SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The Augustana women's soccer team will officially open up the gates of Morstad Field on Friday evening as they welcome in Missouri Western for their 2018 home opener. Kickoff is set for 5 p.m. Then on Sunday, the Vikings will be back on the pitch as they start conference play with a matchup vs. Wayne State. The whistle is set for
1 p.m. in Wayne, Neb.
After an exciting first two matches of the season, including a thrilling double-overtime 3-2 loss to the defending national champions Central Missouri last week, the Vikings are thrilled to be kicking off their home schedule at the friendly confines of Morstad Field. In the last five seasons (2013-17) Augustana holds a 37-6-2 record at home, including a 7-1-2 mark last season.
Augustana head coach
Brandon Barkus recognizes the advantages of playing at home and hopes the Vikings can keep up the momentum at Morstad. "It's awesome," Barkus said, "It's a great advantage for our program. It starts with the on-campus environment and the tremendous fan support we receive. Then you throw in the playing surface and structure, and there's no doubt why we've been successful here." The Vikings are 50-19-7 all-time at Morstad Field and will look to improve on that mark Friday evening.
About Augie:
As the Vikings open up the home portion of the schedule this weekend, they'll also be looking for their 1st win. Augustana (0-1-1) started the season with a 1-1 draw vs. William Jewell, but it was Sunday's game vs. Central Missouri that showed just how dangerous the Vikings can be. The Jennies finished 2017 with a perfect 26-0 record and the DII national champions, and after getting behind 2-0 early in the second half, the Vikings battled back and responded. First, it was senior
Julie Plonsky finding the back on the net in the 58th minute, and then just three minutes later, Freshman
Alexis Legg buried a 15-yard shot to tie the game at 2-2. Although the Jennies went on to win in double-overtime, it was the effort and compete-level that made an immediate impact for the Vikings program. On the early season, Legg leads the Vikings with two goals and six shots.
Scouting Missouri Western:
Start time: 5 p.m. - Friday, Sept. 7th
Augustana's first home match of the year will square the Vikings up with the Griffons of Missouri Western. The Griffs are 1-1 on the year but have been outscored 5-2 on the season. With just six seniors on the roster, look for the Vikings to take advantage of a young core and push the tempo and pace of play early.
Last year, Missouri Western finished 17-5 overall, and made a run to the NCAA tournament, losing a first-round central region game to Southwestern Oklahoma State. In Friday's match-up, one player to watch for will be 2017 All-MIAA first-teamer Cassidy Menke, who already has one goal on the season.
Scouting Wayne State:
Start time: 1 p.m. – Sunday, Sept. 9th
Finishing with just four wins a season ago, the Wildcats have yet to find their winning ways in 2018. Wayne is 0-2 on the early season, dropping a 0-2 contest to Montana State – Billings, and 1-3 loss to Colorado Christian.
Junior Alexis Strothers has the Wildcats only goal on the year, and overall, Wayne State has been outshot 24-13 by their opponents. In the NSIC preseason poll, the Wildcats were picked to finish 12th overall. This will be the Vikings first road NSIC game of 2018.
