Augsburg College - Athletics

Augsburg College Athletics 2005-06 Year in Review: Fall Sports

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SPRING SPORTS YEAR IN REVIEW, CLICK HERE
2005-06 ATHLETIC AWARDS, CLICK HERE
HONOR ATHLETES/ATHLETES OF THE YEAR, CLICK HERE

Football (1-9 overall, 1-7 MIAC--t8th/9)

Augsburg College finished the 2005 football campaign 1-9 overall, 1-7 in Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play, its first season under new head coach Frank Haege. The schedule was a difficult one for the Auggies, as five of the 10 opponents Augsburg faced in the 2005 season were ranked nationally at least once during the course of the season by one of the major NCAA Division III national polls. Three Augsburg opponents were participants in the 32-team NCAA Division III national playoffs.

Auggies Andrew Neumann (Jr., Somerset, Wis.), Nick Schlieman (Sr., Burnsville, Minn.), Ricky Schreier (Jr., Maplewood, Minn./Cretin-Derham Hall HS), Chike Ochiagha (Sr., Savage, Minn./Holy Angels HS) and Mike Matson (Jr., Cedar, Minn./St. Francis HS) earned All-Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference honors. Neumann and Schlieman earned first-team All-MIAC honors, while Schreier, Ochiagha and Matson earned second-team All-MIAC honors.

Schlieman has earned All-MIAC honors all four years of his career, earning first-team honors in 2002, 2003 and 2005 and second-team honors in 2004. Ochiagha was an All-MIAC honorable-mention selection in 2004, while Neumann was an All-MIAC honorable-mention selection in 2003. For Schreier and Matson, it was the first all-conference honors of their careers.

Schlieman, Matson, Neumann and Ochiagha were named to the Football Gazette Division III All-West Region team (Schlieman to the second team, Matson to the third team, and Neumann and Ochiagha honorable mention), with Schlieman also named to the Football Gazette All-America team as an honorable-mention selection. Matson and Schlieman were both named to the D3football.com All-West Region team (Schlieman first team, Matson second team) and the D3football.com All-America team (Matson third team, Schlieman honorable mention).

Schlieman, the lone punter in the MIAC to average 38.0 yards or more per punt each of the last four seasons, led the MIAC in both overall (41.4 yards per punt) and conference-only (40.7 yards per punt) punting in 2005. Schlieman ranked seventh nationally among NCAA Division III players in overall punting average (41.4). As a team, Augsburg ranked first nationally in team net punting average (punt yardage minus return yards/touchbacks) with a 37.68 average.

Of his 56 punts this season, Schlieman had 26 punts of 40-49 yards, four punts of 50-59 yards and a season-long punt of 68 yards, against just two touchbacks and three fair catches. He placed 15 of his punts inside the opponent 20-yard line. In his career, Schlieman averaged 40.1 yards per punt (222 punts, 8,900 yards), with 77 punts of 40-49 yards, 28 punts of 50-59 yards and seven punts of 60 yards or better, including a school-record 74-yarder in the 2003 season. As the Auggies' field-goal kicker this season, he was 6-for-14 with a long of 46 yards.

Matson, a linebacker, finished the season with 155 tackles (74 solo), leading the MIAC in both overall (15.5 tackles per game) and MIAC play (138, 17.3 tackles per game). Matson finished ranked second nationally among Division III players in total tackles (15.5 per game), as one of just two Division III players to average 15.0 or more tackles per game during the season season. He also ranked sixth nationally in solo tackles (7.4 per game). In his career, Matson has 245 tackles (100 solo), including 13.5 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, four forced fumbles and two blocked kicks.

This season, Matson was named MIAC Player of the Week and Football Gazette Co-National Defensive Player of the Week following a 22-tackle (eight solo) performance with a sack and two blocked kicks in Augsburg's 19-13, two-overtime victory over Hamline on Oct. 15. He later earned D3football.com Team of the Week honors following a career-high 28-tackle (nine solo) performance in Augsburg's 17-14 loss to Bethel on Nov. 4. He had double-figure totals in tackles eight times this season, reaching the 20-tackle plateau three times.

Neumann, a tight end, finished the season as Augsburg's leader in receptions (55), while standing second in receiving yardage (628 yards). He scored two touchdowns this season. In MIAC play (eight games), Neumann ranked third in the conference in receptions per game (5.62) and eighth in receiving yards per game (63.2), both totals tops among conference tight ends.

Neumann topped the 80-yard mark in receiving three times this season, including a 13-catch, 125-yard performance in Augsburg's season finale against St. Olaf on Nov. 12. In his career (30 games), Neumann has 1,265 receiving yards on 112 catches with three touchdowns.

Schreier, a wide receiver, led the Auggies in 2005 with 766 receiving yards and six receiving touchdowns, while standing second on the team in total receptions with 53. He compiled 1,275 all-purpose yards this season, with 505 yards in kick returns. He had three 100-yard receiving games this season, including a 12-catch, 134-yard performance in the season opener against Wartburg (Iowa).

He ranked fifth among MIAC players (conference games only) in receptions per game (4.62) and seventh in receiving yardage per game (68.4), while ranking third in all-purpose yards (1,012, 126.5 yards per game). In his career (30 games), Schreier has 1,038 receiving yards on 79 receptions with seven touchdowns, while compiling 1,760 career all-purpose yards.

Ochiagha, a defensive lineman, finished this season with 47 tackles (18 solo), including 6.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, a forced fumble and fumble recovery. He had 10 tackles in Augsburg's season-opening loss to Wartburg (Iowa) and seven tackles each in a win over Hamline on Oct. 15 and a loss against Bethel on Nov. 4. Ochiagha started all 10 games at nose guard this season.

In his career, Ochiagha finished with 101 tackles (36 solo), 13.5 tackles for loss, 7.0 sacks, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.

Volleyball (6-23 overall, 2-9 MIAC--11th/12)

The Augsburg volleyball team, in its first season under new head coach Jessica Phillips, finished 6-23 overall, 2-9 in Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play. Augsburg won four of its last 10 matches to close the season, including two victories over St. Catherine, a win in four games over Hamline and a five-game victory over Macalester in the Auggies' home finale on Oct. 21.

Middle hitter Billie Painschab (Sr., Howard Lake, Minn./Howard Lake-Waverly HS) was named to the 2005 All-Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference volleyball team, the Auggies' first All-MIAC volleyball selection since the 2000 season.

Painschab finished the season with a team-leading 86 blocks (40 solo, 0.93 blocks per game) including 33 (11 solo) in league play. She had 173 kills (1.88 per game) and hit .196 on the season, while also contributing 10 service aces. This season, she earned all-tournament team honors at the Northwestern-Roseville and Wisconsin-Superior Jacket Classic tournaments. She closed her career as the school's record-holder (records kept since 1987) in total blocks (245), blocks per game (0.84) and block assists (174), while also ranking second on the school's record list in solo blocks (71). She appeared in 96 career matches and also contributed 556 kills (1.90 per game), 35 aces and 87 digs.

Senior Linnea Evans (Sr., Kenyon, Minn./Kenyon-Wanamingo HS) played at both outside hitter and setter in her senior season, finishing with a team-high 201 kills (2.18 per game), 345 assists, 31 blocks (five solo) and 189 digs. She earned all-tournament team honors at the Augsburg Invitational and Wisconsin-Superior Jacket Classic tournaments.

Senior Alexis Johnson (Sr., Oakdale, Minn./North St. Paul HS), a four-year starter at setter, led the team with 493 kills (5.36 per game) and also contributed 23 service aces. Britt Bogner (Sr., Burnsville, Minn./Apple Valley HS) also contributed 65 kills and 16 service aces.

Katie LaGrave (So., Okinawa, Japan/Kadena HS) had a strong season in the middle, contributing 179 kills and 57 blocks (22 solo). Outside hitter Sarah Bradley (So., International Falls, Minn.) also topped the century mark in kills, with 143, to go along with 116 digs and 16 service aces. Dani Boner (Fr., Omaha, Neb./Mercy HS) had an impressive collegiate debut season as an outside hitter, with 144 kills, 183 digs, 31 service aces and 24 blocks (four solo). Haley Bower (So., Brainerd, Minn.) contributed 395 digs at the libero position, with Emma Sutton (So., Chicago, Ill./Mother McAuley HS) adding 104.

Men's Soccer (6-10-2 overall, 3-5-2 MIAC--9th/11)

Under second-year head coach Greg Holker, Augsburg finished with a 6-10-2 overall record, 3-5-2 in Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play. The eight points in MIAC play were the most for an Augsburg team since the 1981 season (4-7-1 MIAC, nine points). Of the 28 players on this year's Auggie squad, 20 were freshmen and sophomores. Augsburg graduates just five seniors and will return 23 players next season.

In conference play, Augsburg claimed a 2-1, two-overtime win over Carleton on Sept. 24, a 6-1 win over Concordia-Moorhead on Oct. 11 and a 1-0, two-overtime win at Bethel on Oct. 21. Augsburg also tied Hamline 1-1 on Sept. 22 and St. Thomas 0-0 on Oct. 28.

Defenders Cassidy Duerr (Fr., Blaine, Minn./Spring Lake Park HS) and Alec Rabine (So., St. Louis Park, Minn.) earned All-MIAC honors. Duerr received first-team all-conference recognition, while Rabine was an honorable-mention all-conference selection. It's the first all-conference selections for both.

Duerr established himself as one of the top defenders in the conference in his first season of competition for the Auggies, after the all-state high school selection missed all of last season with a broken foot. He started all 18 games for the Auggies and had five shots on the season. He was one of six defenders selected to the 20-player All-MIAC first team.

In his second year as a starter, Rabine appered in 16 games with three goals and one assist, tied for fourth in overall scoring on the team (seven points). He scored the eventual game-winning goal in a 4-1 win over Viterbo (Wis.) on Sept. 7, and had two goals, including a penalty kick goal, in a 6-1 win over Concordia-Moorhead on Oct. 11.

Seniors Geoff Johnson (Sr., Blaine, Minn.) and Aaron Riedel (Sr., Minneapolis, Minn./South HS) closed their careers playing in 70 Auggie games. Johnson, a defender, scored his first collegiate goal in Augsburg's 6-1 win over Concordia. Riedel, an All-MIAC midfielder his sophomore year and All-MIAC honorable-mention selection his junior year, finished his career with 24 goals and 14 assists for 62 points, the point and goal totals both sixth-best in school history and the assist total fifth-best.

Senior Matt Argall (Sr., New Ulm, Minn.) appeared in 22 games on defense in his Auggie career, and two seniors competed two seasons for the Auggies -- midfielders Justin Turner (Sr., Maple Grove, Minn./Osseo HS) and Eric Hoonhout (Sr., Montclair, N.J./West Essex Regional HS).

Andrew Seidel (Fr., Woodbury, Minn.) led the Auggies in scoring, with three goals and seven assists for 13 points. Andrew Connor (So., Becket, Mass./North Muskegon (Mich.) HS) had three goals and two assists for eight points.

Women's Soccer (8-3-7 overall, 5-2-4 MIAC--4th/12, MIAC playoff qualifier)

Under seventh-year head coach Mike Navarre, Augsburg qualified for the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference postseason playoffs for the second straight year, falling 3-0 at conference champion Macalester in the playoff semifinals on Nov. 1.

Augsburg finished 8-3-7 overall and 5-2-4 in MIAC play in 2005, the most ties and fewest losses in a regular season in school history. Augsburg's 5-2-4 MIAC record (14 points) matched last year's 7-4-0 conference mark for its best record, in terms of conference points, in school history.

Augsburg completed the second-best four-year stretch of victories in school history. Augsburg finished 40-21-11 over the last four seasons (2002-05), just one win shy of the best four-year stretch, 41-24-5 from 1994-97. Augsburg had just three seniors on the roster, and will return 16 letterwinners next season.

Augsburg started the 2005 season with an 11-game unbeaten streak (7-0-4), the best unbeaten streak to start a season in school history. Included in the stretch was a 1-1 tie with Macalester and a 4-1 triumph over conference playoff qualifier Concordia-Moorhead. Augsburg also topped conference foes St. Olaf, Hamline, Carleton and St. Benedict, and tied St. Catherine, Bethel and conference playoff qualifier St. Thomas.

Auggies Millie Suk (Sr., Rochester, Minn./Mayo HS), Emily Anderson (Jr., Hudson, Wis.), Nora Austin (Sr., St. Paul, Minn./Cretin-Derham Hall HS) and Maggie DeGroot (Fr., Waukesha, Wis./Waukesha West HS) earned All-MIAC honors. Suk and Anderson, both forwards, earned first-team All-MIAC honors, while Austin, a defender, and DeGroot, a goalkeeper, earned honorable-mention All-MIAC honors.

Suk is the lone player in the MIAC to earn first-team all-conference honors in women's soccer each of the past four seasons. It's Anderson's second straight first-team all-conference recognition, after earning honorable-mention honors her first year. For Austin, it's her second straight honorable-mention recognition, after earning first-team honors her sophomore season. DeGroot is one of just four MIAC freshmen to earn all-conference recognition (all honorable-mention) this season.

A four-year starter, Suk closed her career as Augsburg's all-time leading scorer, setting school records for both career points (93) and goals (38) in 67 career games. Her 17 career assists rank sixth-best in school history. This season, Suk finished with nine goals and six assists for 24 points, including three game-winning goals. In MIAC games, Suk ranked seventh among conference players in points (13), seventh in goals (four) and fourth in assists (five).

Suk was also named to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America's All-West Region third team in both 2004 and 2005. She was named MIAC Player of the Week for the third time in her career on Oct. 26. A political science major with a 3.86 grade-point average, Suk earned ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District second-team honors this season, after earning first-team honors last year.

A three-year starter (53 games), Anderson currently stands fourth in school history in career points (66), fourth in career goals (24) and fifth in career assists (18). This season, Anderson had a streak of 10 straight games scoring at least a goal or an assist, including a five-game goal-scoring streak, as she scored Augsburg's first seven goals in MIAC play. She finished with eight goals and eight assists for 24 points this season, including three game-winning goals. In MIAC games, Anderson finished third among conference players in points (16), third in goals (seven) and 10th in assists (two).

Anderson earned All-MIAC first-team honors last season, after being named an honorable-mention selection in 2003. She earned MIAC Player of the Week honors for the first time in her career on Sept. 20. A biology major with a 3.42 grade-point average, Anderson earned ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District third-team honors this season.

Austin, who moved from forward to defense after her first season, continued her play as one of the best marking backs in the league. She was also Augsburg's primary corner-kick and free-kick specialist, contributing two assists this season. In her career (69 games), Austin finished with two goals and six assists for 10 points.

DeGroot played every minute in goal for the Auggies this season, with an 8-3-7 record, 0.65 goals-against-average and 112 saves. She had eight shutouts this year, the third-most in a single season in school history. Her 0.65 GAA was the second-lowest for a single season in school history. Her 0.49 GAA in MIAC games ranked third-best among conference goalkeepers, as she allowed just six goals in conference play.

Eilidh Reyelts (Sr., Duluth, Minn./Duluth Marshall HS), a midfielder, competed in 55 games in her career, with six goals and one assist for 13 points, including two game-winning goals. Kelsey Watsabaugh (Fr., Eden Prairie, Minn./Hopkins HS) had a strong debut season, with three goals and two assists for eight points, while Katie Medd (Fr., Mankato, Minn./East HS) and Noreen Hogan (So., Moline, Minn./Alleman HS) had five points apiece.

Men's/Women's Cross Country (Women 10th/12 at MIAC meet, 19th/23 at NCAA Division III Central Regional; Men incomplete team finish at MIAC meet, incomplete team finish at NCAA Division III Central Regional)

Under head coach Dennis Barker, Augsburg has shown steady improvement in cross country. This season, the Augsburg women finished 10th at the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championships, while finishing 19th at the NCAA Division III Central Regional at Wartburg (Iowa). Augsburg's men had incomplete team finishes at both meets.

For the Auggie women, Angela Bergeson (Sr., Red Wing, Minn.) earned All-MIAC honors with a 12th-place finish at the MIAC meet and All-Central Region honors with a 30th-place finish at the regional meet. Teammate Ellen Waldow (Sr., Lanesboro, Minn.) earned All-MIAC honorable-mention honors with a 17th-place finish at the conference meet.

Bergeson broke the 24-minute barrier over the 6,000-meter women's distance in five of her six meets, including a 23:39.05 time at the MIAC meet and 23:56.15 time at the regional. Waldow's best time of the season was a 24:02.25 effort at the MIAC meet, with a 24:40.40 time at the regional.

Liz Ehlers (So., St. Paul, Minn./Arlington HS) recorded sub-27-minute times in all six meets she competed in as the Auggies' No. 3 runner. Bergeson and Waldow were the lone seniors on the Auggie women's squad, with two freshmen and four sophomores.

For the Auggie men, Micah Lenthe (Jr., Fergus Falls, Minn.) earned All-Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference honorable-mention honors with a 20th-place finish at the conference meet, and both he and teammate Erik Lundberg (Sr., Roseville, Minn./Mounds View HS) finished among the top 75 at the NCAA regional meet.

Lenthe set a personal-best time with a 26:56.95 effort over 8,000 meters at the MIAC meet, while finishing 60th with a 27:24.20 time in the NCAA regional meet. He recorded sub-28-minute times in five of his six meets. Lundberg placed 59th at the MIAC meet with a 28:10.30 time and 71st at the regional meet with a 27:40.35 time. He set a personal best with a 27:06, 10th-place finish at the Wisconsin-Superior Fall Freeze on Oct. 15.

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Augsburg College, a college of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, is a member of the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III.

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