After bringing home two more victories last Saturday, this time against South Dakota State and Delaware State in Brookings, S.D., the No. 1 Auburn equestrian team is hard at work preparing to meet its second conference opponent of the season.
Auburn will take on Georgia away in Athens Friday at 1 p.m. The Tigers have never succeeded in outscoring the Bulldogs on their home turf, but they're hoping to break the streak once and for all through patience and determination.
"Going to Georgia, what we have to focus on are the things that we can control," said junior hunt seat rider Lindsay Portela. "Sometimes we try to get a little bit ahead of ourselves, especially when we go there because it is such a big meet. We know we can beat Georgia, and we've proven it several times at SECs and nationals. It always comes down to us against Georgia."
Auburn enters the meet undefeated at 6-0, while Georgia holds a 3-1 record. Both teams have claimed victories over opponents such as Kansas State, Texas Christian University and South Carolina.
"We've never beat (Georgia) away, so it's definitely going to be a big meet this weekend," said sophomore hunt seat rider Jennifer Waxman. "We were really close last year, and I definitely think we have a good shot if we just stick to (the plan), but I know we're all going in there on our 'A' game."
Last year, the Tigers shut out the Bulldogs 13-6 at home, winning all four events. Georgia entered the meet ranked No. 1 and Auburn at No. 3.
"I think we just really need to make sure that if we are neck and neck all the way up until the last event, that we stay positive and don't let the first few points determine how the rest of the meet goes," Portela said.
The team's objective is to stay focused and confident until the end of competition, Waxman said.
"We just have to make sure that no matter what happens, we stay positive and keep focused because a lot of times at meets it can get frusturating because we're not riding our own horses, and it's definitely more challenging," Waxman said. "Even if somebody makes a mistake or we're down, we have to make sure we keep going because it's not over until it's over."
Based on Auburn's current season performances and knowlege of Georgia's strategy, coach Greg Williams believes the team has a fighting chance.
"They don't really lose in Athens, but we're good enough to do that," Williams said. "It's hard to beat any good team on the road. It's a big accomplishment, but if we stay mistake-free and the girls ride like they have been, I feel like we'll bring a win home Friday. It would just be really hard for them not to. We've won the hunt seat side there, and we've won the western side there, we just haven't had both ride to their abilities at the same time.
Considering the football team also faces Georgia this weekend, it's likely that tension will be at a high in Athens.
"I definitely know that Auburn and Georgia, especially equestrian, it's the biggest rivalry," Portela said. "Neither one of us wants to see the other win. Especially with the football team playing, it makes us want to win that much more. To win away there would make it so much better, and then for the football team to get a win would be priceless."
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