FRESNO, Calif. – The No. 1 Auburn equestrian team capped its road swing in California with a hard-fought victory over No. 4 Fresno State, 10-8. The Tigers improved to 9-0 with the victory.
"This is a tough place to get a win, but this team has continued to figure out ways to pull it off," head coach Greg Williams said. "It feels great to come out after a long break with two back-to-back road wins. I am so proud of how this team has come together already this semester. They are riding hard and having more fun than ever. This is a great group and I'm looking forward to more."
It was a tight contest all day as Auburn held a slim 5-4 lead at the break following Fences and Horsemanship.
The Tigers kicked off the second half with a 2-2 mark in Flat, holding a 7-6 overall advantage. Junior Taylor St. Jacques led the squad with a team-best 89 points in the event, topping her opponent's 78. Sophomore Emma Kurtz earned an 86-77 victory for Auburn's other point. Freshman Paige Matthies picked up a solid 81-81 draw for the squad.
It all came down to Reining as Auburn needed three points to secure the team victory.
Freshman Kayla Shelnutt opened the event with a 70-68 edge and was followed by a 64-63.5 win from junior Terri-June Granger. After the Bulldogs took the next point to make it 9-7, freshman Jen Kasper sealed the team win with a huge ride. The Elgin, Ill., product bested her opponent with a 66 to give Auburn its deciding 10th point.
Fences put together a 3-2 showing against Fresno State to start the day. After the Bulldogs took the first match, sophomore McKayla Langmeier followed with an 80-73 win over Hana Beiling. Freshman Ava Stearns scored 85 points on her ride for the win and MOP honors. Kurtz capped the event with an 84-83 edge over Alivia Hart.
The Horsemanship corps saw big scores on the day and finished 2-2 against FSU. Freshman Maddie Spak set a new career high, earning a 77 in her draw with Hannah Buijs. Classmate Olivia Tordoff continued her winning ways, scoring 74.5 points for the victory. Junior Deanna Green closed out the event with a huge score, finishing with a 78 to win her match by .5. That score was the Ocala, Fla., product's second highest of the season and gave her MOP honors.
The Tigers continue their road swing, traveling to rival Georgia next weekend. The No. 1 Tigers and No. 3 Bulldogs will face off in Bishop, Ga., Feb. 8, at 12 p.m. CT.
#1 AUBURN 10, #4 FRESNO STATE 8
Fences
Cecily Hayes (FSU) def. Meghan Knapic (AU), 79-74
McKayla Langmeier (AU) def. Hana Beiling (FSU), 80-73
Ava Stearns (AU) def. Ana Bertozzi (FSU), 85-77
Erica Rosinski (FSU) def. Taylor St. Jacques (AU), 85-76
Emma Kurtz (AU) def. Alivia Hart (FSU), 84-83
Flat
Taylor St. Jacques (AU) def. Ana Bertozzi (FSU), 89-78
Brooke Nelson (FSU) def. McKayla Langmeier (AU), 87-71
Paige Matthies (AU) tied Cecily Hayes (FSU), 81-81
Emma Kurtz (AU) def. Erica Rosinski (FSU), 86-77
Tasha Anstead (FSU) def. Ava Stearns (AU), 90-83
Horsemanship
Maddie Spak (AU) tied Hannah Buijis (FSU), 77-77
Hanna Way (FSU) def. Taylor Searles (AU), 76.5-75
Olivia Tordoff (AU) def. Brooklyn Moch (FSU), 74.5-71
Kameron Thorn (FSU) def. Kara Kaufmann (AU), 77-74.5
Deanna Green (AU) def. Nicole Campbell (FSU), 78-77.5
Reining
Kayla Shelnutt (AU) def. Lexee Padrick (FSU), 70-68
Terri-June Granger (AU) def. Julianne Kelley (FSU), 64-63.5
Paige Barton (FSU) def. Deanna Green (AU), 66.5-66
Jen Kasper (AU) def. Bailey Alexander (FSU), 66-57
Shea Gilson (FSU) def. Boo Kammerer (AU), 66.5-64