DAVIS, Calif. – The No. 5 Auburn equestrian team dropped the first meet of the weekend Friday, falling at UC Davis, 10-8. The Tigers moved to 1-1 on the season with the loss.
"We rode really well today, but the scores just weren't falling our way," head coach Greg Williams said. "We'll take a look at what we can improve on and move on. We need to focus on Saturday."
The Tigers went 3-2 in both Fences and Horsemanship to start the day.
Senior Ava Stearns kicked things off with an 83-82 edge over Elizabeth Blunt. Sophomore Sophee Steckbeck followed with her first win of the season, 83-75. The Aggies captured the next two points, but junior Ellie Ferrigno sealed the event with 86 points for the win.
Horsemanship was led by a pair of freshmen and a senior, earning three points in the event. Freshman Alexia Tordoff improved to 2-0-0 on the season with a 75-67.5 victory. Classmate Caroline Fredenburg secured the first win of her career, 73-71.5. Maddie Spak capped the event with a 74-50.5 victory over Kayla Hickey.
Freshman Mary-Grace Segars picked up the lone point, albeit a big one, for the Tigers in Flat. After a reride was granted, she bested her opponent to win 93-90. Steckbeck secured a tie with Nicole Beales, 94-94, and Emma Kurtz finished the event with another key tie, 86-86.
Reining saw a point from junior Olivia Marino. The Birmingham, Alabama product picked up her first win of the season, scoring a 71 to best her opponent's 70.5.
Auburn concludes its road trip to California with a contest at No. 9 Fresno State. The two teams will face off on Saturday, October 15, at 12 p.m. CT.
UC DAVIS 10, #5 AUBURN 8
FENCES
Ava Stearns (AU) def. Elizabeth Blunt (UCD), 83-82
Sophee Steckbeck (AU) def. Keely Laughlin (UCD), 83-75
Jessie Rechs (UCD) def. Mary-Grace Segars (AU), 80-79
Carly Sweeney (UCD) def. Emma Kurtz (AU), 84-69
Ellie Ferrigno (AU) def. Sierra Gundersen (UCD), 86-85
FLAT
Mary-Grace Segars (AU) def. Keely Laughlin (UCD), 93-90
Sophee Steckbeck (AU) tied Nicole Beales (UCD), 92-92
Margaret Franke (UCD) def. Ellie Ferrigno (AU), 98-93
Sierra Gundersen (UCD) def. Ava Stearns (AU), 85-84
Emma Kurtz (AU) tied Carly Sweeney (UCD), 86-86
HORSEMANSHIP
Malena Palmer (UCD) def. Madison Parduhn (AU), 73.5-71.5
Alexia Tordoff (AU) def. Gracie Howell (UCD), 74-67.5
Caroline Fredenburg (AU) def. Ruby Nahum (UCD), 73-71.5
Natasha Replogle (UCD) def. Olivia Tordoff (AU), 74-69
Maddie Spak (AU) def. Kayla Hickey (UCD), 74-50.5
REINING
Lauren Langbaum (UCD) def. Isabella Tesmer (AU), 70.5-69
Macey Newkirk (UCD) def. Caroline Buchanan (AU), 69.5-65
Olivia Marino (AU) def. Amber Nusser (UCD), 71-70.5
Emma Dillon (UCD) def. Kate Buchanan (AU), 71-70.5
Kendal Scheiner (UCD) def. Alexia Tordoff (AU), 73-68.5