Vogt Wins M.O.P. in SEC Championship Semifinal
BISHOP, Ga. – South Carolina junior Sloane Vogt continued her career-best run with her second consecutive Most Outstanding Player honor, but the No. 8 Gamecocks could not get past No. 1 Auburn in the SEC Championship semifinal, falling to the Tigers 13-6 on Friday at the University of Georgia Equestrian Complex.
“We had a very strong first half that was quite exciting,” head coach Boo Major said after the meet. “Our girls rode hard and came up short. Auburn is the best team we’ve played, and I don’t want to take anything away from them. We look forward to riding against Texas A&M tomorrow.”
The Gamecocks opened the day on the flat where junior Caroline Bald took the first point of the day after her 241-point ride on Sally. Senior Billi Brandner followed up with a point of her own thanks to a 230-point ride on Queen. Junior Trinity Hammerschmidt notched the second-highest flat score of the meet, a 246, but fell in her matchup. After Auburn tied it by taking the fourth flat point Louisa Brackett rode to a tie with her 240 on Wunderboy to end flat knotted up at 2-2.
Carolina kept the pressure up in reining with junior Sloane Vogt opening things up with a 208.5 ride to take the first point and secure her second M.O.P. award in as many meets. After junior Graycen Hess narrowly fell to her Auburn opponent senior McKenzie Duncan notched a win with her 204-point ride on Colonel. Auburn fired back to take the fourth point, but freshman Emma Lane came through with a 204.5-204 win to take the final reining point and send Carolina into the break with a 5-4 lead.
Unfortunately for the Gamecocks, Auburn took control when fences action began. Hammerschmidt opened things up with a 259.75, but dropped the opening matchup, and despite strong score from the over fences squad, Auburn swept the event 5-0 and took a 9-5 lead into horsemanship.
Carolina continued to fight and notch strong scores in horsemanship, with Sloane Vogt taking her second point of the meet, but the Garnet and Black could not overcome the Auburn onslaught and fell to the Tigers, 13-6
The Gamecocks are set to meet Texas A&M in the SEC Championship consolation match at 9 a.m. Saturday at the UGA Equestrian Complex.
