Augustana University Athletics

This week
Augustana (5-5-0, 2-3-0 NSIC) travels to Marshall, Minn., Saturday to take to the pitch against Southwest Minnesota State (4-5-0, 3-2-0 NSIC) followed by a trip to Mankato, Minn., Sunday to face Minnesota State (8-1-1, 5-0-0 NSIC). Both contests are scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.

Series records
Augustana moved to 8-3-1 in the series with Southwest Minnesota State after a 3-1 victory over the Mustangs in 2010. The Vikings have been victorious in the last eight meetings with SMSU and last loss to the Mustangs in 2003 (all-time series record vs. SMSU). It is the Vikings' second meeting with MSU this season. Augustana has had just two wins against the Mavericks in the two teams' 15 meetings. In 2010, MSU topped Augustana 4-1 (all-time series record vs. MSU).

Last time out
Conference opponents Winona State and Upper Iowa both defeated Augustana on its home field last weekend. The Vikings were shutout by WSU last Saturday when Alaina Kne used a goal in the 40th minute of action to break a scoreless tie and top Augustana 1-0. UIU's Allison Clark scored in the 88th minute to erase a 2-2 tie and lift the Peacocks to a 3-2 victory over Augustana last Sunday.

Break it down
Augustana has recorded 71 shots in the first halves of games this season, compared to 68 shots in the second halves. Even though they fire more shots in the first half, the Vikings have an even split of six goals apiece between the two periods. The Vikings have scored 13 goals this season though, also finding the back of the net once in double overtime against Northern State. Augustana's opponents have capitalized on the final 45 minutes of action, recording eight goals in the second period and six in the first.

Second chance
Augustana will be looking to avenge its season-opening 4-1 loss to Minnesota State this Sunday. In the non-conference game that took place in early September, MSU outshot the Vikings 33-3. Mackenzie Trom scored Augustana's lone goal and recorded two shots. Jessie Huff had the assist and the other shot.

Viking goals
Stacy Dally and Maren Werth scored for Augustana last weekend. It was both Dally's and Werth's second goal of the season. Dally kicked the ball under UIU's goal keeper on a penalty kick, while Werth scored first in the game off a free kick. Aleisha Oehlerking also has two goals on the season, while Mackenzie Trom leads the team with four goals. The Vikings have recorded 13 goals total in 2011.

Scouting Southwest Minnesota State
Southwest Minnesota State was shutout twice last weekend to drop to 4-5-0 (3-2-0 NSIC) on the season. Minnesota State scored five times on SMSU, while Sioux Falls recorded two goals. Kelly Fitzgerald and Vanesa Corona lead SMSU with three goals each. SMSU has been outscored by its opponents 17-9. Sonya Smith has started all but one contest as goalkeeper for the Mustangs for a 4-4 record. 

Scouting Minnesota State
The Mavericks begin the week 5-0-0 in NSIC play. Minnesota State's only loss in 2011 has been to Metro State and the Mavericks own a 1-1 tie with Grand Valley State. Eleven Mavericks have scored a goal this season and Nicole Dooher leads the team with nine goals and Brittany Henry is close behind with eight. MSU has tallied 34 total goals and have allowed opponents to record just eight. In the latest NSCAA Central Region Rankings released Tuesday, MSU was ranked No. 3. Molly McGough has been MSU starting goalkeeper in all but two games and is 7-1-1 on the season with two shutouts.  

NSIC honors
The Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference announced Sept. 12 that Augustana goalkeeper Amanda Wagner was its Defensive Player of the Week for her pair of performances against Minnesota, Crookston and Nebraska-Kearney. Wagner made nine saves and allowed just one goal to help Augustana earn a pair of victories. She made three saves in the Vikings' shutout of UMC and had six saves against UNK, helping the Vikings to their first win of the season. Wagner's save in the 85th minute of action against UNK helped the Vikings keep their lead for a 2-1 victory over the Lopers.

On the roster
Augustana's 2011 roster is its largest in program history with 32 athletes. Out of the 20 players returning for the Vikings, Jessie Huff and Kate Timmons were selected by the NSIC coaches as Offensive and Defensive Preseason Players to Watch, respectively.

The coach
Brandon Barkus is in his sixth season as the head women's soccer coach at Augustana. In addition to his head coaching duties, Barkus is an instructor in the Augustana HPER department, coaches the Dakota Alliance girls' soccer team and serves the South Dakota Youth Soccer Association. Barkus has compiled a career record of 46-48-12 since his appointment as head coach. The Vikings compiled an overall record of 8-9-2 in 2010, including a 7-5-1 mark and a tie for fifth place in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference.

According to the coaches
Augustana was selected fourth with 122 points by the league coaches in the 2011 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Preseason Poll.

History lesson
Viking soccer enters its 12th year of competition in 2011. Augustana owns an all-time record of 70-133-15 with one NCAA Tournament appearance in 2008.

Captains
Brandon Barkus has announced that senior midfielder Stacy Dally, junior midfielder Jessica Perez and senior defender Kate Timmons are captains of this year's squad. This marks Timmons second season as captain of the Vikings.   

Stay connected
Follow Augustana all season long at www.GoAugie.com. The Vikings are also on Facebook and Twitter; just log onto www.facebook.com/GoAugie and www.twitter.com/GoAugie. To catch even more Viking action log onto Augustana's official YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/GoAugie.

Next time
The Vikings are in Minnesota again next week facing Bemidji State and Minnesota Duluth.