AUBURN, Ala. – The No. 1 Auburn equestrian team put together a come-from-behind effort Saturday to take a 14-6 win over No. 8 South Carolina at the Auburn University Equestrian Center in front of another big crowd.
“This was a great win today and another awesome Auburn crowd,” head coach Jessica Braswell said. “The support from our fans makes such a difference to our team and they really helped rally us to a win today.”
The Tigers (9-1, 3-1 SEC) found themselves down at halftime, 4-6. But the team rallied and picked up a sweep in both Fences (5-0) and Horsemanship (5-0) to come away with a 14-6 victory.
“We got outridden in the first half so credit to South Carolina on the way its team came out and rode in those first two events,” Braswell said. “However, our team never doubted they could come back. They really dug in and rode the way they were capable of in the second half. We showed some grit today and that will be something we can lean on the rest of the season.”
It marked the fourth time this season that the Horsemanship crew picked up a sweep and the third for Fences.
Auburn finished with three Most Outstanding Performer honors, taking two in Jumping Seat and one in Western. Senior Mary-Grace Segars and junior Caroline Fredenburg continue their solid starts to the spring season as both came away with MOP awards. Segars was recognized for her efforts in Flat, adding to her two MOP honors in Fences last week. Fredenburg secured her third-straight MOP in Horsemanship.
Freshman Kate Hagerty picked up her second MOP of the season in Fences.
Down by two at intermission and needing to reach 11 for the team win, the Tigers put together a dominant performance in the second half, starting with the sweep in Fences.
Senior Sophee Steckbeck led off with an 82.5-68.5 victory and was followed by a win from Segars, 83-80. Hagerty scored an 84 on her MOP ride before fifth year Ellie Ferrigno edged Amira Kettaneh, 83-81.5. Sophomore Avery Glynn sealed the sweep with a 78-68.5 victory.
Horsemanship closed out the meet with a sweep, securing the team win. Sophomore Sydney Swallom earned Auburn’s 10th point of the meet with a 72.25-69.5 victory and Fredenburg’s 75.75 MOP performance guaranteed the Tiger win.
Junior Alexia Tordoff followed with a 74 to win by almost eight points and sophomore Brooke Jolstad edged her opponent, 73.75-72.5. Sophomore Callie Hogg finished the sweep with a 73.5-70.75 victory.
The Tigers got two points from Flat and Reining each in the first half.
After the Gamecocks took the first two points, Glynn put Auburn on the scoreboard with a 78-73 win. Segars had a meet-best 80 points in the event to take the victory and MOP.
A pair of upperclassmen in junior Caroline Buchanan and Tordoff each won their match ups in Reining. Buchanan put together a 69.5-68.25 win, while Tordoff bested Chloe VanStone, 67.25-66.5.
Auburn returns to action in two weeks, hosting rival and nationally-ranked Georgia at the Auburn University Equestrian Center on March 1. The Tigers and the Bulldogs will face off at 11 a.m. CT and the meet will be the team’s final one on the Plains this season.
#1 AUBURN 14, #8 SOUTH CAROLINA 6
FENCES
Sophee Steckbeck (AU) def. Alexa Aureliano (SC), 82.5-68.5
Mary-Grace Segars (AU) def. Bella Primavera (SC), 83-80
Kate Hagerty (AU)* def. Grace Rabb (SC), 84-76.5
Ellie Ferrigno (AU) def. Amira Kettaneh (SC), 83-81.5
Avery Glynn (AU) def. Natalie Jayne (SC), 78-68.5
FLAT
Natalie Jayne (SC) def. Ellie Ferrigno (AU), 74-70
Mary Hunter Milliet (SC) def. Ariana Marnell (AU), 76.5-76
Avery Glynn (AU) def. Amira Kettaneh (SC), 78-73
Mary-Grace Segars (AU)* def. Sophie Mitchell (SC), 80-75
Sarah Rabb (SC) def. Kate Hagerty (AU), 69-67.5
HORSEMANSHIP
Sydney Swallom (AU) def. Carly Jenkins (SC), 72.25-69.5
Caroline Fredenburg (AU)* def. Jenna Berghorst (SC), 75.75-72.5
Alexia Tordoff (AU) def. Jordyn Humbert (SC), 74-66.25
Brooke Jolstad (AU) def. Julia Lee (SC), 73.75-72.5
Callie Hogg (AU) def. Alyssa Jipping (SC), 73.5-70.75
REINING
Chloe Stephenson (SC)* def. Callie Hogg (AU), 71.25-70.25
Caroline Buchanan (AU) def. Mattie McNeill (SC), 69.5-68.25
Alexia Tordoff (AU) def. Chloe VanStone (SC), 67.25-66.5
Olivia Cardi (SC) def. Michelle Fumagalli (AU), 69.25-68.5
Haley Turner (SC) def. Olivia Bradley (AU), 68.5-67