Viking Soccer Sets Sight for Round One of NCAA Tournament

11/20/2019 8:56:00 AM

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. -- The Augustana women's soccer team (15-4-1) faces its fourth MIAA opponent of the year on Friday when it faces the Bronchos of Central Oklahoma in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m. in Mankato, Minnesota.

The Game
This is the sixth time that the Vikings are headed to the NCAA Tournament with head coach Brandon Barkus at the helm. Augustana is 2-3 in its previous first-round matchups with wins coming during the 2015 and 2017 season. This will be just the second meeting between Augustana and Central Oklahoma as the two teams matched up in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament during the 2014 season.

The winner of Friday's match will face the host, and No. 1 seed, Minnesota State on Sunday at 1 p.m. in Mankato, Minnesota.

The Bronchos
The Bronchos come into their matchup with Augustana at 14-4-3 after winning the MIAA Conference Tournament. Central Oklahoma tied its only neutral site contest in 2019 and will play its first match in Minnesota since the 2015 season. Junior Kelsie Eason leads the Bronchos with 17 goals, nine assists and 43 points on the season. Junior goalkeeper Kaitlyn Asher has made 52 saves and posted seven shutouts this season.

The Vikings
Central Oklahoma is the fourth MIAA (Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association) opponent that Augustana will face this season. Augustana is 2-1 in those games with a home shutout win against Fort Hays State, home loss to Central Missouri and a road win against Northwest Missouri State.

Augustana's formula for success is simple: offensive consistency. In its 20 matches played so far, Augustana has tallied 10-plus shots on goal in exactly half of them. In those 10 contests, Augustana is 9-0-1. When they don't register double-digit shot-on-goal totals, the Vikings are 6-4. Augustana currently averages 19.6 shots per game and 9.9 shots on goal per game.

Defensively, the Vikings have been getting it done all season. Augustana allows an average of .95 goals per game and has only given up multiple goals six times while making 117 saves and posting 11 shutouts. Sophomore goalkeeper Claudia Pueschner is also a perfect 3-3 on stopping penalty kicks.

Player to Watch
Freshman forward Sylvia Fehr enjoyed a hot start to her collegiate career earlier this season. Fehr scored a goal in each of her first three games (all against MIAA opponents). Look for Fehr to finish strong and find the back of the net for the fourth time against MIAA opponents on Friday.

One Last Thing
Augustana's 15 wins so far this season are the second most in program history only to the 2015 team that won 19 games.

-- GoAugie.com --

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