Sept. 29, 2007

AUBURN, Ala. – The South Carolina equestrian team suffered its first loss of the season as they fell to Auburn, 12-8, Sunday at the Auburn Horse Unit.

The Western team recorded its second tie of the season, 5-5, but fell in a raw score tiebreaker as the Tigers outscored them 662.5-661. The Hunter Seat team lost 7-3, marking the first loss for the Carolina Hunter Seat team since the 2005-06 season. The Gamecocks had won 19 consecutive competitions in the division, including two national titles during the streak.

Carolina was led in equitation over fences by sophomore Megan Massaro, who won MVP honors in the event. USC fell 2-3 in equitation over fences and 1-4 in equitation on the flat.

The Gamecocks won in horsemanship, 3-2, but fell in reining by a score of 2-3. Auburn won the Western division due to the raw score tiebreaker, the second consecutive week that the Gamecocks tied 5-5 but dropped the tiebreaker.

South Carolina continues the fall portion of its season Saturday, Oct. 6 when they host South Dakota State. The Gamecocks and Jackrabbits will compete at 10 a.m. at OneWood Farm in Blythewood.