2019 MINNESOTA SPORTS AWARDS

MINNEAPOLIS -- Augsburg University women's soccer player Ashley St. Aubin (SR, Burnsville, Minn./Burnsville HS) is one of three finalists for the Women's Collegiate Athlete of the Year award at the 2019 Minnesota Sports Awards, which will be presented during a ceremony on Dec. 11 at The Depot at the Renaissance Minneapolis Hotel. 

The event honors the best in both professional and amateur sports in Minnesota during the past year. In addition to awards given in nine different categories, the 2019 class of the Star Tribune's Minnesota Sports Hall of Fame will be inducted. The Minnesota Sports Awards are presented by Sports Minneapolis, the sports division of the Meet Minneapolis tourism and convention bureau. 

The third annual gala, held on Wednesday, Dec. 11, will include a silent auction, dinner and an awards ceremony featuring athletes, coaches and high-profile Minnesota sports celebrities. Doors open at 5 p.m., with dinner at 6:30 p.m. and the awards ceremony at 7:30 p.m. The event will be carried live by FOX Sports North across multiple digital platforms and rebroadcast at a later date. A portion of the proceeds from ticket sales will benefit the United Heroes League, a non-profit organization that actively works to ensure that children of military service members are afforded every opportunity to participate in sports.

St. Aubin is one of three finalists for the 2019 Women's Collegiate Athlete of the Year award, along with two athletes from the University of Minnesota -- softball player Amber Fiser and gymnast Lexy Ramler. St. Aubin is one of two Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference athletes up for awards, joining Saint John's football quarterback Jackson Erdmann, who is a finalist for the Men's Collegiate athlete of the Year award.

One of the top women's soccer players in both Augsburg and MIAC history, St. Aubin has rewritten the Augsburg record book, now holding the school's career records for both goals (68) and points (164), while standing third in career assists (28), in 79 career games. St. Aubin has scored at least one goal in 52 games in her career, and the Auggies are 47-4-1 when she scores a goal.

Entering the MIAC postseason playoffs this week, St. Aubin is now one goal away from tying the MIAC women's soccer record for career goals (all games), 69, set by Macalester's Jenny Scanlon (1991-94). The MIAC's women's soccer career points record is 173 (62 goals, 49 assists), held by Heidi Campbell of Saint Mary's (1984-87); St. Aubin's 162 points are third-most in conference history.

In 17 games this season, St. Aubin has 15 goals and six assists for 36 points, ranking second among MIAC players in both goals and points. She has led the MIAC in both overall goals and points each of her first three seasons, including a single-season school-record 21 goals and 53 points (11 assists) last season.

St. Aubin has been a key part of Auggie squads that have won MIAC regular-season titles in both this season and 2017, while reaching the MIAC playoffs each of her four seasons. Augsburg won the MIAC playoff title in 2016 and advanced to the NCAA Division III national tournament, while finishing as tournament runners-up last season. She has been a part of a senior class that has produced a 57-19-3 record (.741 winning percentage) in their four seasons.

The first player in Augsburg women's soccer history to earn All-America honors in back-to-back seasons, St. Aubin was named a Division III All-American by the United Soccer Coaches (third team) and D3soccer.com (second team) in 2018, and by the United Soccer Coaches (second team) in 2017. She has earned United Soccer Coaches All-North Region honors three times (first team in 2018 and 2017, second team in 2016).

A three-time All-MIAC honoree, she could become part of an exclusive club if she earns All-MIAC honors this season. Only 15 women's soccer players have earned four All-MIAC honors in conference history. Currently, 54 players have earned three All-MIAC honors in conference women's soccer history. The MIAC's Offensive Player of the Year in 2017 and the MIAC's Rookie of the Year in 2016, St. Aubin has also earned MIAC Athlete of the Week honors eight times in her career.

Now 13-3-1 overall (9-1-1 MIAC), Augsburg is the No. 1 seed in the six-team MIAC postseason playoffs, and will host a semifinal game on Wednesday (11/6) at 6 p.m. at Edor Nelson Field, facing the winner of Tuesday's (11/5) quarterfinal game between No. 5-seed Carleton and No. 4-seed Saint Benedict. If the Auggies win, they will host the playoff championship game on Saturday (11/9) at 1 p.m. at Edor Nelson Field, with the winner receiving the MIAC's automatic bid to the NCAA Division III national playoffs.