DALLAS – The No. 1 Auburn equestrian team closed out its road swing with a quick turnaround Saturday and rebounded to take an 11-7 victory at No. 3 SMU. The Tigers improved to 2-1 on the season, while the Mustangs dropped to 2-2.
"This was a great team win," head coach Greg Williams said. "They didn't let anything that happened yesterday change their focus and desire to win today. This is a big road win when you beat the No. 3 team at their place. We're excited to take it home with us."
The Tigers took MOP honors in three of four events. Fifth-year senior Taylor Searles picked up her first MOP in Reining on the season, while junior Olivia Tordoff earned MOP in Horsemanship. Sophomore Ellie Ferrigno was awarded MOP in Flat for the second time this year.
"We fell a little short yesterday so today we wanted to make sure nothing was left on the table," Searles said. "I knew I had to go against a big score in both events and I just rode my heart out. The horses were so nice and SMU deserves a lot of recognition for providing such great horses. It was a really good day today."
Auburn jumped out to a 5-4 lead after Fences and Horsemanship.
Fences went 3-2-0 to kick things off for Jumping Seat. After the Mustangs took the first point, seniors Emma Kurtz and Meghan Knapic followed with a pair of 1-point victories for the Tigers. SMU followed with another close win before junior Ava Stearns capped the event with an 83-77 victory.
Horsemanship got two big points from Tordoff and Searles. Tordoff scored a 77 to best her opponent and secure MOP honors. Searles edged Lily Anderson, 78.5-78, to take the team point and remain undefeated in the event. Sophomore Jacqueline Frimodt earned an important tie, scoring a career-high 75.5.
Auburn went 3-0-1 in Reining and 3-2-0 in Flat to close out the team win.
Reining had a big day for the squad, seeing big scores and big wins overall. Junior Boo Kammerer kicked things off with a 70.5-69.5 win before Searles sealed the team victory with a 73-72.5 win, earning MOP. Fifth-year senior Terri-June Granger closed out the meet with 71.5 points to edge her opponent's 71. Sophomore Kate Buchanan tied Taylor Zimmerman, 71.5-71.5, in her first start for Auburn.
The Tigers saw three points in Flat, starting with a 77.5-75.5 victory from Kurtz. Freshman Sophee Steckbeck picked up her first win in the event with 64.5 points and Ferrigno rode to an 82.5-71 win over Miranda Seade for MOP.
Auburn returns to the Plains next week for a pair of contests. The Tigers will host Lynchburg and No. 7 Fresno State at the Auburn University Equestrian Center, Oct. 22-23. Auburn and Lynchburg will face off in a Jumping Seat only contest at 3 p.m. CT Friday. The team will follow with a full meet against Fresno State Saturday at 11 a.m. CT.
#1 AUBURN 11, #3 SMU 7
FENCES
Emma Jolly (SMU) def. Sophee Steckbeck (AU), 82-81
Emma Kurtz (AU) def. Alex Pielet (SMU), 85-84
Meghan Knapic (AU) def. Olivia Woodson (SMU), 83-82
Elli Yeager (SMU) def. Ellie Ferrigno (AU), 87-85
Ava Stearns (AU) def. Devin Seek (SMU), 83-77
FLAT
Katy Merchant (SMU) def. Ava Stearns (AU), 70.5-69
Emma Kurtz (AU) def. Madigan Eppink (SMU), 77.5-75.5
Sophee Steckbeck (AU) def. Madi Johnson (SMU), 64.5-51.5
Ellie Ferrigno (AU) def. Miranda Seade (SMU), 82.5-71
Taylor Madden (SMU) def. Anna Marie Mayes (AU), 77.5-71
HORSEMANSHIP
Mallory Vroegh (SMU) def. Madison Parduhn (AU), 75.5-67.5
Olivia Tordoff (AU) def. Megan Waldron (SMU), 77-75.5
Jacqueline Frimodt (AU) tied Nya Kearns (SMU), 75.5-75.5
Taylor Searles (AU) def. Lily Anderson (SMU), 78.5-78
Payton Neiberger (SMU) def. Maddie Spak (AU), 71.5-70.5
REINING
Boo Kammerer (AU) def. Maria Richards (SMU), 70.5-69.5
Dani Latimer (SMU) def. Isabella Tesmer (AU), 72-71
Taylor Searles (AU) def. Chalyce Head (SMU), 73-72.5
Kate Buchanan (AU) tied Taylor Zimmerman (SMU), 71.5-71.5
Terri-June Granger (AU) def. Jill Pfisthner (SMU), 71.5-71
