DALLAS, Texas – The No. 2 Auburn equestrian team capped a tough road swing in Texas with a loss to No. 3 SMU, 11-9, in Dallas to close out the fall season.
"I'm proud of their effort today," head coach Jessica Braswell said. "They fought until the very end of a long day. We've got to improve on riding mistake free on the road. SMU rode well today and didn't make the mistakes we did. We're looking forward to the break and working on the details before we start the spring."
Auburn (5-2) opened the meet with a 6-4 lead after Fences and Horsemanship, but the Mustangs responded with an 8-2 advantage between Flat and Reining to take the win.
Upperclassmen led the way in Fences for the Tigers to start the meet as the squad went 3-2 in the event. Junior Sophee Steckbeck improved to 7-0-0 in the event with an 82.5-78.5 win to kick things off. Senior Ellie Ferrigno edged Augusta Iwasaki, 84.5-83, before fifth year Ava Stearns bested her opponent with an 82.5-78 win. Stearns was awarded MOP for her efforts.
The Tigers also went 3-2 in Horsemanship in the first half, starting with a 74-68.75 win for freshman Brooke Jolstad. Sophomore Alexia Tordoff bested her opponent, 75-74, while freshman Sydney Swallom scored a 73.5 to win her point.
Highlighting the second half were the performances of a pair of upperclassmen.
Senior Isabella Tesmer improved to 7-0-0 on the year in Reining, picking up a point in the event with a 69.25. Stearns earned the lone point in Flat for Auburn, winning 83.5-78.
The Tigers take a couple months off before kicking off the spring season on the road, traveling to South Carolina on February 3.
#3 SMU 12, #2 AUBURN 8
FENCES
Sophee Steckbeck (AU) def. Taylor Madden (SMU), 82.5-78.5
Elli Yeager (SMU) def. Avery Glynn (AU), 82-78.5
Ellie Ferrigno (AU) def. Augusta Iwasaki (SMU), 84.5-83
Ava Stearns (AU)* def. Hannah Hoch (SMU), 82.5-78
Hensley Humphries (SMU) def. Mary-Grace Segars (AU), 72-68.5
FLAT
Emma Engel (SMU) def. Mary-Grace Segars (AU), 79.5-75
Ava Stearns (AU) def. Hensley Humphries (SMU), 83.5-78
Taylor Madden (SMU) de. Baylee Mckeever (AU), 88.5-75
Elli Yeager (SMU) def. Ellie Ferrigno (AU), 86.5-84.5
Katy Merchant (SMU) def. Avery Glynn (AU), 79-75
HORSEMANSHIP
Brooke Jolstad (AU) def. Makenna Bomke (SMU), 74-68.5
Lily Anderson (SMU) def. Caroline Fredenburg (AU), 74.75-71.25
Alexia Tordoff (AU) def. Caroline Nielson (SMU), 75-74
Nya Kearns (SMU) def. Alexis Potts (AU), 79.5-75.25
Sydney Swallom (AU) def. Alexa Black (SMU), 73.5-72
REINING
Lily Anderson (SMU) def. Kate Buchanan (SMU), 69.75-68.5
Shelby Clausen (SMU) def. Carolina Buchanan (AU), 71-70
Isabella Tesmer (AU) def. Chalyce Head (SMU), 69.25-66.75
Maria Richards (SMU) def. Alexia Tordoff (AU), 70.5-69.75
Taylor Zimmerman (SMU) def. Olivia Marino (AU), 72.75-72.5