SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - The Augustana soccer team (9-2-3, 8-1-2 NSIC) will honor its seniors this weekend as the end of the 2017 season approaches.

Augustana will celebrate Senior Day on Saturday, Oct. 21 against Minnesota Duluth (8-4-2, 5-4-2 NSIC) at Morstad Field at 11 a.m. The Vikings will conclude the weekend against St. Cloud State (7-7, 5-6 NSIC) at Morstad Field at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 22.

Scouting Minnesota Duluth
The Bulldogs currently sit eighth in the NSIC standings and own a two point lead over St. Cloud State for the eighth seed in the NSIC tournament with four games remaining in the season. Last season, Minnesota Duluth went 8-6-5 (6-4-5 NSIC) and finished fifth in the NSIC.

Minnesota Duluth owns the all-time series lead against Augustana, 11-6-2. Augustana hasn't lost in the last three meetings going 2-0-1 in those matches, including a 1-0 win over the Bulldogs in the first round of the NSIC tournament last season.

Scouting St. Cloud State 
The Huskies sit in ninth in the NSIC and will take on Wayne State on Oct. 21 before taking on the Vikings. Last season, the Huskies went 7-8-4 (6-5-4 NSIC) and finished sixth in the NSIC.

St. Cloud State has the series lead over Augustana, 10-6-5. Augustana hasn't lost in the last three meetings going 2-0-1 in those matches, but the two teams tied last season in St. Cloud, Minn. 1-1.

Region Rankings
The first Central Region rankings were released on Wednesday, Oct. 18 and the Vikings sit in fourth in the initial rankings. Central Missouri is the top team in the region (14-0-0) and is No. 1 in the country. Fellow NSIC teams Bemidji State (11-0-2) and Minnesota State (12-1-1) are two and three.

Rounding out the top six are Oklahoma Baptist (10-1-1), the lone representative from the GAC, and Missouri Western (12-2-0). The top six teams in the region will advance to the NCAA region tournament on Nov. 10 & 12 and 17 & 19. Automatic bids are granted to the winners of the MIAA, GAC and NSIC postseason tournaments, with the remaining three spots awarded on an at-large basis. Senior Power

• Augustana will honor its nine senior on Oct. 21. Those seniors are: Courtney Almendinger, Brooke Bleeker, Hannah Keirstead, Ellie Knowles, Taylor Machacek, Mackenzie Main, Kaylie Miller, Kallie Nordberg and Samantha Tymkowicz.
• The Viking seniors have combined to log 29,973 minutes, 511 appearances and 309 starts between them with 48 goals, 27 assists and 469 shots.
• Machacek owns the school record in goalie wins with 40 career wins, shutouts with 26.2 and goalie games started with 56
• Tymkowicz is the school record holder is game winning goals with 14. Tymkowicz currently second in career goals (31) and tied for second in career points (70)

Coach Spader

• Assistant coach Aric Spader received his USSF "C" license this past week after concluding his training on Oct. 6-8 in Illinois.
• Spader completed the training under the new guidelines that were set just 10 months ago.
• Head coach Brandon Barkus has an USSF "A" license and Barkus and Spader are two of the few who have accomplished this feat in the state of South Dakota

Quick Kicks

• The Vikings are 0-2-2 against ranked opponents on the year  
• Senior goalkeeper Taylor Machacek leads the NSIC in shutouts (9) and is eighth in saves (60)
• Augustana is second in the NSIC in corner kicks (101), in shots (264), in shots on goal (129) and third in shutouts (9)
• The Vikings have nine shutouts on the season. The record for most shutouts in a season at Augustana is 11 that was set in 2015
• The Vikings have not lost in overtime in their last 16 overtime matches (8-0-8). Augustana has played four overtime matches this season (1-0- 3) and its three ties is tied for the second most in school history (2007 and 2016). The most ties is five set in 2009