• Auburn/Georgia Scoresheet
• SDSU/NDSU Scoresheet

No. 4 Auburn Downs No. 1 Georgia with 12-6 Road Win

BISHOP, Ga. – The No. 4 Auburn equestrian team put together an impressive showing on the road Friday, taking down No. 1 Georgia, 12-6. The victory moved the Tigers to 5-3 overall and 2-2 in the Southeastern Conference.

“This team has been amazing in practice and on the road these past two weeks,” head coach Greg Williams said. “Coach Jessica Braswell and coach Mary Meneely are getting them ready to ride with any team right now and it shows with not only the outcome, but the fact that we were able to sweep the MOPs today. My favorite part is how the team is continuing to get stronger as a unit outside the arena as well. I love this team and am so happy they are riding home with a huge road win today!”

A trio of freshmen swept the Most Outstanding Performer honors with Taylor St. Jacques taking both the Equitation Over Fences and Equitation on the Flat awards. Deanna Green and Terri-June Granger picked up their fourth each of the season with Green’s coming in Horsemanship and Granger’s in Reining.

Auburn kicked off the contest with a strong showing, taking an 8-1 lead into intermission after Equitation Over Fences and Horsemanship. 

The Tigers went 4-1 in Fences with St. Jacques leading the charge, scoring a team-best 85 points to top Ali Tritschler’s 84. Her MOP nod was the third-straight for the Glen Allen, Va., product. Juniors Hayley Iannotti and Alex Ladove each scored 82 points in their victories, while classmate Caitlin Boyle edged Sydney Hutchins, 76-75.

The Horsemanship corps went undefeated, finishing 4-0-1 against Georgia. Junior Lauren Diaz kicked off the event with a 72-66.5 victory, while freshman Taylor Searles picked up her second-straight W with 74.5 points. Redshirt junior Kelsey Jung earned her seventh win of the season, 74.5-74, while Green followed with 75 points for her seventh victory of the year. Sophomore Kara Kaufmann tied Madison Anger, 71.5-71.5. 

In Equitation on the Flat, St. Jacques totaled a career-best 93 points to earn her second MOP of the year in the event. That point total was also a team high for the season. Iannotti also earned a win vs. the Bulldogs in Flat, topping Grace Bridges, 77-69.

Granger’s 74 points in her Reining win led all student-athletes and was a career best for the Dothan, Ala., native. Junior Betsy Brown earned her third-straight win in the event as she bested Kyndall Harper, 72-71. Senior Alexa Rivard picked up a tie with Annabeth Payne, 71.5-71.5.

Auburn returns to the Plains for a big SEC meet with No. 2 Texas A&M. The Tigers and the Aggies are slated to face off Saturday, Feb. 17, at 11 a.m. CT. The meet will be held at the Auburn University Equestrian Center.

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SDSU EQUESTRIAN DEFEATS NDSU, 14-2

The South Dakota State equestrian team defeated North Dakota State, 14-2 in an exhibition on Thursday at the DeHaan Equestrian Center.

"We had good rides across the board and it was exciting to be able to compete against a team we haven't seen before," head coach Ellie Wilkins said. "We still have things to work on before our trip to Texas, but we're excited to what the rest of the weekend has in store." 

In Equitation over Fences, the Jacks won 3-1. Taylor Duerr captured the first point for State with an 83-81 decision over Kayla Young. Jessica Martinez topped Kali Carlson, 86-74. Jacey Chorlton upended Morgan Samuelson, 88-79 en route to garnering MOP honors.

State won Horsemanship, 3-1 to increase the lead to, 6-2. Emily Keiser defeated Madison Long, 72.5-71.5 and Nichole Zazula dropped Megan Haugen, 73-71.5. Sophomore Whitney Vesey captured her first MOP accolade with a 75-69 victory over Kalina Larsen.

SDSU swept NDSU in Equitation on the Flat. Claire Garduno garnered her first MOP honor with an 87-81 mark over Kayla Young. Matilyn Skinner topped Amy Frebault, 74-71, while Jessica Martinez upended Morgan Samuelson, 84-82. Senior Taylor Duerr captured the sweep with an 80-67 victory over Kali Carlson.

In Reining, the Jacks swept again. Catelyn Hall claimed MOP accolades with a 71.5-68.5 defeated against Taylor Zimprich. Mariah Wright defeated Sheridan Heid, 68-60.5 and Madison Sullivan topped Madison Long, 69.5-60.5. Senior Miranda Sullivan rounded out the sweep with a 69.