2018 UNITED SOCCER COACHES MEN'S SOCCER D-III ALL-AMERICA TEAM
MINNEAPOLIS -- Augsburg University men's soccer defender
Daniel Hedstrom (JR, Hermantown, Minn./Hermantown HS) was named to the United Soccer Coaches Division III All-America Team on Thursday as a third-team honoree.
Hedstrom is the second men's soccer player in Augsburg history to ever earn United Soccer Coaches (formerly NSCAA) All-America honors, and the third men's soccer All-American overall in school history.
Alex Hildebrandt '10 earned NSCAA All-America second-team honors in 2008, and
Pascaul Venter '09 was a D3kicks.com All-American second-team selection in 2006.
A total of 49 players were named to the United Soccer Coaches' Division III Women's Soccer All-America teams, 15 to the first team, 17 to the second team and 17 to the third team. Fifteen defenders earned All-America honors.
Last week, Hedstrom earned
NSCAA All-North Region first-team honors, and he was named to the
All-Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference squad earlier this month. The honors are all the first for Hedstrom in his Augsburg career.
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 (44 collegiate games overall), he now has eight goals and two assists for 20 points.
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.
(NOTE: Story includes information taken from Augsburg's 2018 All-North Region men's soccer release.)
