Head coach Jack Osberg also finished the year on a winning note, as the Auggie mentor finished his ninth season with an overall record of 46-45 - becoming the first head coach in school history to have an above-.500 career winning percentage. His 46 wins are the second-most in school history, behind legendary coach Edor Nelson's 58 wins (58-118-10) from 1947-69.

The Auggies accomplished this feat with a young lineup - just 11 seniors - and a more balanced offensive attack to go with a defense that earned a reputation as one of the most tenacious in the MIAC.

After a 3-9 start to the season, the Auggies played strong the rest of the way, taking seven teams to the five-game limit while scoring six three-game match sweeps on the season. The highlight of the season may have been a dramatic 3-2 match victory at eventual MIAC champion and NCAA tourney participant Bethel on Oct. 20, four days after another dramatic five-gamer, a home loss to St. Mary's. In three matches with the Royals in 1999, the Auggies took the champs to the five-game limit twice.

Kevin Van Rossum (Sr., Green Bay, Wis./Preble HS) became the fourth Auggie golfer in school history to earn medalist honors at the MIAC championships. Van Rossum finished the two-day meet, held Oct. 8-9 at Bunker Hills Golf Club in Coon Rapids, with a total of 76-74 - 150, earning Augsburg its second straight medalist honors, after Todd Tourand won the individual title last season.

But despite the losses, the future is looking bright for the Auggies. Augsburg's goal-scoring output improved by seven goals over last season's total, and while Augsburg will graduate seven seniors from the roster, the bulk of the team's goal-scoring will return.

Augsburg broke a 26-game, two-season losing streak on Oct. 8 with a dramatic 1-0 overtime win over Hamline University at Anderson-Nelson Field, when Kara Nelson (Fr., Detroit Lakes, Minn.) popped in a goal off a corner kick. Two days later, Augsburg scored its second win in a row with a 1-0 triumph over St. Scholastica.

The men's squad, which finished 10th at the MIAC meet and was led by Eric Bloemendal (Jr., Brampton, Ontario/Huntsville HS) shone all season long, with three top-five finishes and a 19th-place finish at the MIAC meet (All-MIAC honorable mention).

On the women's side, the Auggies finished ninth at the MIAC meet and were led by Chrissy Baune (So., Marshall, Minn.), who narrowly missed out on All-MIAC honors with a 16th-place finish and a 19th-place spot at the NCAA Division III Central Regional, narrowly missing a trip to the Division III national championships.