Georgia Falls to Auburn in SEC Championship Semifinal

Friday, March 29

College Station, TX

11:00 a.m. ET

University of Georgia

Auburn

Georgia Falls to Auburn in SEC Championship Semifinal

March 29, 2024 | Equestrian

COLLEGE STATION, Texas --- The University of Georgia equestrian team fell to Auburn, 12-7, in the semifinal round of the SEC Championship on Friday afternoon at the Hildebrand Equine Complex.

Georgia will face South Carolina tomorrow in the consolation round.  Competition is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. CT.  Auburn and Texas A&M will compete at 2 p.m. to determine the champion.

"I'm so proud of the fight," head coach Meghan Boenig said. "What we saw, particularly in the Jumping Seat arena with re-rides occurring and continuing to have to battle it out with some huge scores- that was incredible. We talk about riding that rein, being gritty, continuing to fight for it, never giving up- that was displayed.  I'm so proud of the strength but we feel like we've been kicked in the gut a bit.  We had so much great preparation. We were ready for this day and ready for a different outcome. We have to find the fight for tomorrow and make an opportunity of tomorrow's ride that will pay off for nationals."

New this year at the SEC Championship, total scores for each rider are comprised of the average of the scores from three judges.

Competition began in Flat with the Bulldogs winning three points to the Tigers' two. Senior Nora Andrews put Georgia on the board with a score of 87, beating her opponent by seven points. Senior Jordan Toering grabbed the next point after scoring an 88 for her pattern.  After two points went to Auburn, senior Sophia Pilla closed out the event receiving an 89.67 for her ride.

Meanwhile in Reining, the Tigers edged the Bulldogs, 3-2.  Auburn took the first two points of the event before senior Hannah Jane Lucas won her ride, 68.33-67.83. Sophomore Shelby Lynch notched a 70.5 and her opponent received a zero for going off pattern.

The meet was knotted at five points each at the halfway mark.

Auburn swept Georgia in Horsemanship, doubling the Tigers' point total.

Georgia could not recover, only adding two points in Fences.  Freshman Tessa Downey won her point after scoring an 81.67 for her course, topping Auburn's Ava Stearns by 10 points. After being granted a re-ride, sophomore Tessa Brown scored an 89, defeating her Tiger counterpart by five points.