OSU Equestrian Rallies To Knock Off Top-Ranked Auburn

Friday, October 15

Stillwater, OK

1:00 p.m.

Oklahoma State University

Auburn

October 15, 2021 | Cowgirl Equestrian

STILLWATER - Oklahoma State's fourth-ranked equestrian team battled point for point all the way to the end to defeat No. 1 Auburn, 10-9, in the Cowgirls' season home opener Friday at the Pedigo-Hull Equestrian Center.

With the win, OSU broke a six-meet losing streak against the Tigers and is off to its first 2-0 start to a season for the first time since 2015.

"I am so proud of this team as they continued to fight and have grit to the bitter end," OSU head coach Larry Sanchez said. "They are proving that they will never give up no matter how dire the score at halftime. The mental toughness they have shown the past two weeks has been incredible. I need to hand it to Auburn – they are a great team and are always well coached and prepared and today was no different."

The meet started with Fences and Horsemanship coinciding. Auburn began the meet strong and took Fences, 4-0. The lone MOP for the Tigers, Ava Stearns, earned the first point of the day by defeating Emma Pacyna, 90-84, and Hope King dropped her point to Auburn's Sophee Steckbeck, 87-78.

Abigail Brayman tied Tiger Emma Kurtz for a no-pointer. To finish Fences, Auburn's Ellie Ferrigno and Meghan Knapic beat Sydnie North and Sydnie Ziegler, 89-87 and 85-83, respectively.

After a close showdown in Horsemanship, Auburn ultimately took the matchup by a 3-2 margin. The Tigers took the first point when Lizzie Meerman fell to Jacqueline Frimodt, 73.5-66.5, but Jojo Roberson remain undefeated and won her second MOP honor of the season when she defeated Auburn's Maddie Spak, 74.5-70.

AU's Madison Parduhn and Taylor Searles narrowly defeated Natalie Vargo and Maddie Fussell, winning 75-74.5 and 68.5-68, respectively, but Cowgirl Caroline Nielson countered and earned the final point of the discipline, 74-73, against Olivia Tordoff.

Heading into the second half of the meet, the Tigers led 7-2. With Reining and Flat on deck, the Cowgirls never let the deficit affect their confidence. Auburn's only point in Reining came when Taylor Searles defeated Stephanie Gripp, 64.5-0. Molly Mitchell picked up her second consecutive win over Terri June Granger, 66-62.5.

Hannah Lovrien defeated Boo Kammerer, 68-67, for another Cowgirl point, and freshman Quincee Clark earned her first career MOP by defeating Isabella Tesmer, 71.5-68. Roberson finished off the Tigers in Reining with a 67.5-67 win over Olivia Marino.

In Flat, the Cowgirls took the contest 4-1, starting with a point courtesy of Brayman defeating Ferrigno, 82-71. Cowgirl Sydnie Ziegler defeated Helen Ulrich, 77.5-79.5, before Auburn earned its final point when Ava Stearns beat Hannah Coleman, 80-75.

OSU team captain, Katie Pelzel defeated Sophee Steckbeck, 66-65, to tie the meet at 9-9 with one ride remaining. And Hope King delivered as she won MOP honors by earning the meet-clinching point with an 80-74 win over Emma Kurtz.

OSU will return to action with its second Big 12 matchup of the season October 23 in Stillwater against No. 6 TCU.