BURNSVILLE, Minn. – The Augustana soccer team has been tabbed to finish second in the 2021 NSIC Preseason Coaches' Poll announced by the league on Monday. The Vikings tabulated three first place votes while Alexis Legg and Bailey Parsons were named the Vikings Players to Watch.

"I am extremely excited about our returning leadership and experience," Vikings head coach Brandon Barkus said. "This group has been through a lot and has truly gotten better because of it. If we make any type of run, it will be because of our team's depth in our technical ability, intelligence, personality and speed. I believe this will be a remarkable year for this team!"

Spanning nearly two years since its last official game, the Augustana women's soccer team enters 2021 with 14 individuals that stepped foot on the pitch during the 2019 season and welcomes 21 newcomers to the squad over two recruiting classes. Amongst the 14 returners, Coach Barkus' squad has five returning starters and also returns four of the top six point scorers from the 2019 season. Among those four is 2019 Second Team All-NSIC selection Morgan Keirstead along with Honorable Mentions Sylvia Fehr and Legg.
 
Josie Arduser and Fehr are the top returning point scorers with 14 points each in 2019. Fehr's came from five goals and four assists while Arduser tallied three goals and eight assists. Legg has recorded 16 goals over her two seasons played. Keirstead totaled 11 points in 2019 with five goals and an assist. Other key returners include Bailey Parsons and Savannah Ellender who each started in 2019.
 
Legg, the 2018 NSIC Freshman of the Year, earned an honorable mention to the All-NSIC Teams in 2019 is a seasoned veteran with 2,202 minutes of action the pitch as she was selected as AU's offensive player to watch.
 
"I am very excited about Alexis," Barkus continued. "After she had a phenomenal first year, she was awarded NSIC Freshman of the Year and I believe she is due to have another breakout season. She looks strong, poised and determined to be better than she ever has. I think she will crush it this season!"
 
Parsons, a senior defender, has played in 33 matches for Augustana and scored her first-career goal, a game-winner, in the 2019 season.
 
"Bailey is tremendous," Barkus said of the defensive player to watch. "Her growth, maturity and leadership is second to none. She has been hitting the weight room, cycling, running and interval training religiously, starting each day at 6 a.m. I don't know if I've seen a more committed athlete come through our program."
 
Augustana enters the 2021 season with a pair of goalkeepers vying for the starting role in senior Meghan Kuntz and sophomore Jillian Barkus. Kuntz played five games in the 2019 season making 11 saves. Barkus took a redshirt during that 2019 season and is a two-time South Dakota All-State performer in her prep career.
 
The Vikings open the much-awaited 2021 season on Sept. 3 at Fort Hays State before finishing off a three-game opening road trip at Washburn (Sept. 5) and Nebraska Kearney (Sept. 12). The home opener doubles as the conference opener as AU hosts Concordia-St. Paul on Sept. 17.
 
Minnesota State earned the preseason nod as the coaches' favorite with nine first place votes and 218 points. Augustana tallied three first place votes and 202 points while Concordia-St. Paul was third with 200 points.
 
Full NSIC Poll

1. Minnesota State (9), 218
2. Augustana (3), 202
3. Concordia-St. Paul (4), 200
4. Bemidji State, 194
5. St. Cloud State, 165
6. UMary, 155
7. Winona State, 117
8. Wayne State, 109
9. Southwest Minnesota State, 106
10. Minot State, 104
11. Minnesota Duluth, 103
12. MSU Moorhead, 66
13. Northern State, 55
14. Sioux Falls, 52
15. Upper Iowa, 48
16. Minnesota Crookston, 26