AUBURN, Ala. – The No. 4 Auburn equestrian team returned to the Auburn University Equestrian Center Saturday and bested rival and No. 5 Georgia, 14-4, in a Southeastern Conference match up.
"It was definitely a rebound win for us," head coach Greg Williams said. "Our riding was much better than two weeks ago and I'm really proud of the team for responding the way the did today. We had some mistakes that were easily identifiable so I'm very happy with where we are right now."
The Tigers (7-2, 4-1 SEC) swept the Most Outstanding Performer awards on the day. Freshmen Alexia Tordoff and Caroline Fredenburg took home the awards in Reining and Horsemanship, respectively. Senior Ava Stearns won Flat MOP, while junior Ellie Ferrigno picked up MOP in Fences.
After taking a 6-4 lead at intermission, the Tigers put together an 8-0-2 mark in Fences and Horsemanship to hold the Bulldogs winless in the second half of the meet.
In Jumping Seat action, Auburn went 4-0-1 in Fences after halftime. Fifth year Emma Kurtz opened up the event with an 87-83 win, while sophomore Sophee Steckbeck bested Catalina Peralta by 16 points, 86-70. Sophomore Mary-Grace Segars tied her opponent, 83-all.
Ferrigno and Stearns closed out the event with a win each as they both improved to 8-1-0 on the year. Ferrigno's fifth Fences MOP of the year came in a 10-point win, 87-77. Stearns capped the day with an 86-80 win over her Bulldog opponent.
The Horsemanship corps also went 4-0-1 in the second half of Western. The Tordoff tandem of freshman Alexia and senior Olivia Tordoff kicked things of with wins for the Tigers. Alexia scored 75.5 points in her victory, while Olivia bested her opponent with a 73.5.
Senior Maddie Spak improved to 8-0-1 on the year in Horsemanship with a 75.5-74 win over Jordan Davis. Fredenburg secured the first MOP of her career with another 75.5-74 victory for the squad and junior Madison Parduhn earned a 73 in her tie with Kendall Gill.
Auburn opened the day with a 6-4 advantage following Flat and Reining.
Ferrigno started things off with an 83-78 win over Jordan Toering in Flat. The Bulldogs followed with a pair of wins in the event before Stearns scored 89 points in her MOP victory over Nora Andrews (89-76). Segars secured her team-leading seventh win of the season in Flat with a 79-73 edge over Ceci Bresch.
The Reining crew finished 3-2 over the Bulldogs to start the day in Western. The sister duo of Kate Buchanan and Caroline Buchanan led off with two wins for the Tigers. Kate, a junior, took her point with a 69-67.5 victory before freshman Caroline scored 70.5 points in her 6.5-point win over Shelby Lynch.
Alexia Tordoff's MOP ride earned a 72.5 and she downed her opponent by seven points.
Auburn returns to the Auburn University Equestrian Center next week Saturday, February 25, to host No. 1 SMU. The Tigers and the Mustangs will face off at 11 a.m. CT and the admission is free.
#4 AUBURN 14, #5 GEORGIA 4
FENCES
Emma Kurtz (AU) def. Rachel McMullen (UGA), 87-83
Sophee Steckbeck (AU) def. Catalina Peralta (UGA), 86-70
Mary-Grace Segars (AU) tied Emma Reichow (UGA), 83-83
Ellie Ferrigno (AU)* def. Jordan Toering (UGA), 87-77
Ava Stearns (AU) def. Tessa P. Brown (UGA), 86-80
FLAT
Ellie Ferrigno (AU) def. Jordan Toering (UGA), 83-78
Sophia Pilla (UGA) def. Emma Kurtz (AU), 89-82
Catalina Peralta (UGA) def. Sophee Steckbeck (AU), 85-72
Ava Stearns (AU)* def. Nora Andrews (UGA), 89-76
Mary-Grace Segars (AU) def. Ceci Bresch (UGA), 79-73
HORSEMANSHIP
Alexia Tordoff (AU) def. Jillian Stopperich (UGA), 75.5-74
Olivia Tordoff (AU) def. Sara Lewis (UGA), 73.5-72
Maddie Spak (AU) def. Jordan Davis (UGA), 75.5-74
Caroline Fredenburg (AU)* def. Leah Anderson (UGA), 75.5-74
Madison Parduhn (AU) tied Kendall Gill (UGA), 73-73
REINING
Kate Buchanan (AU) def. Caitlin Lyons (UGA), 69-67.5
Caroline Buchanan (AU) def. Shelby Lynch (UGA), 70.5-64
Courtney Blumer (UGA) def. Olivia Marino (AU), 71.5-69.5
Alexia Tordoff (AU)* def. Sophie Lucas (UGA), 72.5-65.5
Jax Bound (UGA) def. Isabella Tesmer (AU), 67-62.5