March 3, 2018
AUBURN, Ala. ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" The No. 2 Auburn equestrian team won its fifth straight, putting together a dominating 14-3 victory over No. 5 SMU Saturday at the Auburn University Equestrian Center. The win was the team's fourth over a Top 5 opponent in the last five meets and pushed the Tigers to 8-3 overall.
"This team has put together outstanding rides this spring," head coach Greg Williams said. "I want to give credit to coaches Jessica Braswell and Mary Meneely for that. The team continues to get stronger every day and are really getting in sync. We are still building for the postseason and are looking forward to what's to come."
In addition to a successful showing in the competition, the team also welcomed over 30 alums to the program's first-ever Alumni Day celebration.
"It was a special day out here," Williams said. "I really hope our alums are proud of the legacy they left and leave today with the knowledge that our team continues to build on that legacy."
The Western corps had another outstanding showing for Auburn and did not give up a point the whole day, coming away with a 7-0 mark.
The Tigers kicked things off on Horsemanship and bested the Mustangs, 4-0. Sophomore Kara Kaufmann led off with a solid 75.5 for her ride, topping Kara Vickery's 73. Freshman Deanna Green followed with 76.5 points in her win as she earned her sixth Most Outstanding Performer award of the year.
Fellow freshman Taylor Searles secured her fifth win this season with a 75-72.5 victory over Charlotte Selby, while junior Lauren Diaz topped Michaela Dinger, 75.5-71.5, for win No. 7 of the year. Redshirt junior Kelsey Jung tied Haylee Schoonover, 74.5-74.5, keep the Tigers undefeated in the event.
The Auburn Reining crew picked up three points with two ties to help the Western side go unbeaten. Senior Alexa Rivard earned a season-best 73 points on her ride, securing the win and her second MOP of the year. Freshmen Terri-June Granger and Green each picked up victories as Granger topped Madison Steed, 70.5-68, and Green edged Jill Pfisthner, 71.5-70.5.
Juniors Betsy Brown and Blair McFarlin came away with ties in their match ups, scoring 70.5 points and 71 points, respectively.
On the Hunt Seat side, Equitation on the Flat kicked off the meet with a 3-2 mark against the Mustangs. Senior Caitlin Creel bested Haley Zimmerman, 77-65, before junior Hayley Iannotti outscored Vivian Yowan, 75-58. The win gave Iannotti her 10th of the season in the event. Junior Ashton Alexander took home MOP honors as she defeated Mary Elizabeth Cordia, 87-56.
Equitation Over Fences finished the day with a 4-1 record vs. SMU. A trio of juniors in Alex Ladove, Caitlin Boyle, and Iannotti all scored 80+ points on their rides to pick up wins for the Tigers. Ladove bested Yowan, 85-82, while Iannotti defeated her opponent, 88-84. Boyle's 89 points edged Kelsie Brittan's 88, securing MOP honors and her ninth win in the event this year. That point total was also a season best for Boyle.
Also picking up a point for Auburn in Fences was freshman Carly Hoft. The Charlotte, N.C., native outscored Hayley Banas, 79-76.
Auburn caps the regular season at home Saturday, March 10, hosting Fresno State at the Auburn University Equestrian Center. The Tigers and the Bulldogs will face off at 11 a.m. CT and the squad will honor its senior class at intermission.
#2 AUBURN 14, #5 SMU 3
Equitation on the Flat
Nora Gray (SMU) def. Caitlin Boyle (AU), 55-0
Kirsten Ostling (SMU) def. Becky Kozma (AU), 89-80
Caitlin Creel (AU) def. Haley Zimmerman (SMU), 77-65
Hayley Iannotti (AU) def. Vivan Yowan (SMU), 75-58
Ashton Alexander (AU)* def. Mary Elizabeth Cordia (SMU), 87-56
Equitation Over Fences
Nora Gray (SMU) def. Ashton Alexander (AU), 81-80
Alex Ladove (AU) def. Vivian Yowan (SMU), 85-82
Carly Hoft (AU) def. Hayley Banas (SMU), 79-76
Caitlin Boyle (AU)* def. Kelsie Brittan (SMU), 89-88
Hayley Iannotti (AU) def. Brett Burlington (SMU), 88-84
Horsemanship
Kara Kaufmann (AU) def. Kara Vickery (SMU), 89-80
Deanna Green (AU)* def. Ashley Mauney (SMU), 76.5-73.5
Taylor Searles (AU) def. Charlotte Selby (SMU), 75-72.5
Lauren Diaz (AU) def. Michaela Dinger (SMU), 75.5-71.5
Kelsey Jung (AU) tied Haylee Schoonover (SMU), 74.5-74.5
Reining
Terri-June Granger (AU) def. Madison Steed (SMU), 70.5-68
Deanna Green (AU) def. Jill Pfisthner (SMU), 71.5-70.5
Betsy Brown (AU) tied Holly Lansidel (SMU), 70.5-70.5
Blair McFarlin (AU) tied Keagan Snively (SMU), 71-71
Alexa Rivard (AU)* def. Olivia Pakula (SMU), 73-69.5
* - Denotes Most Outstanding Performer
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