2009 Auggie Awards - Male Most Improved Team Finalists

2009 Auggie Awards -- Male Most Improved Team Finalists

2009 AUGGIE AWARDS PAGE

BASKETBALL
(In 2007-08 -- 12-13 overall, 10-10 MIAC--7th/11; In 2008-09, 15-12 overall, 12-8 MIAC--t3rd/11, MIAC playoff qualifier) -- In its fourth season under head coach Aaron Griess, Augsburg finished 15-12 overall, its best overall record since the 1999-2000 season, while finishing 12-8 in MIAC play to earn a trip to the MIAC postseason playoffs for the first time since the 2000-01 season. After a 65-64 win over Carleton in the MIAC playoff first-round game, Augsburg reached the semifinal round of the MIAC playoffs, but fell to Bethel. One of the highlights of the season was a sweep of Gustavus with two victories, the Auggies’ first sweep of the Gusties since the 1999-2000 season.

GOLF
(In 2007, 8th/10 at MIAC championships; In 2008, 3rd/10 at MIAC championships) -- Under fourth-year head coach Ted Vickerman, the Augsburg men's golf team rebounded from last year's eighth-place finish at the MIAC championships with a third-place finish in this year's conference meet (308-309-305--922), finishing just five strokes behind second-place Gustavus. Augsburg finished with a stroke average of 313.62 and a 52-38 record (.578) against opponents in the fall half of the 2008-09 season. The Auggies had a balanced attack, with six golfers averaging 82.0 strokes or better during the fall half of the campaign.

HOCKEY
(In 2007-08, 6-17-2 overall, 4-12-0 MIAC--8th/9; In 2008-09, 9-16-1 overall, 8-7-1 MIAC--5th/9, MIAC playoff qualifier) -- In its third season under head coach Chris Brown, Augsburg finished 9-16-1 overall, 8-7-1 in MIAC play. The Auggies closed the season strong, with a 6-1-1 record in their last eight games of the regular season to earn a berth in the five-team MIAC postseason tournament for the second time in the last three years. The 6-1-1 comeback included a dramatic 7-7 tie with MIAC regular-season champion St. Olaf, as the Auggies scored five goals in the final 4:43 of regulation time to claim the tie.

SOCCER
(In 2007, 9-9-0 overall, 5-5-0 MIAC--7rd/11; In 2008, 12-4-7 overall, 7-2-1 MIAC--3rd/11, MIAC playoff runner-up, NCAA tournament third round) -- Under fifth-year head coach Greg Holker, the Augsburg men's soccer team finished 12-4-7 overall, 7-2-1 in MIAC play, qualifying for the NCAA Division III national playoffs for the first time in school history. The Auggies reached the "Sweet 16" round of the NCAA tournament this season, claiming a penalty-kick advancement over Whitworth (Wash.) in the opening round and a 1-0 win at Redlands (Calif.) in the second round before falling 2-1 in two overtimes at Loras (Iowa) in the third round. The Auggies reached the MIAC men's soccer tournament for the second time in the last three seasons, topping Gustavus 3-0 in the semifinals before falling in a penalty-kick shootout to Carleton in the championship game.