NSCAA DIVISION III PRESEASON NATIONAL RANKINGS

MINNEAPOLIS -- The Augsburg College men's soccer team is ranked No. 17 in the preseason National Soccer Coaches Association of America/Adidas NCAA Division III national rankings, it was announced on Tuesday.

Coming off of their first-ever appearance in the NCAA Division III national tournament, head coach Greg Holker's Auggies will enter the 2009 season as one of the favorites to win the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference title. Augsburg finished 12-4-7 overall, 7-2-1 in MIAC play last season, reaching the MIAC postseason playoffs for the second time in the past three seasons and reaching the conference title game.

Augsburg reached the third round ("Sweet Sixteen") of the NCAA tournament in 2008, advancing on the road past Whitworth (Wash.) and Redlands (Calif.) before falling at Loras (Iowa) in overtime in the sectional semifinals.

The Auggies are one of two MIAC teams to earn a preseason national ranking; conference regular-season and playoff champion Carleton was ranked No. 14. The Knights also reached the third round of the NCAA tournament last season.

Augsburg opens its 2009 season on Sept. 1 with a nonconference game at Minnesota-Morris. Following the opener on the road, the Auggies will have their next six games at home, starting with a Sept. 5 game against Wartburg (Iowa) at Edor Nelson Field.