2018 UNITED SOCCER COACHES MEN'S SOCCER D-III ALL-NORTH REGION

MINNEAPOLIS -- Three Augsburg University men's soccer players were named to the United Soccer Coaches Division III All-North Region squads for their play during the 2018 season, it was announced on Monday. Defender Daniel Hedstrom (JR, Hermantown, Minn./Hermantown HS) and forward Lionel Vang (JR, Little Canada, Minn./Roseville HS) were named to the 12-member first team, while goalkeeper Garrett Kaelin (JR, Stillwater, Minn./Hill-Murray HS) was named to the 12-member second team.

It's Vang's second straight appearance on the regional elite squad, after earning third-team honors last year. It's the first honor for Hedstrom and Kaelin. The All-North Region selections honor student-athletes from NCAA Division III men's soccer teams in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois and Iowa. All three Auggies also earned honors from the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference earlier this month, as Vang was named All-MIAC for the third straight year, while Hedstrom also earned All-MIAC honors and Kaelin was named All-MIAC Honorable Mention.

A dynamic playmaker on offense throughout his career, Vang again provided a reliable presence in his forward role. Playing in 17 games, he finished with four goals and six assists for 14 points, with his six assists tied for fifth-most among MIAC players in overall statistics. He had a goal or assist in nine of his 17 games this season, including four multiple-point games, and averaged 76.3 minutes played per-game.

In his 51 career games over three seasons, Vang now has 17 goals and nine assists for 43 points. He is tied for 10th in program history in career goals and tied for 12th in career points.

Hedstrom was a strong leader for the Auggies, earning team captain responsibility this season. In his second year at Augsburg after transferring from Division II Northern Michigan, Hedstrom used his 6-foot-5 height to an advantage, scoring eight goals with an assist for 17 points -- with all eight of his goals coming on set pieces. His eight goals were tied for fourth-most among MIAC players, while his 17 points were tied for sixth-most. Two of his goals were game-winners -- a 2-1 win at Wisconsin-Whitewater on Aug. 31 and a 1-0, MIAC playoff semifinal win at Gustavus on Oct. 31.

Hedstrom was on the field for 1,823 of Augsburg's 1,889 minutes played this season -- an incredible 96.5 percent. In his 30 career games at Augsburg, he now has eight goals and two assists for 20 points.

Kaelin moved into a role as Augsburg's No. 1 goalkeeper this season and shined, playing in all but nine minutes of Augsburg's 10 MIAC games and every minute in the postseason. In 15 games played this year, Kaelin finished with a 7-3-4 record, with 10 goals allowed (0.64 goals against-average), 80 saves and six shutouts -- the most for an Auggie since 2012 and tied for seventh-most in a single season in school history.

His 0.64 GAA, 10 goals allowed and six shutouts were both second-most among MIAC goalkeepers in overall play, while his .889 save percentage led the league. In his 23-game career at Augsburg, Kaelin has a 10-6-4 record, seven shutouts, a 1.15 career GAA and 112 saves (.812 save percentage).

Under 15th-year Head Coach Greg Holker, Augsburg finished 12-4-4 overall, 6-2-2 in MIAC play in 2018, the team's best record since 2010. The Auggies reached the MIAC playoff championship game and qualified for the NCAA Division III national playoffs, both also for the first time since 2010. Augsburg has recorded eight or more wins in 11 of the last 13 seasons.

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(NOTE: Story includes information taken from Augsburg's 2018 All-MIAC men's soccer release.)