Augustana University Athletics

This week
Augustana (0-2-0 overall, 0-0-0 NSIC) will host its final pair of non-conference opponents this weekend at Morstad Field. The Vikings will welcome Nebraska-Kearney (1-1 overall) Friday at 4 p.m. and Minnesota, Crookston (0-2-0 overall, 0-0 NSIC) Saturday at 11 a.m.   

Series records
The Vikings will be looking for revenge Friday because Nebraska-Kearney defeated Augustana 1-0 during double overtime last season. The meeting was the two teams' first in the series (all-time scores vs. Nebraska-Kearney). Augustana leads the series against Minnesota, Crookston 8-1-1. Brandon Barkus is 6-0-1 against UMC, having tied the Golden Eagles 0-0 in double overtime last season before defeating them 3-0 in the second meeting (all-time results vs. Minnesota, Crookston).         

Last time out
Augustana will be searching for its first win of the season after scoring its own goal in the last minute of action to drop a heartbreaking 2-1 decision to Fort Lewis (Colo.) last Sunday. The Vikings also had a 4-1 loss to Minnesota, Crookston last Thursday to open their season.   

Two for two
Mackenzie Trom is the only Viking to have found the back of the net so far this season. She has scored one goal in both of Augustana's games. Trom didn't score a goal in 2010, but is credited with a pair of assists.   

Seeing double
Augustana went into double overtime with both Nebraska-Kearney and Minnesota, Crookston last season. As a matter of fact, the Vikings had a total of five double-overtime games in 2010 and one overtime game. The outcome of the overtimes were never in Augustana's favor with four losses and two ties. 

Scouting the opponents
Nebraska-Kearney dropped 3-1 to Central Missouri to begin its season on Sept. 1.  The Lopers quickly recovered from the loss by defeating Fort Hayes State 2-1 on Sept. 5. Minnesota, Crookston will also be in pursuit of its first win of the season this weekend as they dropped a pair of games to Northern Michigan (0-3) and Michigan Tech (0-3) to begin the 2011 campaign.

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 41-45-12 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 65-130-15 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
Augustana will being Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference action against Northern State and U-Mary Sept. 17 and 18, respectively.