Soccer | 9/2/2014 10:39:00 AM

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Sept. 5:	at Central Missouri (7 p.m.)
Sept. 7:	vs Southwest Baptist (11 a.m.)
Location:	Warrensburg, Mo.
Field:	Jennies Field
Series:	First meeting against both teams
Live Stats:	UCM, SBU
Twitter:	@AugieSoccer
Notes:	Augustana

Storylines
• The Vikings open up the 2014 season on the road for two games against MIAA foes Central Missouri on Sept. 5 and Southwest Baptist on Sept. 7.
• Augustana will play is regular-season opener against the Jennies on Friday, Sept. 5 at 7 p.m.
• The Vikings will close out the trip on Sunday with a matchup against the Bearcats at 11 a.m.
• Both games will played on Jennies Field in Warrensburg, Mo.
• Augustana is 5-7-2 in opening games in its history.
• The Vikings last won a regular-season opener on the road in 2009 with a 2-0 win against Adams State in Alamosa, Colo.
• Head coach Brandon Barkus begins his ninth season as head coach.

Series History
• This will be the first-ever meeting between Augustana and Central Missouri on Friday.
• The Vikings will also play their first-ever game against Southwest Baptist in their meeting on Sunday.

Veteran Leadership Key to Building Off Successful 2013
• Augustana looks to several returning starters to provide leadership to lots of new faces in 2014.
• The Vikings return six upperclassmen starters from last year's squad in seniors Ashley Limmer, Emily Hanneman, Ellie Westemeyer, to go along with juniors Taylor Brownrigg, Caroline Renner, and Kirsten Smith.
• The back line looks to be the Vikings strongest unit going into the year with Hanneman, Renner, and Westemeyer all returning and sophomore Courtney Allen looking to join the athletic lineup.
• Senior Annie Thoresen looks to be provide some offensive firepower for Augustana's front line after 2013's breakout season.
• Thoresen finished second on the team last year with six goals, a personal best for the senior, which was highlighted by a hat-trick performance at Wayne State.
• Thoresen is the Vikings highest scoring returner from last year with 13 points (six goals, one assist).
• Senior Payton Pry looks for increased role after being Augustana's high-scoring sub last season.
• Pry set a new career high in points scored with 10 (four goals, two assists) last year, beating her previous high of nine set back in 2012.
• Smith, a junior forward, fills out the front portion of the field for the Vikings.
• Smith scored two goals and dished out three assists in 2013 after being moved into the starting lineup about midway through the year.
• Augustana brings back a couple playmakers in midfield with juniors Stephanie Stevens, Paige Lynam, and Brownrigg.
• The trio combined for two goals and six assists last season.
• Juniors Meg Thacker, Ally Brown, and Sierra Erickson look for increased minutes and roles heading into the year.

Welcome to the New Age
• The Vikings got a serious infusion of youth this past offseason with the signing of 11 players.
• Courtney Almendinger, Samantha Arnold, Brooke Bleeker, Hannah Keirstead, Ellie Knowles, Taylor Machacek, Mackenzie Main, Kaylie Miller, Paula Miller, Kallie Nordberg, and Samantha Tymkowicz give Augustana plenty of new faces and skills heading into the regular season.
• Also looking to make their collegiate debuts this year are Sam Borson and Emily Jacobson. Both sat out 2013 due to injury and are full ready to participate this season.
•  Forwards Tymkowicz and Arnold bring serious speed and scoring abilites after both wrapped up stellar high school careers.
• Machacek brings the promise of athletic play in the net for years to come for the Vikings.