AUBURN, Ala. — No. 3 Auburn came out sharp against a top-five opponent Saturday, taking control before halftime to hold off No. 5 SMU for a 12-7 victory at the Auburn University Equestrian Center.
The Tigers claimed three of the meet’s four events, earning wins in Flat, Reining and Horsemanship. Auburn jumped out to a 7-2 advantage through the opening two events, putting SMU in an early hole it could not overcome.
Auburn opened strong on the Flat, taking four of five available points. Senior Avery Glynn delivered the event’s biggest margin, scoring an 86 to defeat SMU’s Caroline Signorino, who finished with a 75.5. Glynn’s performance earned her Most Outstanding Performer (MOP) honors.
Junior Kate Hagerty started the scoring for the Tigers with a narrow 79.5-79 win over SMU junior Rachel Brandt. Freshman Taylor Cawley followed with a 66.5-62 victory over SMU’s Genevieve Johns, while junior Ariana Marnell added another point with a 79.5-71.5 win over SMU’s Taryn McEntire. Those three wins, along with Glynn’s point, gave Auburn a 4-1 advantage in the event.
The Tigers kept their momentum rolling in Reining, where three wins and a tie stretched their overall lead to 7-2 at the break.
Junior Michelle Fumagalli highlighted the event with a 71.5-69 victory over Violet Shetler, earning the first MOP honor of her collegiate career. Senior Callie Hogg and sophomore Sofia Tieche also collected points for the Tigers, while sophomore Kailee Rife and SMU’s Addi Schmersal finished tied at 71.75.
However, SMU refused to go quietly. The Mustangs came out of the break and took Fences 3-2, cutting into Auburn’s lead. Cawley and Marnell prevented SMU from making a larger dent, picking up the Tigers’ two points in the event. Cawley earned an 85.5-77 victory, while Marnell followed with an 88.5-84.5 win.
With Auburn leading 9-5 heading into the final event, Horsemanship became the Tigers’ chance to put the meet away.
Senior Brooke Jolstad opened the scoring for Auburn with a 74.75-74 victory over Shetler. Hogg added another point with a 75.5-74.5 win over SMU’s Shaelyn Boutelle.
Freshman Charlie Brooks then delivered the finishing touch, earning the first victory of her collegiate career with a 72.5-71.75 win over Madison Rafacz to help seal the Tigers’ 12-7 victory.
The win came against an SMU team that arrived on the Plains after a demanding three-meet stretch. The Mustangs fell 10-9 to No. 2 South Carolina but bounced back with a 12-7 win over No. 6 TCU one day before Auburn.
The Tigers will get another top-ranked test Friday, Oct. 9, when No. 2 South Carolina visits the Auburn University Equestrian Center. The meet is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. CT.
