AUBURN, Ala. – The No. 1 Auburn equestrian team put together another solid showing Saturday afternoon, downing No. 3 South Carolina at the Auburn University Equestrian Center, 13-5. The Tigers improved to 12-0 overall and 5-0 in Southeastern Conference action.
"I told the team today to just go out there and have fun and they really did," head coach Greg Williams said. "This team just keeps raising the bar. I hope we can do this in the postseason as well. They are just united as a team and if they keep that up, there is nothing that can stop us.
Another great crowd was on hand to see the team extend its winning streak to 33 meets.
"The fan support is absolutely incredible," junior Taylor St. Jacques said. "So many people come out and it's really special. We're really grateful for this community and all of our fans."
"The crowd was great today," junior Terri-June Granger added. "It means a lot to us having this support and we love the fans for being here for us."
The Tigers kicked off the meet with an 8-1 lead following Horsemanship and Flat.
"That was huge for us," Williams said. "It got the crowd into the meet early. Coach Mary Meneely and Coach Jessica Braswell are just incredible. Day in and day out, they have the team riding at such a high level and it showed from the start today."
The Horsemanship squad put together its second-straight meet without dropping a point as the crew went 4-0-1 vs. the Gamecocks. Freshman Maddie Spak tied her opponent with 72 points before junior Deanna Green scored a 76.5 for her team-leading 11th win on the year. The Ocala, Fla., product also earned MOP honors for her performance.
Junior Taylor Searles followed with a 74.5-69 win over SC's Caroline Gute. Freshman Olivia Tordoff continued to excel in the event, scoring a 75 to top her opponent by 6.5 points and earning her 10th win of the year. Senior Kara Kaufmann closed out the event with a 73-72 edge over Natalie Vargo.
The Auburn Flat corps finished 4-1 in the first half, starting with an 82-76 victory from freshman Ava Stearns. Sophomores Emma Kurtz and McKayla Langmeier followed with a pair of wins for the Tigers and junior Taylor St. Jacques capped the event with 87 points and the victory. St. Jacques was awarded MOP on her win, upping her season total to six in Flat.
Following intermission, the Fences squad went 3-2 vs. the Gamecocks to win the event. Stearns once again led off with a win, scoring an 81 to edge Grady Lyman's 78. Sophomore Meghan Knapic snapped her three-match skid with a 79-75 win over SC's Alice Kass. The Gamecocks took the next two points before St. Jacques sealed Jumping Seat action with another 87 and the team point.
The two teams split Reining, picking a pair of points apiece. Freshman Jen Kasper kept her unbeaten streak intact as she tied her opponent, 71.5-71.5. Searles, making her first official start in the event of her career, bested Sloane Vogt with 70.5 points.
The Gamecocks took the next point before junior Terri-June Granger earned her 10th victory of the season with a 71.5-70 win. Her performance also gave her MOP recognition. SC closed out the meet with a point in the last match up.
Auburn closes out the regular season at home, hosting nationally-ranked Texas A&M, March 7. The Tigers and the Aggies will face off at 11 a.m. CT at the Auburn University Equestrian Center and the team will honor its senior class during the meet.
#1 AUBURN 13, #3 SOUTH CAROLINA 5
Fences
Ava Stearns (AU) def. Grady Lyman (SC), 81-78
Meghan Knapic (AU) def. Alice Kass (SC), 79-75
Jordan Allen (SC) def. Emma Kurtz (AU), 80-79
Madeline Schaefer (SC)* def. McKayla Langmeier (AU), 86-84
Taylor St. Jacques (AU) def. Louisa Brackett (SC), 87-83
Flat
Ava Stearns (AU) def. Billi Brandner (SC), 82-76
Emma Kurtz (AU) def. Tyler Petrie (SC), 79-75
McKayla Langmeier (AU) def. Grady Lyman (SC), 83-81
Madison Sellman (SC) def. Paige Matthies (AU), 83-79
Taylor St. Jacques (AU)* def. Louisa Brackett (SC), 87-69
Horsemanship
Maddie Spak (AU) tied Kiersten Beckner (SC), 72-72
Deanna Green (AU)* def. Cora Wyers (SC), 76.5-71
Taylor Searles (AU) def. Caroline Gute (SC), 74.5-69
Olivia Tordoff (AU) def. Taylor Kellam (SC), 75-68.5
Kara Kaufmann (AU) def. Natalie Vargo (SC), 73-72
Reining
Jen Kasper (AU) tied Jordan Scott (SC), 71.5-71.5
Taylor Searles (AU) def. Sloane Vogt (SC), 70.5-68.5
Natalie Vargo (SC) def. Deanna Green (AU), 70.5-70
Terri-June Granger (AU)* def. McKenzie Duncan (SC), 71.5-70
Caroline Gute (SC) def. Kayla Shelnutt (AU), 70-68