SIOUX FALLS, S.D. -- The Augustana women's soccer team kicked off the 2019 season in grand fashion on Friday night with a shutout win against the Tigers of Fort Hays State. 

"I think it was a great first game for us," head coach Brandon Barkus said. "We came out firing and really brought a lot of pressure. Fort Hays is a great team and I'm just really happy with the result."

Barkus was not wrong about the pressure. The Vikings dominated time of possession in the first half and after a flurry of shots throughout the half, freshman Sylvia Fehr cashed in with the first Vikings goal of the season. Junior Bailey Parsons assisted on the freshman's first collegiate goal at 31:57 in the first half. 

After a balanced start to the second half, the Tigers lined up for a crucial penalty shot in the 81st minute while trailing 1-0. Sophomore goalkeeper Claudia Pueschner dove to her left and batted Tiger defender Reilly Madden's shot away to help preserve the shutout. 

Just five minutes after Pueschner's remarkable save, senior forward Grace Behm buried a shot at the top of the net to give the Vikings a two goals-to-none advantage with just four minutes left in the game. 

Overall, the Vikings outshot the Tigers 19-9, with 10 of the Viking's shots on goal. Fehr led the Vikings with five shots, placing three on net. After recording 10 shutouts as a freshman, Claudia Pueschner posted her first shutout of the year while stopping all six Tiger shots on goal. 

Up Next
The Vikings (1-0-0) take on the Jennies (1-0-0) of Central Missouri in Sioux Falls at Morstad Field at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 8. 

"[Central Missouri] is going to be incredible, but they are a team that we can compete with," Barkus said. "We are hoping that some of our young players can step up, that our depth can pay dividends, and we are just excited to play."