No. 6 Auburn Heads West for Fall Finale

[photo credit: Auburn Athletics]
[photo credit: Auburn Athletics]

FRESNO, Calif.  – The No. 6 Auburn equestrian team will conclude its fall season on Friday and Saturday as the Tigers take Fresno State and No. 4 Kansas State at the Student Horse Center in Fresno, Calif.

The Tigers (2-2, 1-2 SEC) are coming off a 13-6 loss at Georgia on Nov. 14. In Equitation over Fences, junior Elizabeth Benson moved to 4-0 on the season as the Whitehouse Station, N.J., native defeated Kylee Arbuckle, 80-76. Sophomore Ashley Foster knocked off Megan Southam 82-74 before earning her second win over Southam in Equitation on the Flat, 84-73.

Junior Griffin Knight gained the Tigers’ only point in Horsemanship, beating Sara Parr, 74-73.5, prior to defeating Charley Thiel in Reining, 65.5-64. Junior Hailey Munger earned MOP honors in Reining following her 69-67.5 victory over Lindsey Cheek.

“This is a good road trip for us,” head coach Greg Williams said. “Playing on the road is one thing, and we are looking forward to playing Kansas State on a neutral site so we get a great mix. It is a good test for our riders.”

Auburn’s Equitation Over Fences rotation features Elizabeth Benson, Demi Stiegler, Ashley Foster, Megan Bifano and Peyton Smith. The Equitation on the Flat lineup includes freshman Caitlin Creel, sophomore Tory Hoft, as well as Benson, Foster and Stiegler.

The Tigers’ Horsemanship lineup features seniors Katie Buff and Lucy Igoe, juniors Griffin Knight, and Hannah Loseke and sophomore Hannah Stephens. Seniors Julianna Cook, Katsy Leeman, along with Knight and Hailey Munger and freshman Alexa Rivard highlight the Reining lineup.

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