BRYAN-COLLEGE STATION, Texas – The No. 1 Auburn equestrian team returned to competition Saturday, Feb. 13, and put together a 14-6 win on the road, topping No. 5 Texas A&M at the Hildebrand Equine Complex.
"This team has been staying together and working hard," head coach Greg Williams said. "This win was big and I couldn't be prouder of our seniors today. They stepped up in so many ways. I can't say enough about what coach Mary Meneely and coach Jessica Braswell continue to do to build this program, but the seniors are going above and beyond to keep the excellence going."
Auburn improved to 4-0 overall and 4-0 in the Southeastern Conference. In addition, the win extended the team's current winning streak to 38-straight meets.
The Tigers swept MOP honors with senior Deanna Green leading the way with both Horsemanship and Reining accolades. Senior Taylor St. Jacques earned MOP in Fences, while junior McKayla Langmeier picked up the honor in Flat.
Auburn opened the day with an 8-2 lead at intermission as both Fences and Horsemanship finished with a 4-1 mark vs. the Aggies.
After TAMU earned the first point in Fences, the Tigers rattled off the next four to win the event. Sophomore Ava Stearns put together an 82-78 victory, while junior Meghan Knapic followed with an 83-79 win. St. Jacques was awarded 86 points on her MOP ride, besting Grace Boston's 81. Junior Emma Kurtz capped the event with an 87-85 victory.
Horsemanship saw big scores from a handful of riders to go 4-1 over TAMU. Sophomore Olivia Tordoff edged Hayley Riddle, 78-77.5 to kick things off. Senior Taylor Searles followed her lead with another 78 and another win. That scored tied her career high. Sophomore Maddie Spak bested her opponent, 74.5-71, while Green finished things out with another 78 points for the MOP and the victory.
The Reining corps kept up the winning ways on the Western side, going 4-1 after intermission. After the Aggies took the first point, sophomore Boo Kammerer followed with a 74-73 victory to improve to 3-0-1 overall. The score was also a career high for the Mount Sterling, Ky., product.
Searles finished the day undefeated with a 73.5-67 victory and freshman Olivia Marino edged her opponent, 73.5-73. The win was the first of Marino's career. Green closed out the event with a 74-73.5 advantage over Kenleigh Wells to win MOP.
Auburn earned two points in Flat from St. Jacques and Langmeier. St. Jacques continued her winning ways in the event with a 77-68 win over Nicole Leonard. Langmeier, of East Granby, Conn., scored a meet-high 81.5 points in her MOP victory.
The top-ranked Tigers return to the Auburn University Equestrian Center for another Southeastern Conference match up. Auburn hosts No. 8 South Carolina at 11 a.m. CT. Spectator information for the meet will be released next week.
#1 AUBURN 14, #5 TEXAS A&M, 6
Fences
Kaitlyn Lovingfoss (TAMU) def. McKayla Langmeier (AU), 84-83
Ava Stearns (AU) def. Alexis Ortiz (TAMU), 82-78
Meghan Knapic (AU) def. Caroline Dance (TAMU), 83-79
Taylor St. Jacques (AU)* def. Grace Boston (TAMU), 86-81
Emma Kurtz (AU) def. Haley Redifer (TAMU), 87-85
Flat
Taylor St. Jacques (AU) def. Nicole Leonard (TAMU), 77-68
Kaitlyn Lovingfoss (TAMU) def. Lindsey Klein (AU), 66-52
Rhian Murphy (TAMU) def. Emma Kurtz (AU), 76.5-75
McKayla Langmeier (AU)* def. Caroline Dance (TAMU), 81.5-79.5
Mali Selman (TAMU) def. Ava Stearns (AU), 69-68
Horsemanship
Olivia Tordoff (AU) def. Hayley Riddle (TAMU), 78-77.5
Taylor Searles (AU) def. Cori Cansdale (TAMU), 78-75
Maddie Spak (AU) def. Cameron Crenwelge (TAMU), 74.5-71
Ella Petak (TAMU) def. Madison Parduhn (AU), 77-72.5
Deanna Green (AU)* def. Mackenzie Chapman (TAMU), 78-72
Reining
Ariana Gray (TAMU) def. Terri-June Granger (AU), 74.5-0
Boo Kammerer (AU) def. Emmy-Lu Marsh (TAMU), 74-73.5
Taylor Searles (AU) def. Shelby Reine (TAMU), 73.5-67
Olivia Marino (AU) def. Lisa Bricker (TAMU), 73.5-73
Deanna Green (AU) def. Kenleigh Wells (TAMU), 74-73.5
