The Week Ahead
• The Jennies enter the 2016 season ranked No. 5 in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Preseason poll. UCM is coming off their sixth straight MIAA Regular Season championship, third MIAA Tournament championship, second straight Central Region crown, and back-to-back appearances in the NCAA Elite Eight in school history.
• UCM will kick off the 2016 season with a trip to Weatherford, Okla. to take on Southwestern Oklahoma State on Sept. 1 at 3 p.m. The Jennies will play their first home game on Sept. 3 against Augustana at 1 p.m.
Series History
Southwest Oklahoma: UCM leads 3-0
The Jennies last played the Bulldogs in 2012 earning a 3-0 victory at home. This will be UCM's first game in Weatherford, Okla.
Augustana: UCM leads 2-0
UCM won the only two previous matchups between the two schools with a 2-0 shutout in the 2014 season opener and 2-1 in 2015.
Scouting the Competiton
Southwest Oklahoma State
• The Bulldogs enter the 2016 season unranked after winning 13 games in 2015. The program had a strong bounce back in 2015 after winning just two games in 2014. Relying heavily on underclassmen last season, the Bulldogs faired well late in the season finishing third in the GAC overall and making it to the conference championship game. The Bulldogs season came to an end in the conference championship as they fell to Harding University 5-3.
• The Bulldogs finished 13-6-1 in 2015 overall, 8-3-1 in conference and are preseason picked to finish second in the GAC.
• The Bulldogs return 12 letter winners in 2016, seven of which are starters. Of the seven starters, six return with All-GAC honors from 2015.
• The Bulldogs will be led by senior Courtney Flores, who is the reigning GAC Goalkeeper of the Year and a First Team All-GAC recipient.
• The Bulldogs matchup with the Jennies will be the first game of the season for both teams.
Augustana
• Augustana looks to build off another strong season as the Vikings won a program record 19 games in 2015. The previous high was 14 wins, set in 2014.
• The Vikings finished 13-1-1 in conference play to place second and claimed their first ever NSIC Tournament crown defeating Winona State in the conference championship 1-0.
• Augustana earned their first ever NCAA Tournament victory, defeating Harding University 2-1 on Nov. 13.
• Entering the 2016 season, the Vikings are preseason picked to finish first in the NSIC, receiving eight first place votes and 215 points. The Vikings are also ranked No. 17 in NSCAA Preseason poll.
• Junior forward Samantha Tymkowicz will lead the way for Augustana this season. Tymkowicz scored 16 goals and 35 points in 2015 earning first team All-NSIC Honors.
• Augustana will open up the season against Southwest Baptist before traveling to Warrensburg to take on Central Missouri. The Vikings will be on the the road for their first six games of the season before playing at home on Sept. 23 against Upper Iowa University.
