Feb. 23, 2018
Meet #9 – Equestrian vs. Auburn
COLUMBIA, S.C. — The University of South Carolina equestrian team starts a three-match road trip this weekend when it faces Auburn. The ninth-ranked Gamecocks and second-ranked Tigers square off at 11 a.m. CT at the Auburn University Horse Center in Auburn, Ala.
The Gamecocks close out their six-meet SEC regular-season schedule on Saturday. Live results for the day are available here.
LAST TIME OUT
• The Gamecocks were tripped up by No. 1 Georgia, 12-7, on Feb. 17 at One Wood Farm.
• Two Gamecocks brought home MOP honors in the loss. Paisley Roberts won reining laurels for the second-straight meet, and Lizzie van der Walde won the equitation over fences award.
• In addition to her jumping victory, van der Walde added a point in equitation on the flat.
• Roberts and Bailey Walters each rode for the 50th time as Gamecocks in the Georgia meet.
LAST TIME vs. AUBURN
• The Gamecocks fell to Auburn, 13-6, on Nov. 17 at One Wood Farm.
• Carolina earned two points apiece from their flat, fences and reining crews.
• Bridgett White (reining) and Lauren Fabiano (equitation over fences) took home MOP honors for the Gamecocks.
SCOUTING THE TIGERS
• Auburn is 6-3 (3-2 SEC) this season, and the Tigers are ranked second in the latest NCEA national poll.
• The Tigers enter Saturday’s meet on a three-match winning streak, including a 12-6 win over Georgia on Feb. 9 and an 11-7 triumph over Texas A&M on Feb. 17.
• Junior Caitlin Boyle paces Auburn’s hunt seat team with nine flat wins and eight fences victories.
• Deanna Green and Kelsey Jung each hold seven horsemanship wins, while Betsy Brown’s six reining victories mark the team lead.
HISTORY VS. AUBURN
• Carolina is 22-21 all-time against Auburn, though the Tigers have won the last eight matchups.
• One of the most important wins in Carolina history came against the Tigers, a 10-8 victory in the 2013 SEC Championship final.
• Auburn is 10-7 against the Gamecocks in meets contested at the Auburn Horse Center.
• South Carolina’s last trip to Auburn came Nov. 18, 2016, a 13-5 setback. Both western MOP honors went to Gamecocks, with Megan Overberg (horsemanship) and Bailey Walters (reining) taking home trophies.
SCOUTING THE GAMECOCKS
• South Carolina is ranked ninth in the latest NCEA national poll, and they hold a 2-6 (0-5 SEC) record.
• Madison Brayman leads Carolina in the hunt seat arena with five wins apiece in equitation and equation over fences. Lauren Fabiano also has five wins in jumping.
• Megan Overberg is riding a three-match winning streak and paces the horsemanship squad with five wins.
• Bailey Walters had her five-match winning streak snapped against Georgia but still paces the Gamecocks with five wins in the discipline.
• Paisley Roberts (reining) and Lizzie van der Walde (equitation over fences) have also won three straight points.
• Fabiano was named SEC Rider of the Month in November for her jumping efforts, while Kate Eagleton earned the NCEA’s Standout Rider of the Month award in November.
• Horsemanship standout Reggie was named NCEA Horse of the Month for January. A member of the Carolina squad since 2012, Reggie has competed at both the SEC and NCEA Championships and has been an NCEA top-10 horse each season since 2012-13.
GAMECOCK PROGRAM HISTORY
• The 2017-18 season marks the 22nd year of the Gamecock equestrian program, as well as head coach Boo Major’s 21st season at the helm.
• The Gamecocks have won three national championships (2005, 2007, 2015).
• South Carolina has two runner-up finishes (2006, 2014).
• The Gamecocks have won two SEC Conference championships (2013, 2014).
• Carolina won the 2012 Southern Equestrian Championship, the precursor to the SEC Championship, which was added for the 2012-13 season
MEET THE COACHES
• The 2017-18 campaign will be the 21st season for head coach Boo Major, as Major celebrated the milestone mark of 20 years last year.
• In those 20 years at the helm, Major has piled up three NCEA National Championships, two SEC Championships and two National Coach of the Year awards (2014, 2015).
• Associate head coach Ruth Sorrel is in her 13th year with the Gamecocks as the leader of Carolina’s western team.
• South Carolina welcomes home Kristen Terebesi this season, as the former Gamecock equestrian standout returns to lead the hunt seat squad.
UP NEXT
Carolina competes in a doubleheader on Friday, March 2 in Harrington, Del. The Gamecocks face Baylor and the hosts from Delaware State, with the day beginning at 10 a.m. ET.
