Aggies Upset No. 2 Auburn

Friday, November 6

College Station

11:00 AM

Texas A&M

Auburn

Nov 06, 2015 | Equestrian

College Station, Texas—The No. 5 Texas A&M Equestrian team upset the No. 2 Auburn Tigers 11-8 at home on Friday in the Hildebrand Equine Complex. The Aggies improve to 4-1 on the season and the Tigers fall to 3-1 on the year.

The Aggies got off to a quick start, defeating Auburn 3-2 in equitation over fences. After being granted a re-ride, freshman Rebekah Chenelle took the first point of the event 86-79. Sophomore Alex Desiderio, the recently-crowned October SEC fences rider of the month, took her point with a narrow 84-82 victory over Auburn's Ashley Foster. Both senior Marlena Parker and junior Haley Webster were edged by one point in their rides; Parker lost 77-76 and Webster lost 81-80. Sophomore Rachel Hake wrapped up the event with an 89-76 MVP performance, her first of the season.

The western competition began with horsemanship, which the Tigers took 3-1. Sophomore Avery Ellis had a strong showing with a 74 but was narrowly defeated by Auburn's Sarah Miller, 75-74. Junior Kaci Fisher tied her opponent at 72.5, resulting in a cancellation of the point. After being granted a re-ride, senior Logan Pluhar turned in a 75.5 to defeat her opponent, scoring the Aggies only point in the event.

The Aggies concluded hunter seat action with a win in equitation on the flat, 3-2. Senior Marlena Parker and Alex Desiderio looked identical in the arena, each of them defeating their opponents 87-78. Senior Hannah Williams looked just as good, besting Auburn's Hayley Iannotti 84-78.

The teams were tied 7-7 through three events with only the reining competition remaining. The Aggies stepped up under pressure, nearly sweeping the Tigers 4-1. Junior Sarah Kate Grider scored the event's first point with a 73-71 win over Auburn's Betsy Brown. Event MVP senior Hannah Jechow recorded a 72.5 to edge her opponent by half a point. Senior Ashley Dotson provided the event's highest score, a 74.5 good enough to beat Auburn's strongest showing, a 73.5 by Haley Munger. Logan Pluhar scored the final Aggie point with a ride of 71.

Next up for the Aggie Equestrian team is a weekend double-header in Felton, Delaware on Friday and Saturday Nov. 20-21 where it will take on Kansas State and Delaware State.

To learn more about the Texas A&M equestrian team, log onto 12thman.com or follow @AggieEquestrian on Twitter.