SIOUX FALLS, S.D. -- The Augustana women's soccer team opened up the 2018 homecoming weekend with a dominant performance at Morstad Field, running past Minnesota Crookston with a 7-0 win on Friday afternoon. The seven goals is not only a season high for the Vikings, but it also ties the all-time program record set back in Sept. 2003 (vs. Jamestown, N.D.). With the win the Vikings move to 10-3-2 (9-2-1 NSIC), and the Golden Eagles fall to 1-12-2 (1-9-2 NSIC).
Augustana junior
Grace Behm was pleased with the result and is looking forward to Sunday's match with No. 3 Bemidji State. "This game gives us a lot of hope by scoring seven goals," Behm said, "A win like this is the confidence we need to build on the weekend."
In sunny but windy conditions, the Vikings started quick and never looked back. Less than 40 seconds in freshman
Morgan Keirstead got inside the box, fired in the lower corner and scored. The goal, officially marked at 0:35, is the fastest goal of the year for the Vikings and one of the quickest in program history.
Less than seven minutes later, Augustana was back on the attack.
Grace Behm netted the first of her two goals on the afternoon. Senior
Reiley Klose sent the ball to Behm who booted it past the Golden Eagles goalie for a 2-nothing lead. Klose also picked up her second assist on the season.
The Vikings third goal in the half came from
Claire Dahm.
Rebekah Thoresen played a great ball inside the 18-yard line, and the junior one-timed it into the back of the net. Thoresen grabs the first assist of her senior campaign, and brings her career total to two.
Before the intermission, freshman
Kenzie Geiger got on the score sheet with her first career-goal. The Vikings went into halftime matching their season high for goals scored.
Following halftime, the Vikings matched their first half intensity out of the gates. At the 53 minute mark,
Julie Plonsky beat a Golden Eagle on the dribble and dropped a beautiful pass to Behm who finished for her second goal of the day.
Even with a five point lead the Vikings did not lose focus and continued to push the tempo. For the second time this season,
Jensen Froehlich netted a goal. Her second career goal made it 6-0. The Vikings 7th and final goal of the night would make history, tying a 15 year old record. In the 86th minute,
Shannon McKnight corralled a pass from
Olivia Washburn and put it past the goal for the final time in the match.
Augustana returns to Morstad Field on Sunday for senior day where they will honor their six seniors. The senior festivities begin at 12:40 p.m. with the game to follow at 1 p.m. against No. 3 Bemidji State (15-0-0, 12-0-0).
--GoAugie.com--