BISHOP, Ga. – The No. 1 Auburn equestrian team used a big second half to power to a 13-6 semifinal win over fourth-seeded South Carolina at the 2021 SEC Championship Friday. The Tigers advanced to the SEC Championship match with the victory.
The Tigers found themselves in a rare position at the break as South Carolina led 5-4 following Reining and Flat. The top-ranked team regrouped and put together a 9-1 showing between Fences and Horsemanship to seal the deal.
"South Carolina pushed us today and had us on our toes," head coach Greg Williams said. "We had to play from behind and the team responded like the champions they are. They regrouped and came back hard. Coach Mary Meneely and coach Jessica Braswell had them ready to respond and they did so in a big way."
Auburn (7-0), the two-time defending SEC champion, will face No. 2 Georgia Saturday at 1:30 p.m. CT in Bishop, Ga., for the conference crown.
"I'm really looking forward to Saturday afternoon," Williams said. "This is two storied programs going head-to-head in a championship match up. It's going to be a great contest."
A pair of seniors in Taylor St. Jacques and Deanna Green earned MOP honors on the day. St. Jacques came away with both Fences and Flat, while Green was awarded for her performance in Horsemanship.
With both of her wins, St. Jacques moved to 14-0-0 on the season with seven wins apiece in Fences and Flat.
In addition, Green and classmate Taylor Searles moved one spot higher on Auburn's career wins list in Horsemanship with their two victories today. The pair are now tied for first with former Tiger Lauren Diaz (2016-19) with 41 career wins.
Fences swept the Gamecocks, 5-0, in Jumping Seat action. Sophomore Ava Stearns put together a 260.5 to edge her opponent, while junior Emma Kurtz followed with a 265-240.5 win over Jordan Allen. Junior McKayla Langmeier scored 261 points in her win and classmate Meghan Knapic bested SC's Louisa Brackett, 252.5-228. St. Jacques, of Glen Allen, Va., knocked her ride out of the park, scoring a 275 to win MOP and top her opponent by 20 points.
Horsemanship closed out the day with a 4-1 showing over the Gamecocks. Searles led off with a 217-188 win over Alexa Thorpe. Freshman Madison Parduhn followed with a big score, earning a 218 in her victory. Green picked up MOP honors with a 220 for the win and sophomore Olivia Tordoff remained undefeated in the event with a 220-217 victory over Kamiah McGrath.
The Tigers had a pair of wins in Flat, going 2-2-1 vs. South Carolina. St. Jacques led the way with a 259-246 finish in her MOP match up and freshman Ellie Ferrigno earned a 231-217 win in her first postseason action.
Reining saw wins from Green and sophomore Boo Kammerer. Green bested Graycen Hess, 205-202, while Kammerer improved to 6-0-1 on the season with a 203.5-198.5 victory.
#1 AUBURN 13, #4 SOUTH CAROLINA 6
Fences
Ava Stearns (AU) def. Trinity Hammerschmidt (SC), 260.5-256.75
Emma Kurtz (AU) def. Jordan Allen (SC), 264-240.5
McKayla Langmeier (AU) def. Tyler Petrie (SC), 261-208
Meghan Knapic (AU) def. Louisa Brackett (SC), 252.5-228
Taylor St. Jacques (AU)* def. Madeline Schaefer (SC), 275-254.5
Flat
Carolina Bald (SC) def. McKayla Langmeier (AU), 241-240
Billi Brandner (SC) def. Emma Kurtz (AU), 230-227
Taylor St. Jacques (AU)* def. Trinity Hammerschmidt (SC), 259-246
Ellie Ferrigno (AU) def. Nina Columbia (SC), 231-217
Ava Stearns (AU) tied Louisa Brackett (SC), 240-240
Horsemanship
Taylor Searles (AU) def. Alexa Thorpe (SC), 217-188
Madison Parduhn (AU) def. Cora Wyers (SC), 218-217
Sloane Vogt (SC) def. Maddie Spak (AU), 216-209.5
Deanna Green (AU)* def. Taylor Kellam (SC), 220-208
Olivia Tordoff (AU) def. Kamiah McGrath (SC), 220-217
Reining
Sloane Vogt (SC)* def. Terri-June Granger (AU), 208.5-204
Deanna Green (AU) def. Graycen Hess (SC), 205-202
McKenzie Duncan (SC) def. Taylor Searles (AU), 204-202.5
Boo Kammerer (AU) def. Addie Cromer (SC), 203.5-198.5
Emma Lane (SC) def. Isabella Tesmer (AU), 204.5-204