Carolina Defeated by Auburn on Friday

Nov. 18, 2016

AUBURN, Ala. – The eighth-ranked University of South Carolina equestrian team fell to No. 4 Auburn, 13-5, Friday at the Auburn University Horse Center. With the setback, Carolina finishes the fall portion of the schedule with a 3-3 (1-2 SEC) record.

The Gamecocks were strongest in reining, where they earned four of their five points. Bailey Walters was the M.O.P. in reining, while Megan Overberg took M.O.P. honors in horsemanship.

Auburn improves to 4-2 (2-1 SEC) with the win. All six of Carolina’s opponents have been ranked in the top-10 of the NCEA national poll.

QUOTING HEAD COACH Boo Major

“Our western girls rode extremely well today, which showed in their scores. As a whole, our hunt seat riders rode pretty well. It just wasn’t in the cards for us today. We are a better team than the scores reflected, and I’m confident we will be able to continue to prove that next semester.”

EQUITATION OVER FENCES RECAP

The day started with jumping and horsemanship running simultaneously, and the Tigers won the fences portion of the meet, 4-0. Auburn’s Caitlin Boyle was the M.O.P., posting the highest score of the afternoon and winning her matchup, 86-75.

HORSEMANSHIP RECAP

Auburn won horsemanship, 3-1, but Overberg was the M.O.P. after achieving the highest score of the day. The junior won her battle with Lauren Diaz, 75-74.5, on Levi. At the end of the opening half of competition, Auburn held a 7-1 lead.

EQUITATION ON THE FLAT RECAP

After an intermission, the Tigers and Gamecocks came back with equitation on the flat and reining going simultaneously. The home side won on the flat, 5-0. Ashley Foster was the M.O.P. after winning her pairing, 78-66.

REINING RECAP

Carolina’s reiners have been a strength all season, and that continued on Friday with a 4-1 Gamecock win. Caroline Gute was a 69.5-69 winner over Ali Fratessa on Tina, and Walters took her point, 67.5-67, on Peggy. Paisley Roberts defeated Blair McFadden, 70-68.5, on Buddy, and Bridgett White rode Spook to a 69.5-0 triumph over Kara Kaufmann.

Walters is the first Gamecock western rider to earn two M.O.P. distinctions this season.

NOTABLE

– Overberg’s M.O.P. win is the first of her collegiate career. She’s the 12th different Gamecock to win the award this season.
– Walters’ M.O.P. accolade is the seventh of her collegiate career.
– Two Gamecocks were victorious in exhibition matchups on Friday: Madison Sellman (equitation on the flat) and Lauren Fabiano (equitation over fences). Meredith Milton earned a draw in her horsemanship exhibition.

UP NEXT FOR THE GAMECOCKS

The Auburn meet concludes South Carolina’s fall season. The Gamecocks will return to action on Friday, Feb. 3, when they complete their season series with SEC rival Georgia. Start time in Bishop, Ga., is scheduled for 2 p.m. ET, and the Gamecocks will stay in the Peach State to face Delaware State one day later.

Carolina handed Georgia a 9-8 loss in their first battle this season, on Oct. 9 at One Wood Farm. Down 8-7 with two horsemanship riders left, the Gamecocks got wins from Bailey Mierzejewski and Paige Stopperich to squeeze out a one-point victory.

The Gamecocks last faced Delaware State on March 4, 2016, a 10-6 road loss.