No. 1 Auburn tops Sweet Briar as Vixens conclude historic run at NCEA National Championship

Despite senior Emily Schlosberg posting the highest score in Sweet Briar history at the NCEA National Championship, the top team in the nation and top-seed over fences, Auburn, picked up a 4-0 victory over Sweet Briar in the over fences event quarterfinal on Friday at the Extraco Event Center.

Making history competing beyond the opening round for the first time, following an opening round victory over Delaware State, the Vixens met No. 1 Auburn in the quarterfinal round.

The first-ever meeting between the Vixens and Tigers opened with Schlosberg (Fairfax, Va.) recording the Vixens’ top score over fences at the national championships. Schlosberg rode Petey to a 231, improving on her 211 against Delaware State on Wednesday. Despite Schlosberg’s strong ride, Auburn took the first team point thanks to a 252 by Taylor St. Jacques.

First-year Maggie Fraley (White Haven, Pa.) scored the third highest score in program history over fences at a national championship, posting a 216 on Aiden and raising her score of 210 from Wednesday. Fraley’s counterpart from Auburn, Hayley Iannotti, scored a 245 on Aiden for a second Tiger point.

The Vixens’ all-time leader in wins over fences, sophomore Lily Peterson (Ashland, Va.), scored a 204 on Cita, but was topped by Ashton Alexander’s 252.

The final Sweet Briar rider was sophomore Katie Balding (Williamsburg, Va.) on Vivaldi. Balding tallied her best career mark at the NCEA National Championship with a 203, but Emma Kurtz of Auburn posted a 249 to earn a fourth team point for the Tigers.

Schlosberg wraps up her NCEA career with a 6-9 career record over fences, 5-8 mark on the flat and an 11-17 overall record. Schlosberg holds Sweet Briar records for career meets competed over fences and on the flat, career wins on the flat and career most outstanding performer honors over fences.

Sweet Briar concludes the 2018-19 season with a 4-5 record over fences.