BLYTHEWOOD, S.C. – The No. 1 Auburn equestrian team picked up where it left off and put together a big performance on the road, topping No. 3 South Carolina at One Wood Farm, 14-5. The win kicked off the 2020-21 season, lifting the Tigers to 1-0 on the season and in Southeastern Conference action.
"I knew our riding was going to be good, but what was pleasing to me was to see this team come together," head coach Greg Williams said. "When you couple that with their hard work ethic and talent, we have pretty bright season ahead of us."
The victory also extends the team's winning streak to 35 matches, dating back to April 19, 2018.
Auburn swept MOP honors on the day, starting with junior McKayla Langmeier on Flat and senior Taylor Searles in Reining. Senior Taylor St. Jacques secured MOP in Fences and sophomore Rachel Hoopman, who made her first career start for the Tigers today, was awarded MOP in Horsemanship.
The Tigers kicked things off with a 3-2 victory in Flat. St. Jacques, the back-to-back NCEA Flat Rider of the Year, scored an 84 to best her opponent's 68. Junior Meghan Knapic, making the first start of her career in Flat, earned an 80-60 victory over Mackenzie Suffy. Langmeier picked up her MOP win as she defeated Trinity Hammerschmidt, 79-65.
The Auburn Reining corps went 3-1 over the Gamecocks to help the squad hold a 6-3 lead at the half. After SC took the first point, Searles followed with the best ride of her career so far as she scored a career-best 75.5. That performance earned her the first MOP of her career as well.
Seniors Terri-June Granger and Deanna Green each picked up victories in Reining for the Tigers. Granger, a Dothan, Ala., product, bested McKenzie Duncan, 75-74. Green capped the event with 75.5 points as she topped Sloane Vogt's 74.5. Sophomore Boo Kammerer finished in a 73-73 tie with Emma Lane.
After the break, the Auburn Fences crew put together a 4-1 showing over the Gamecocks to push the Tigers to a 10-4 advantage. Knapic and Langmeier opened with 82 and 86 points, respectively, as each went undefeated on the day in Jumping Seat. Junior Emma Kurtz edged Brackett, 78-77, for her first win of the season. St. Jacques capped the points as she scored a meet-best 90 on the day for MOP.
Horsemanship closed out with a 4-1 win vs. South Carolina. Sophomore Maddie Spak earned a 74.5-71.5 win, while Searles scored 76.5 points in her victory. Hoopman, a sophomore from Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, put together a huge score for the first win and first MOP of her career, topping Cora Wyers, 81-77. Sophomore Olivia Tordoff also scored a career high on the day with an 80 in her win to close out the meet.
Auburn returns to conference competition next weekend, traveling to rival Georgia, Oct. 23. The Tigers and No. 4 Bulldogs face off in Bishop, Ga., at 1 p.m. CT. Due to COVID-19 and social distancing guidelines, no fans will be permitted to UGA equestrian meets this fall. Guests will be permitted through a "Player Pass List" only.
#1 AUBURN 14, #3 SOUTH CAROLINA 5
Fences
Meghan Knapic (AU) def. Tyler Petrie (SC), 82-68
McKayla Langmeier (AU) def. Madeline Schaefer (SC), 86-84
Emma Kurtz (AU) def. Louisa Brackett (SC), 78-77
Taylor St. Jacques (AU)* def. Mackenzie Suffy (SC), 90-83
Trinity Hammerschmidt (SC) def. Ericka Koscinski (AU), 86-85
Flat
Taylor St. Jacques (AU) def. Louisa Brackett (SC), 84-68
Meghan Knapic (AU) def. Mackenzie Suffy (SC), 80-60
Caroline Bald (SC) def. Lindsey Klein (AU), 69-66
McKayla Langmeier (AU)* def. Trinity Hammerschmidt (SC), 79-65
Kit Cunningham (SC) def. Emma Kurtz (AU), 75-67
Horsemanship
Maddie Spak (AU) def. Michaela Schrim (SC), 74.5-71.5
Taylor Searles (AU) def. Taylor Kellam (SC), 76.5-71.5
Alexa Thorpe (SC) def. Deanna Green (AU), 78-76
Rachel Hoopman (AU)* def. Cora Wyers (SC), 81-77
Olivia Tordoff (AU) def. Kiersten Beckner (SC), 80-79
Reining
Chloe Stephenson (SC) def. Olivia Marino (AU), 74.5-68.5
Taylor Searles (AU)* def. Graycen Hess (SC), 75.5-74.5
Terri-June Granger (AU) def. McKenzie Duncan (SC), 75-74
Boo Kammerer (AU) tied Emma Lane (SC), 73-73
Deanna Green (AU) def. Sloane Vogt (SC), 75.5.-74.5