Augustana soccer charges into new season

On Sept. 22, the Augustana soccer team fell to the Minnesota State Mavericks in a 3-1 loss on the road.

With a record of 2-3-1, the Vikings are ranked eighth in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference, but current standings fail to tell the full story.

Head coach Brandon Barkus, entering his 18th season coaching the Vikings, discussed the level of competition the Vikings faced at the beginning of this season.

“We have had such a tough non-conference, and the beginning of the conference year schedule — it’s insane,” Barkus said.

However, Barkus believes that this tough schedule to start the season could help the team in the long run. 

“The best way to grow is to gain experience and mature based on situations,” Barkus said. “Because the competition has been so tough up until this point, I’m hoping that we’ll see some translation in how to handle those pressures as we get into the conference portion of the season.”

The Vikings have 12 games left in their NSIC conference, and Barkus is confident in the team’s potential. He would not be surprised if Augustana went 12-0 for the rest of the season. Now it comes down to the team’s dynamic to see if that prediction becomes reality.

“One of the things we have preached for years is how to build trust, relationships and rapport so you can be successful on the field,” Barkus said.

This year's team captains seniors Sierra Barkus, Macie Haggerty and junior Avery Nelson play an integral role in ‌developing team cohesion.

While there have been junior captains in previous years it seems to be a rare occurrence and has not happened anytime in recent years.

Nelson was surprised to hear that her teammates elected her, but she is ready to lead the team.

“When coach [Terrance] Kampa said my name for being voted for captain by my teammates, I honestly thought I had misheard him,” Nelson said. “I did not expect or anticipate that I would be voted, however, it is an opportunity I am grateful to have.”

Freshman forward Morgan Mancuso found that this year’s team captains helped her transition into college soccer. 

“During difficult fitness tests or a complicated drill, they are always the first ones to explain and provide supportive feedback to me, which has helped me succeed in those areas,” Mancuso said. “They bring such a positive and competitive energy to every practice and game, which has motivated me to give one hundred percent for them.”

As the Vikings progress through conference play, coach Barkus aims to work on developing the team’s offensive capabilities.

On Sept. 27, the Vikings will play their next conference match against the Saint Cloud State Huskies on Morstad Field.