AUBURN, Ala. – The No. 1 Auburn equestrian team closes out the regular season Saturday, facing No. 7 Texas A&M on Senior Day. The Tigers and the Aggies will face off at 11 a.m. CT at the Auburn University Equestrian Center.
"Texas A&M is really good and I think they are one of the top teams in the country," head coach Greg Williams said. "They will come in here with nothing to lose and we need to be prepared for that. We're looking forward to closing out the regular season strong to help build momentum into the postseason."
The Tigers will honor seven student-athletes at intermission – Emma Crosbie, Kara Kaufmann, Becky Kozma, Haley Pembroke, Anna Claire Smith, Caroline Walker, Lillian Wagner.
PROMOTIONS
Highlighting Saturday's activities for the fans is the Kia of Auburn Dirty Car promotion. The dirtiest car at every home meet will receive a coupon book from Kia of Auburn!
In addition, orange Auburn equestrian koozies will be given out while supplies last.
As always, the Kid's Zone will be set up with a bounce house, pony rides, a coloring station and yard games.
AUBURN LINEUP
Auburn's (12-0, 5-0 SEC) lineup remains consistent as the undefeated Tigers face off with the Aggies (5-6, 2-3 SEC).
The Horsemanship crew looks to hold momentum as the crew has been unbeaten over the last two meets. The squad is highlighted by three upperclassmen in senior Kara Kaufmann and juniors Deanna Green and Taylor Searles. Green is 11-0-1 on the season in the event to lead the Tigers and is coming off an MOP performance vs. South Carolina (Feb. 29), while Searles is third on the team with eight victories.
Joining the trio are freshmen Olivia Tordoff and Maddie Spak. Tordoff is second on the team with 10 wins in the event and has three MOPs so far, while Spak has six victories on the year.
The Reining lineup features three juniors and two freshmen vs. the Aggies. Junior Terri-June Granger has a team-best 10 wins in the event, while Green has seven and is coming off an MOP ride vs. Baylor.
Freshmen Jen Kasper and Kayla Shelnutt will also compete for the Tigers. Kasper is enjoying a five-match unbeaten streak and has eight victories on the season. Shelnutt has a 5-1-1 mark so far in her first campaign on the Plains.
Joining the four will be Searles, who collected her first SEC win in the event against South Carolina.
The Jumping Seat corps is full of experience with junior Taylor St. Jacques and sophomores Emma Kurtz and McKayla Langmeier leading the way. The three will compete in both Fences and Flat for the Tigers vs. the Aggies.
Langmeier leads all student-athletes with 21 wins on the year, while Kurtz and St. Jacques are second with 19. Both Langmeier and St. Jacques have 11 wins in Flat.
Joining them in both events will be freshman Ava Stearns. Sophomore Meghan Knapic will ride in Fences and freshman Paige Matthies is down for Flat.
SERIES HISTORY
Auburn leads the all-time series, 20-6, against the Aggies, winning the last six meetings. The Tigers are also 9-0 at home vs. A&M.
The squads last met in College Station this fall with the Tigers topping the Aggies, 11-9.
UP NEXT
Auburn turns its attention to the postseason traveling to Athens, Ga. for the SEC Championship. The Tigers will look to capture their second-straight SEC crown and third out of the last five seasons.