BISHOP, Ga. – The No. 1 Auburn equestrian team extended its winning streak Friday, besting rival and No. 4 Georgia on the road in a tight contest, 10-8. The win moved Auburn to 2-0 on the season and 2-0 in Southeastern Conference action.
"I couldn't be prouder of how this team rose to the challenge today," head coach Greg Williams said. "This team stayed in it and believed in the whole team effort to come out with a win. We have the best position coaches in the country in Jessica Braswell and Mary Meneely and they had this team locked in and ready to pull out the gutsy win."
The victory improved the team's winning streak to 36 matches, dating back to April 19, 2018.
Auburn saw big rides from its younger riders and took home two MOPs on the day.
The Tigers held a slim 8-6 advantage over the Bulldogs as the two teams closed out the day in Reining. Georgia captured the first point to make it 8-7, but Auburn followed with a big win from freshman Isabella Tesmer. Riding in her first collegiate match, the Mount Orab, Ohio, product edged her opponent, 68-67.5, to put the visiting team back up 9-7.
After a tie between senior Deanna Green and UGA's Jordan Carpenter, sophomore Boo Kammerer picked up the deciding point with a 70.5-68 victory over Courtney Blummer. The Bulldogs snagged the last match of the event to make the score 10-8.
It was a big day for the Western corps as the two events went 5-3-1 overall. Horsemanship put together a 3-1-1 finish in the first half of competition and was led by big scores from a trio of riders. After a tie kicked off the event, sophomore Olivia Tordoff scored a 78.5 for the win and was awarded MOP. Classmate Maddie Spak followed with a victory, scoring a career-best 77.5. Green capped the team's points in the event with a 78 to best her opponent's 69.5.
On the Jumping Seat side, Auburn saw big performances in Flat as the squad finished 3-2 over the Bulldogs. Highlighting the event was the MOP performance from junior Emma Kurtz. The Hudson, Ohio, native scored a career-best 94 in her win, topping Ceci Bresch's 77. Senior Taylor St. Jacques earned an 84-73 victory over Sophia Pilla and sophomore Ava Stearns scored 88 points to edge Hayley Mairano's 83.
Auburn's Fences corps picked up two points to start the day. St. Jacques earned an 86 on her winning ride and junior McKayla Langmeier topped Emma Reichow, 87-79.
The Tigers finally return to the Auburn University Equestrian Center next week for their final contest of the fall season.
Auburn and No. 7 Texas A&M will face off at 11 a.m. CT, Oct. 30. Information on fan attendance will be announced early next week.
#1 AUBURN 10, #4 GEORGIA 8
Fences
Taylor St. Jacques (AU) def. Rachel McMullen (UGA), 86-76
Hayley Mairano (UGA) def. Ava Stearns (AU), 85-77
Jordan Toering (UGA)* def. Meghan Knapic (AU), 89-81
McKayla Langmeier (AU) def. Emma Reichow (UGA), 87-79
Ali Tritschler (UGA) def. Emma Kurtz (AU), 88-82
Flat
Ali Tritschler (UGA) def. McKayla Langmeier (AU), 87-82
Taylor St. Jacques (AU) def. Sophia Pilla (UGA), 84-73
Emma Kurtz (AU)* def. Ceci Bresch (UGA), 94-77
Ava Stearns (AU) def. Hayley Mairano (UGA), 88-83
Isabella Heckler (UGA) def. Meghan Knapic (AU), 86-84
Horsemanship
Taylor Searles (AU) tied Taylor Burgess (UGA), 69.5-69.5
Olivia Tordoff (AU)* def. Lexie Lane (UGA), 78.5-75.5
Maddie Spak (AU) def. Kaitlin Dierks (UGA), 77.5-74
Deanna Green (AU) def. Killian Mullen (UGA), 78-69.5
Kendall Gill (UGA) def. Rachel Hoopman (AU), 75.5-72.5
Reining
Lindsey Guynn (UGA)* def. Taylor Searles (AU), 71-70
Isabella Tesmer (AU) def. Addy Cullum (UGA), 67-66.5
Deanna Green (AU) tied Jordan Carpenter (UGA), 70.5-70.5
Boo Kammerer (AU) def. Courtney Blummer (UGA), 70.5-68
Caitlyn Lyons (UGA) def. Terri-June Granger (AU), 70.5-70
