USC Equestrian Defeats Auburn for 13th Consecutive Home Win

Feb. 9, 2008

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The South Carolina equestrian team earned its 13th consecutive win at One Wood Farm as they defeated Auburn 14-5 Saturday in Blythewood. Carolina swept MVP honors in the competition with Kristen Terebesi, Megan Massaro, Allison Bradley and Lindsay Williams taking home top honors in their respective events.

Terebesi earned MVP honors in equitation on the flat for the second consecutive week, giving her MVP honors in seven of 15 rides this season. Massaro recorded a 90 over fences to earn honors as she had a 12-point edge on the next closest rider in the event. Bradley earned her second MVP of the season in horsemanship, the last coming at Auburn on Sept. 29. Lindsey Williams rounded out the sweep with her first MVP of the season in reining.

“It was a great win today,” South Carolina head coach Boo Duncan said. “Our horses weren’t as good today so it was a little challenging. The girls had to adapt and everyone did a good job.”

The Gamecocks improve to 5-3 on the season with their third straight victory since defeating Georgia on November 3. The Hunter Seat team moves to 6-2 on the season while the Western team evens its record to 4-4 in its best showing since moving to the varsity format in 2003. Carolina has not lost at One Wood Farm since October 21, 2005.

“It was nice to have the Hunter Seat and Western teams fire all their cylinders to take this win,” Duncan said.

Led by identical 4-1 wins in horsemanship and reining, the Western team recorded an 8-2 win against the Tigers. The point total is the most ever earned by the Western team and also goes as the largest point margin of victory for the Gamecocks. Led by Bradley in horsemanship, Carolina also got wins from Amy Biffle, Hailey Thornton and Emily Bookwalter. Williams led the Gamecocks in reining with a 72-67.5 victory. Chloe Gray, Rebekah Roof and Bradley also recorded wins with Gray’s 71.5-61 victory over Paige Monfore going as the biggest margin of victory in the class.

The Hunter Seat team took a 6-3 win with four coming in equitation on the flat. Terebesi’s seventh MVP of the season came on a 74-64 win over Coburn Park while Massaro, Alex Haskell and Sarah Stephens also recorded wins on the flat. Haskell won 70-68 for her third straight victory. Stephens improves to 4-1-1 on the season with the lone blemish coming at Oklahoma State.

Massaro’s 90 in equitation over fences marks the second straight week that she scored in the 90’s after earning a 90-point ride in equation on the flat against New Mexico State. She defeated Dottie Grubb 90-63 Saturday after winning 88-68 over fences last week. Terebesi edged Anna Schierholz 78-77 for Carolina’s other win over fences. Eleanor Kunsman rode to a 69-69 tie.

The home team has won the last five competitions between the Tigers and Gamecocks. The two teams will meet for a third time this season at the Southern Equestrian Championship which will be held at One Wood Farm in Blythewood from March 28-29.

Carolina has next Saturday off and will return to action on February 23 when they travel to Athens, Ga., for a second competition against Georgia. The Gamecocks defeated the Bulldogs 11-7 in Blythewood in the fall season finale and will look to defeat Georgia in Athens for the first time since competition moved to the varsity format.

“It’s going to be a tough match,” Duncan said. “Georgia is a strong team,”