BISHOP, Ga. – The No. 1 Auburn equestrian team closed out the regular season with a 13-7 loss at No. 6 Georgia Friday afternoon at the UGA Equestrian Farm.
"We rode poorly toady and just couldn't get things to go our way," head coach Greg Williams said. "We had so many opportunities to make sure we came out with a win. Georgia hosted a great meet and rode really well."
The Tigers (8-3, 4-2 SEC) earned two MOPs on the day. Junior Olivia Tordoff picked up the honor in Horsemanship, while sophomore Ellie Ferrigno was awarded MOP in Fences for the second-straight meet.
The Horsemanship squad put together a 4-1-0 effort vs. the Bulldogs (7-4, 2-4 SEC) to highlight the day. Tordoff kicked off the event with her ninth-straight victory and eighth MOP in the last nine meets, 77-75.5. Fifth year Deanna Green scored 73.5 points in her win, while junior Maddie Spak led all athletes with a 77.5 and a win. Fifth year Taylor Searles capped Auburn scoring with her MOP victory, 76.5-64.5.
Fences got a point from senior Emma Kurtz as she edged Emma Reichow, 85-84.
Auburn earned two points in Flat after intermission from junior Ava Stearns and Ferrigno. Stearns bested Sophia Pilla, 84-80. Ferrigno earned MOP with an 89-80 victory vs. Nora Andrews.
Georgia swept the Tigers in Reining, 5-0-0.
The postseason awaits Auburn as the Tigers are set to host the 2022 SEC Championships, March 25-26, at the Auburn University Equestrian Center. Texas A&M secured the top seed, while Auburn is second, Georgia is third and South Carolina will be the fourth seed. More information on the championship will be announced at a later date.
#6 GEORGIA 13, #1 AUBURN 7
FENCES
Jordan Toering (UGA) def. Ava Stearns (AU), 83-77
Catalina Peralta (UGA)* def. Sophee Steckbeck (AU), 90-86
Hayley Mairano (UGA) def. Meghan Knapic (AU), 88-83
Rachel McMullen (UGA) def. Ellie Ferrigno (AU), 86-85
Emma Kurtz (AU) def. Emma Reichow (UGA), 85-84
FLAT
Ceci Bresch (UGA) def. Helen Ulrich (AU), 90-82.5
Jordan Toering (UGA) def. Sophee Steckbeck (AU), 89-87
Hayley Mairano (UGA) def. Emma Kurtz (AU), 93.5-89.5
Ava Stearns (AU) def. Sophia Pilla (UGA), 84-80
Ellie Ferrigno (AU) def. Nora Andrews (UGA), 89-80
HORSEMANSHIP
Olivia Tordoff (AU)* def. Leah Anderson (UGA), 77-75.5
Deanna Green (AU) def. Kendall Gill (UGA), 73.5-72.5
Maddie Spak (AU) def. Grace Himes (UGA), 77.5-76.5
Taylor Searles (AU) def. Sara Lewis (UGA), 76.5-64.5
Jillian Stopperich (UGA) def. Madison Parduhn (AU), 75.5-74
REINING
Jax Bound (UGA) def. Boo Kammerer (AU), 72-69.5
Lindsay Guynn (UGA)* def. Isabella Tesmer (AU), 72-68
Caitlin Lyons (UGA) def. Deanna Green (AU), 67.5-0
Isabella Hehr (UGA) def. Taylor Searles (AU), 71.5-71
Courtney Blumer (UGA) def. Terri-June Granger (AU), 70.5-69.5