AUBURN, Ala. – The No. 2 Auburn equestrian team put together a big win over Georgia Friday afternoon, besting No. 3 seed Bulldogs in the SEC Championship semifinal, 12-7.
The No. 2 seed and three-time defending SEC champion Tigers () will face No. 1 seed Texas A&M for the SEC title Saturday at 2 p.m. CT at the Auburn University Equestrian Center. Admission is free.
"The atmosphere was great today and I want to thank the Auburn crowd that came out and helped push this team to a victory," head coach Greg Williams said. "That was a huge factor for us because you could feel the energy from the crowd in the arena. I hope everyone will come out tomorrow and get loud as we go for a championship.
"Our crowd was amazing, and it was the loudest I've heard it in a really long time out here," fifth year Taylor Searles said. "It made us ride harder and encouraged us to never let up."
The Tigers were led by big rides from their upperclassmen and took away three MOPs. Fifth years Deanna Green and Terri-June Granger were awarded in Horsemanship and Reining, respectively. Senior Emma Kurtz won MOP in Fences for the squad.
"We have some outstanding fifth years and seniors on this team," Williams said. "The rides are great, but their attitudes are even better. They are a big reason why this team is keeping their unity and they are hungry to win."
With her win in Reining, Granger moved into a tie for first in Auburn career wins. She is currently tied with Alexa Rivard (2014-18) with 44 career victories.
It was a collective team effort as Auburn picked up three wins in each event enroute to the victory over rival Georgia.
"I think it was a good, complete team effort," Williams said. "We had some rides to start with some uncharacteristic mistakes that I wish we could have back. However, I was proud of the way that they covered for each other and how they kept the momentum and passion on their side."
"The whole team was riding to win from the first ride out in the arena," Searles added. "We weren't going to give anything up. We had some mistakes, but I thought everyone rode the hardest they've ridden all year and I couldn't be prouder of this group."
The Tigers went ahead 6-4 at intermission following Flat and Horsemanship, going 3-2 in both events.
Sophomore Madison Parduhn led off Horsemanship with a 211-205.5 victory over Grace Himes and Green followed with her MOP win, 230.5-209.5. The Bulldogs took the next two points before Searles captured a 227.5-223.5 victory over Kendall Gill. The win upped the Scottsdale, Arizona product's total to a team-leading 11 this year.
Auburn picked up three wins in Flat, finishing 3-2 vs. the Bulldogs. After Georgia took the first, sophomore Ellie Ferrigno earned 255 points to pick up her 10th win of the season in the event. Kurtz also won her 10th victory this year in Flat, 246-235.5. Junior Ava Stearns followed with win No. 11 this season, scoring 259 points.
Following the break, Auburn's Fences corps put together a 3-1-1 victory over the Bulldogs to go ahead 9-5 with one event to go and needing one more point for the win.
Stearns secured up a key tie, locking scores with Jordan Toering, 257-257. Ferrigno bested Rachel McMullen, 254-247, and freshman Sophee Steckbeck downed Catalina Peralta, 263-258. Kurtz closed out the event and gave the Tigers their ninth point with a big 256-176 victory for MOP. Kurtz's victory moved her to 12 total on the season.
Searles sealed the team victory with a 216.5-214 win to start off Reining, capturing her team-leading eight win of the year. The Bulldogs took the next two points before super seniors Granger and Green shut things down with wins. Granger earned 217 points on her MOP victory and Green capped the day victorious, 213-210.
#2 AUBURN 12, #3 GEORGIA 7
FENCES
Ava Stearns (AU) tied Jordan Toering (UGA), 257-257
Ellie Ferrigno (AU) def. Rachel McMullen (UGA), 254-247
Hayley Mairano (UGA) def. Meghan Knapic (AU), 247-246
Sophee Steckbeck (AU) def. Catalina Peralta (UGA), 263-258
Emma Kurtz (AU)* def. Emma Reichow (UGA), 256-176
FLAT
Jordan Toering (UGA)* def. Sophee Steckbeck (AU), 268.5-246.5
Ellie Ferrigno (AU) def. Sophia Pilla (UGA), 255-237
Emma Kurtz (AU) def. Hayley Mairano (UGA), 246-235.5
Ava Stearns (AU) def. Nora Andrews (UGA), 259-240
Ceci Bresch (UGA) def. Helen Ulrich (AU), 246.5-213
HORSEMANSHIP
Madison Parduhn (AU) def. Grace Himes (UGA), 210.5-205.5
Deanna Green (AU)* def. Sara Lewis (UGA), 230.5-214.5
Jillian Stopperich (UGA) def. Olivia Tordoff (AU), 224-216
Leah Anderson (UGA) def. Maddie Spak (AU), 220.5-219.5
Taylor Searles (AU) def. Kendall Gill (UGA), 227.5-223.5
REINING
Taylor Searles (AU) def. Jax Bound (UGA), 216.5-214
Caitlin Lyons (UGA) def. Boo Kammerer (AU), 214.5-209
Lindsay Guynn (UGA) def. Isabella Tesmer (AU), 214-210
Terri-June Granger (AU)* def. Courtney Blumer (UGA), 217-200
Deanna Green (AU) def. Isabella Hehr (UGA), 213-210
No. 2 Auburn bests Georgia, 12-7, to advance to SEC Championship Final
