EVENT PHOTO GALLERY -- CLICK HEREMINNEAPOLIS -- Augsburg College will honor former men's soccer coach Rolf Eriksen and the 1974 Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference champion men's soccer team with a special ceremony on Tuesday (9/23) during the men's soccer team's home game against Bethel at Edor Nelson Field.
The men's soccer locker room in Si Melby Hall will be named for Eriksen, who coached the Auggies from 1971 to 1973 and from 1976 to 1981. The Auggies won four MIAC championships during the program's early years (1973, 1974, 1975, 1980). Eriksen compiled an 81-32-19 (.686) overall record in his nine years coaching the Auggies, including a 67-24-15 (.703) record in MIAC play. Auggie squads finished in the top three in the MIAC standings in eight of Eriksen's nine years at the helm.
The 1974 Auggie squad finished 12-3-1 overall, 11-2-1 in MIAC play under Jim Agre '72, who coached the Auggies to back-to-back MIAC titles in his two seasons before Eriksen returned to lead the program. The Auggies outscored their opponents by a 41-15 margin during the season, including seven shutouts.
A pregame reception will begin at 6 p.m. in the Kennedy Center, with a ceremony honoring the 1974 squad and Eriksen to take place during halftime of the men's soccer game, which begins at 7:30 p.m. at Edor Nelson Field. A video tribute to Eriksen will be shown on the new video scoreboard at Edor Nelson Field during halftime.
For more information, contact Augsburg Head Coach
Greg Holker at 612-330-1424 or
holker@augsburg.edu.
STORY FROM AUGSBURG ALUMNI BLOG
By Darcy Debing '77Calling all Augsburg men's soccer players! A chance to honor former coach Rolf Eriksen is available to us and this is what we all can do to help recognize Rolf for all he has done for the Augsburg men's soccer program.
If you keep up with the Augsburg men's soccer program, you have seen the recent improvements in the locker room. The idea has sprung up that naming this locker room after Rolf Eriksen would be the fitting recognition of a man that started this program, nurtured it through its infancy, and helped bring four conference championships to Augsburg.
All of the money raised to get this room named after Rolf goes directly back to the men's soccer program. This money can be utilized to bring planned improvements to fruition—by purchasing much-needed equipment, such as heart rate monitors, players' travel bags, updated cold weather jackets, and additional equipment for players and coaches.
Celebration of the 1974 MIAC champions is scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 23, prior to the game against Bethel. Our goal is to invite the Eriksen family to this game and dedicate the locker room to Rolf at this time. Some of us have been in touch with Rolf's family and they are incredulous that anyone remembers Rolf. They must be kidding. He is still thought of often and influences many of our lives to this day.
Names like Agre, Strommen, Reinarz, Casper, Jensen, Schneider, Sterling, Frier, Haar and Debing are already committed to contributing to the well overdue recognition for Rolf that will be a lasting reminder of this championship coach and fine gentleman. Can we add your name as well?
All are invited to the 1974 celebration and, we hope, to the dedication of Rolf's Room on Tuesday, Sept. 23, at around 6 p.m.
From hearing the passion and respect that players have when talking about Rolf, not only on the field but off the field, this is a goal that we all can score for Rolf and his family.
You can make your contribution by sending a check to current Head Coach
Greg Holker, addressed to Augsburg College with Men's Soccer in the memo. You can also give online.
Thank you. As the motto in the locker room states for Augsburg Men's Soccer…"For You. For Soccer. For Life."
