NSCAA DIVISION III NATIONAL RANKINGS (10/4)
D3SOCCER.COM NATIONAL RANKINGS (10/4)
NSCAA DIVISION III NORTH REGION RANKINGS (10/4)

MINNEAPOLIS -- The Augsburg College men's soccer team made a significant move up in the two major NCAA Division III national rankings, released on Tuesday.

The Auggies, now 8-1-1 overall and atop the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference standings with a 4-0-0 record, moved into the National Soccer Coaches Association of America Division III national rankings for the first time, sitting in the No. 15 spot in the national rankings. In the NSCAA's North Region rankings, the Auggies moved up from the No. 5 spot to the No. 2 spot, only behind the lone team to beat the Auggies this season -- Loras (Iowa). In the D3soccer.com Top 25 national poll, the Auggies moved from the No. 23 spot to the No. 20 spot this week.

Augsburg claimed its seventh shutout of the season on Sunday with a 3-0 victory at Wisconsin-Platteville, two days after dropping a 1-0 decision at Loras. In building an 8-1-1 record so far this season, Augsburg has outscored its opponents by a 20-3 margin, and its 0.29 team goals-against-average is fourth-best among NCAA Division III teams in the latest national statistics rankings. Augsburg's 0.7 shutouts-per-game average is ninth-best nationally.

Sophomore goalkeepers Clayton Lynch (SO, Cedar Rapids, Iowa/Xavier HS) and Will Morlock (SO, Grand Haven, Mich.) have been solid, with Lynch netting four shutouts and a 0.32 goals-against-average in his six starts (nine shutouts in 14 career starts), and Morlock recording three shutouts and a 0.25 GAA in his four starts (11 shutouts in 18 career starts).

Augsburg hosts Carleton this Saturday at 7 p.m. at Edor Nelson Field. The Knights are tied for second place in the MIAC standings with a 3-0-1 league record (5-3-2 overall).