2008 Augsburg College Women's Soccer Season Preview
General Information
School Name: Augsburg College
Location: 2211 Riverside Ave., Minneapolis, MN 55454
Founded: 1869
Enrollment: 3,872 (2007-08 total, includes undergrad, weekend, graduate)
Nickname: Auggies
School Colors: Maroon and Gray (Pantone 209 maroon, Pantone 424 gray)
Stadium: Edor Nelson Field (Sprinturf) (renamed from Anderson-Nelson Field in 2001)
Capacity: 1,400
Affiliation: NCAA Division III
Conference: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC)
President: Dr. Paul Pribbenow
Faculty Athletic Representative: Tracy Bibelnieks
Athletic Director: Jeff Swenson
Athletic Phone: 612-330-1249
Athletic Fax: 612-330-1372
History
First year of women's soccer: 1985
All-time playoff record: 0-4
Years in post-season play: 4 (2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 MIAC playoffs)
Last postseason appearance: 2007 (0-1 in MIAC playoffs)
All-time record: 151-206-31 overall, 76-126-21 MIAC
Coaching Staff
Head Coach: Mike Navarre, 10th season
Alma Mater/Year: Wisconsin 1996
Record at school (years): 75-68-18 (9 years)
Career record: 75-68-18 (9 years)
Head Coach's office phone: 612-330-1623
Coach's e-mail: navarre@augsburg.edu
Assistant Coaches
Ian McCallum (Abertay Dundee-Scotland '01, 2nd season), assistant coach
Megan Almanzo (Connecticut '03, 4th season), assistant coach
Millie Suk (Augsburg '06, 3rd season), assistant coach
Rick Tungseth (Augsburg '80, 18th season), goalkeeper coach
Sports Information
Sports Information Director (women's soccer contact): Don Stoner
E-Mail: stoner@augsburg.edu
Office phone: 612-330-1677
Cell phone: 612-363-3923
Assistant Sports Information Director/Assistant Athletic Director: Kelly Anderson Diercks
E-mail: diercks@augsburg.edu
Office phone: 612-330-1249
SID Fax: 612-330-1372
Press Box phone: 612-363-3923
Athletic Website: http://www.augsburg.edu/athletics/
2007 Game-by Game Results (* denotes MIAC games; Home games in bold)
Fri., Aug. 31, at Northwestern College-Roseville, W 6-0
Sat., Sept. 1, vs. University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, L 3-0
Fri., Sept. 7, at Pacific Lutheran University (Wash.), T 1-1 (2OT)
Sun., Sept. 9, at University of Puget Sound (Wash.), L 2-0
Wed., Sept. 12, vs. Concordia College-Moorhead *, T 1-1 (2OT)
Sat., Sept. 15, vs. Buena Vista University (Iowa), W 3-1
Wed., Sept. 19, at Hamline University *, W 1-0
Sat., Sept. 22, at University of St. Thomas *, L 1-0
Wed., Sept. 26, vs. St. Olaf College *, W 2-0
Sat., Sept. 29, vs. College of St. Catherine *, W 3-0
Mon., Oct. 1, vs. University of Wisconsin-River Falls, T 0-0 (2OT)
Wed., Oct. 3, vs. Macalester College *, W 1-0
Sat., Oct. 6, at St. Mary's University *, L 1-0
Tue., Oct. 9, vs. Gustavus Adolphus College *, W 1-0
Sat., Oct. 13, at Carleton College *, L 3-2 (OT)
Tue., Oct. 16, vs. College of St. Scholastica, L 1-0
Sat., Oct. 20, vs. Bethel University *, W 1-0
Wed., Oct. 24, at College of St. Benedict *, W 1-0
Tue., Oct. 30, MIAC Playoff Semifinals at St. Benedict, L 2-0
2008 Schedule (* denotes MIAC games; Home games in bold)
Fri., Aug. 29, vs. University of Wisconsin-Stout, 7 p.m.
Sat., Aug. 30, vs. Northwestern College-Roseville, 7 p.m.
Wed., Sept. 3, at University of Wisconsin-River Falls, 5 p.m.
Sat., Sept. 6, at University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, 1 p.m.
Wed., Sept. 10, at Concordia College-Moorhead *, 2 p.m.
Sat., Sept. 13, at College of St. Scholastica, 3 p.m.
Wed., Sept. 17, vs. Hamline University *, 7:30 p.m.
Sat., Sept. 20, vs. University of St. Thomas *, 4 p.m.
Wed., Sept. 24, at St. Olaf College *, 4 p.m.
Sat., Sept. 27, at College of St. Catherine *, 1 p.m.
Sat., Oct. 4, vs. St. Mary’s University *, 5 p.m.
Tue., Oct. 7, at Gustavus Adolphus College *, 4 p.m.
Fri., Oct. 10, vs. Loras College (Iowa), 7 p.m.
Sat., Oct. 11, Alumnae Game (EXHIBITION), 3:30 p.m.
Fri., Oct. 17, at Bethel University *, 4 p.m.
Sun., Oct. 19, vs. Clarke College (Iowa), 12 p.m.
Wed., Oct. 22, vs. Carleton College *, 7:30 p.m.
Sat., Oct. 25, vs. College of St. Benedict *, 1 p.m.
Fri., Oct. 31, at Macalester College *, 7:30 p.m.
Wed., Nov. 5, MIAC Playoff Semifinals
Sat., Nov. 8, MIAC Playoff Championship Game
Wed., Nov. 12, NCAA Div. III National Playoff First Round
Fri.-Sun., Nov. 14-16 NCAA Div. III National Playoff First/Second Round
Fri.-Sun., Nov. 21-23 NCAA Div. III National Playoff Sectionals
Fri.-Sat., Nov. 28-29, NCAA Div. III National Playoff Semifinals/Finals at Macpherson Stadium at Bryant Park, Greensboro, N.C.
Player & Team Information
Overall record last year: 9-7-3
Conference record/finish: 7-3-1 / t-3rd, qualified for MIAC postseason playoffs
Letterwinners returning/lost: 12/7
Starters returning/lost: 7/4
Roster By Year: 5 seniors, 3 juniors, 7 sophomores, 7 first-years. TOTAL: 22.
Key Returners
Maggie DeGroot (GK, SR, Waukesha, Wis./Waukesha West HS), All-MIAC first team in 2007, All-MIAC honorable mention in 2005 and 2006; has played all but 163:37 in goal for Augsburg over last 3 seasons (5082:41, 54 games); 9-6-3 record, 8 shutouts, 0.84 GAA and 108 saves in 2007; currently tied for school record for career shutouts (26); 27-15-12 career record (3rd in school history in career wins), 0.71 career GAA (tops in school history), 309 career saves on 349 shots faced (.885 save pct.); recorded single-season school-record 10 shutouts in 18 games in 2006; high school all-conference first team in 2004, honorable mention in 2003, four-year starter at Waukesha West HS, played in Wisconsin senior all-star game in 2005.
Felicia Faison (D, SR, Minneapolis, Minn./South HS), 0G-3A--3P in 2007; All-MIAC honorable mention in 2006 and 2007; has started every game of her collegiate career (55) as outside defender, 1G-5A--7P in career.
Whitney Holman (D, JR, New Hope, Minn./Robbinsdale Armstrong HS), moved from forward to defense in 2007; All-MIAC honorable-mention in 2007; 1G-1A--3P in 2007; career totals (36 games, 36 starts) of 5G-4A--14P, including 2 game-winning goals; HS all-conference honorable mention in soccer in 2005, named team's top offensive player; also all-state and all-conference in track (three-year state-meet participant); also All-MIAC sprinter on Augsburg track and field team.
Kelsey Watsabaugh (MF, SR, Eden Prairie, Minn./Hopkins HS), team's leader in scoring in 2007 (6G-2A--14P); has started every game of her collegiate career (55) as midfielder; career totals of 11G-8A--30P.
Kristi Castelic (D, JR, De Pere, Wis./West De Pere HS), 2G-0A--4P in 2007; career totals (37 games, 36 starts) of 3G-2A--8P; named to Wisconsin All-State high school team in 2006; HS all-conference first team in 2004, 2005 and 2006, all-area in 2004, 2005 and 2006.
Lacey Hoover (F, SO, Duluth, Minn./Central HS), 2nd on team in scoring in 2007 (5G-1A--11P); in high school, first-team all-conference in 2005 and 2006, Duluth All-Area team in 2005 and 2006, team MVP in 2006 and 2006; Pepsi Duluth All-Star team in 2006; named Central HS Most Outstanding Female Athlete in 2007; also member of Duluth Gitchi Gummi youth soccer program 2003-06 and East Select Soccer team in 2007.
Key Newcomers
Lisa Weniger (D/MF, So., Eagan, Minn./School of Environmental Studies), transfer from St. Mary's, named SMU Rookie of the Year in 2007, started 17 of 18 games in 2007, 0G-1A--1P; member of Eagan club team that won USA Cup 4 times in a 5-year span.
Kayla Denison (F, SO, Minneapolis, Minn./Roosevelt HS), transfer from Luther (Iowa), appeared in 11 games with 1G-0A--2P in 2007; 4-year starter at Roosevelt HS, all-conference selection in 2006.
Courtney Gamrath (MF, FY, St. Michael, Minn./St. Michael-Albertville HS), 2007 Minnesota All-State Class A 1st-team; conference MVP, all-conference; also plays for Tonka Soccer Club.
Sadie Kern (D/MF/F, FY, Rapid City, S.D./Stevens HS), 2007 South Dakota All-State 2nd-team; 3-year starter that won state title in 2005, while finishing 2nd in 2006 and 3rd in 2007; also member of South Dakota State Cup winning Rushmore SC club team in 2007.
Bri Clark (MF/F, FY, Mound, Minn./Mound-Westonka HS), 3-time all-conference, 2-time all-conference honorable-mention; team MVP in junior and senior seasons; member of Bangu SC team that won a Minnesota state club title in 2006.
Key Losses
Jackie Keller (D/MF), All-MIAC honorable-mention in 2007; career totals (61 games, 59 starts) of 2G-9A--13P; ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District V second team in 2006 and 2007.
Angie Neuhaus (MF/F), 2G-1A--5P in 2007; career totals (73 games, 52 starts) of 6G-5A--17P.
Mitra Rahimi (MF), 0G-1A--1P in 2007; career totals (66 games, 44 starts) of 4G-6A--14P.
Noreen Hogan (MF), 1G-1A--3P in 2007; career totals (69 games, 57 starts) of 2G-9A--13P.
Season Outlook:
MINNEAPOLIS (8/20/08) -- The quest for Augsburg College's first Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference women's soccer championship has begun. Augsburg has qualified for the MIAC's postseason playoffs for the last four years, but has yet to win it all.
Since the four-team MIAC postseason playoffs were started in 2003, the field has been dominated by three teams. Macalester and Concordia-Moorhead have qualified for all five playoff tournaments, while Augsburg has reached the playoffs each of the past four seasons.
Reaching that level of consistency in the MIAC has been a long-term process for head coach Mike Navarre, entering his 10th season as Augsburg's mentor. And this season should be no different in terms of consistency. Augsburg returns 12 letterwinners, including seven starters, to a team coming off a 9-7-3 overall finish and 7-3-1 mark in MIAC play in 2007.
"Making the playoffs and winning the MIAC are always our goals. It's challenging, but possible," Navarre said. "We have created a culture of success that our incoming players begin to understand quickly, and our seniors take personally."
Strength, depth in goal and defense
A hallmark of Navarre's Augsburg clubs has been strong defense. Last season, Augsburg surrendered just 16 goals, a total tied for third-lowest in the MIAC in overall play, and its six goals allowed in 11 league games was second-lowest. The Auggies shut out seven opponents in conference play -- tied for the conference lead in that category -- while claiming nine shutouts in overall play.
Goalkeeper Maggie DeGroot (SR, Waukesha, Wis./Waukesha West HS) has been the key to the team's defensive success in recent years. A veteran who will close her career as perhaps the top goalkeeper in school history, DeGroot enters her senior campaign tied for the school's career record with 26 shutouts, while holding career marks for goals-against-average (0.71) and win-loss percentage (.611). Her 27 career wins are just eight away from the school record of 35, set by Laura Hoffman (2000-03).
An All-MIAC honorable-mention honoree her first two seasons, DeGroot earned All-MIAC first-team honors in 2007, and has the potential to earn all-region and All-American honors this season, Navarre noted.
"She's obviously one of the best goalkeepers in the country," Navarre said. "Having that kind of player anchoring your defense is a luxury. It's her senior year, so she's incredibly motivated and driven to lead our program to greater heights. Maggie's very consistent, intelligent, and always ready to play. Her preparation is the model for our program."
The Auggies have solid goalkeeping depth, with two newcomers ready to learn under DeGroot and veteran goalkeeping coach Rick Tungseth. Taylor Becker (FY, Red Wing, Minn.) was an all-conference honoree and three-year starter in high school, while Katie Flakne (FY, Burnsville, Minn./Holy Angels HS) was a two-year starter.
Three of the four defensive starters return, described by Navarre as a "very talented and intelligent group of players."
Anchoring the defense is two-time All-MIAC honorable-mention selection Felicia Faison (SR, Minneapolis, Minn./South HS), an outside back who has developed a reputation as one of the top marking backs in the MIAC. Faison has started every one of the 55 games Augsburg has played in her three seasons. Kristi Castelic (JR, De Pere, Wis./West De Pere HS), a starter in 36 of Augsburg's 37 games in her two prior seasons, also returns, along with Whitney Holman (JR, New Hope, Minn./Robbinsdale Armstrong HS), a speedy back who moved from forward to defense last year and became an outstanding defender.
Replacing the one open starting role on the defense could fall to Gina Liddell-Westefeld (SO, Iowa City, Iowa), who started six of 17 games last season, Gaby Hamerlinck (SO, St. Paul, Minn./Highland Park HS), who transferred to Augsburg after playing the 2006 season at Puget Sound (Wash.), and newcomer Lisa Weniger (SO, Eagan, Minn./School of Environmental Studies HS), who is transferring to Augsburg from St. Mary's, where she earned team Rookie of the Year honors while starting 17 games.
Returners Becky Solheim (JR, Waconia, Minn.) and Emily Sell (SO, White Bear Lake, Minn.) will also compete for playing time on defense. Solheim appeared in 10 games last year, while Sell appeared in four games.
Both forwards return
Up front, starting forwards Katie Medd (SR, Mankato, Minn./East HS) and Lacey Hoover (SO, Duluth, Minn./Central HS) return, after combining for eight goals and four assists last season. A two-year starter, Medd scored three goals with three assists last season, while Hoover collected five goals in her Auggie debut campaign, second-best on the team.
"Katie and Lacey are both fast, hard working and tenacious. Their courage and persistence causes problems for defenses," Navarre said.
Kayla Denison (SO, Minneapolis, Minn./Roosevelt HS) transfers to Augsburg after spending her first season at Luther (Iowa), where she appeared in 11 games. Newcomers Bri Clark (FY, Mound, Minn./Mound-Westonka HS), a four-year all-conference selection, and Sadie Kern (FY, Rapid City, S.D./Stevens HS), a South Dakota All-State player, could also compete at both forward and midfield, along with returner Kelley Schreiber (SR, Albert Lea, Minn.), who played in six games last season.
The biggest question mark will come in the midfield, where the Auggies lost three of the four starters last season to graduation. The lone starter returning is Kelsey Watsabaugh (SR, Eden Prairie, Minn./Hopkins HS), who led the Auggies with six goals and two assists for 14 points last year. Watsabaugh has started each of the 55 games Augsburg has played the last three years.
Returner Samantha Thompson (SO, White Bear Lake, Minn.) will contend for a starting role, along with Katie Jacobson (FY, St. Cloud, Minn./Apollo HS), who missed last season due to injury. Defenders Solheim and Hamerlinck could also shift to the midfield, along with newcomers Clark, Kern and Weniger.
A promising newcomer is Courtney Gamrath (FY, St. Michael, Minn./St. Michael-Albertville HS), who earned first-team All-State honors last season in high school. Kelly Quill (FY, Crystal Lake, Ill./Crystal Lake South HS), a three-year starter on conference title teams in her prep days, will also contend for playing time in the midfield.
To return to Augsburg Women's Soccer, click here
To return to Augsburg Athletics, click here
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.
This is the official web site for Augsburg College athletics.
To contact Augsburg Athletics, click here for Athletic Department directory
