Auburn Equestrian Cruises Past Oklahoma State 14-6
Even though they’re the 2-seed, the stats say Auburn Equestrian is the most talented team in the country. However, stats only tell what a team HAS done; not what they WILL DO.
Twice before, these Tigers have failed to perform at a level the stats say they should, and each time brought bitter defeat.
On Friday against Big 12 Champion and 3-seed Oklahoma State, Auburn was determined to live up to its lofty reputation.
How the Meet Went
Auburn and Oklahoma State entered the day with the nation’s #1 and #2 Equitation Over Fences squads respectively. Each knew that a strong start in the event would seize momentum and likely set the tone for the meet.
Auburn’s Mary-Grace Segars, Ellie Ferrigno, Emma Kurtz, and Sophee Steckbeck all bested their Cowgirl opponents, giving the Tigers a 4-1 advantage.
The tone was set, but Oklahoma State knew they had the talent to climb back into the meet. And in the next event, Reining, they immediately shortened Auburn’s lead.
Auburn’s Caroline Buchanan and Olivia Marino took the first two points of the event, but then Oklahoma State made their move. They won the next three points and closed the gap to a 6-4 halftime lead for Auburn.
Oklahoma State is a top-4 team in every event except Equitation on the Flat, so Auburn had hopes that a strong Tigers Flat performance would be enough to maintain or even extend their lead.
Initially, it looked like Auburn’s first hope had been accomplished, but after a scoring review awarded Auburn an additional point, it was obvious the even greater hope had come to pass.
Segars, Steckbeck, Kurtz, and Ava Stearns all defeated their opponents, winning the event 4-1, and pushing the current score up to 10 to 5 Auburn.
Any point Auburn earned next in Horsemanship would win the day for the Tigers.
They didn’t have to wait long, as Madison Parduhn squeaked past her opponent by a half-point in the judges’ score, sealing the Auburn victory.
Olivia Tordoff, Alexia Tordoff, and Caroline Fredenburg would join Parduhn in the winner’s scoreline with their successful rides, giving Auburn an unneeded, but still impressive, 4-1 event advantage.
Fans should make no mistake about the starkness of the 16 to 4 final score. Oklahoma State was every bit as good as their national seeding.
Auburn was just better.
Up Next For Auburn
Auburn will face 1-seed SMU in Saturday’s national championship final at 10 am Eastern. The Mustangs also won their semifinal 14 to 6, defeating 4-seed TCU in the day’s other semifinal.
The championship final will feature several of the nation’s top event teams going head-to-head.
In Fences, Auburn leads the nation in average point production, while SMU is the third-best.
Horsemanship will also feature a clash of titans with SMU bringing the nation’s second-best squad to square off against Auburn’s third-best set of riders.
Of course, statistics can only tell us what we EXPECT to happen. The actual results will be decided by the skill and execution of the riders performing in that moment.
And if the Tigers can duplicate Friday’s performance, it should bring them another national title.
The Scoresheet
Oklahoma State 6 - Auburn 14
FENCES:
Mary-Grace Segars (AU) def Grace McReynolds (OSU): 241-225
Ellie Ferrigno (AU) def Emma Pacyna (OSU): 254-157
Emma Kurtz (AU) def Sydney North (OSU): 251-234
Sophee Steckbeck (AU) def Sydnie Ziegler (OSU): 258-251
Riley Hogan (OSU) def Ava Stearns (AU): 259-249
FLAT:
Mary-Grace Segars (AU) def Ella Reinauer (OSU): 240-236
Sophee Steckbeck (AU) def Hope King (OSU): 223-220
Emma Kurtz (AU) def Grace McReynolds (OSU): 243-224
Ava Stearns (AU) def Elizabeth Carter (OSU): 252-224
Riley Hogan (OSU) def Ellie Ferrigno (AU): 251-248
HORSEMANSHIP:
Madison Parduhn (AU) def JoJo Roberson (OSU): 229-228.5
Claire McDowall (OSU) def Maddie Spak (AU): 232.5-227.5
Olivia Tordoff (AU) def June Roberson (OSU): 235.5-229.5
Alexia Tordoff (AU) def Maddie Fussell (OSU): 235.5-233
Caroline Fredenburg (AU) def Natalie Vargo (OSU): 229-228
REINING:
Caroline Buchanan (AU) def Quincee Clark (OSU): 215.5-213
Olivia Marino (AU) def JoJo Roberson (OSU): 217.5-215
Hannah Lovrien (OSU) def Alexia Tordoff (AU): 213-207.5
Molly Mitchell (OSU) def Kate Buchanan (AU): 189-183
Tristan Bagby (OSU) def Isabella Tesmer (AU): 209-201.5
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