at No. 4 Fresno State. Auburn and the Bulldogs face off at 1 p.m. CT.
#1 AUBURN 13, UC DAVIS 7
Fences
Taylor St. Jacques (AU) def. Sabin Marquardt (UCD), 85-72
Meghan Knapic (AU) def. Sierra Gundersen (UCD), 83-74
Keely Laughlin (UCD) def. Ericka Koscinski (AU), 86-81
Ava Stearns (AU) def. Ella Longo (UCD), 79-35
Stephanie Don (UCD) def. McKayla Langmeier (AU), 82-77
Flat
McKayla Langmeier (AU) def. Alexis Sokolov (UCD), 78-64
Taylor St. Jacques (AU) def. Keely Laughlin (UCD), 82-63
Paige Matthies (AU) def. Stephanie Don (UCD), 73-62
Sabin Marquardt (UCD) def. Anna Claire Smith (AU), 71-67
Emma Kurtz (AU) def. Madison Dempster (UCD), 68-50
Horsemanship
Olivia Tordoff (AU) def. Katie Flinn (UCD), 73.5-71
Deanna Green (AU) def. Malena Palmer (UCD), 72-67.5
Maddie Spak (AU) def. Kayla Hickey (UCD), 71.5-70
Taylor Searles (AU) def. Bobbie Piddock (UCD), 75.5-71.5
Sarah Finkel (UCD) def. Kara Kaufmann (AU), 75-74
Reining
Jen Kasper (AU) def. Bobbie Piddock (UCD), 60.5-0
Deanna Green (AU) def. Charlize Zuraek (UCD), 66.5-0
Paige Neufeld (UCD) def. Peyton Hall (AU), 64.5-63
Kendal Scheiner (UCD) def. Terri-June Granger (AU), 73-72
Macey Newkirk (UCD) def. Boo Kammerer (AU), 71.5-71