Vikings finish 10-7-1 overall and 2-4-1 in the CCIW; Nathan Kyes named 2nd team Academic All-America; Adam Bengfort a 2nd team All-CCIW selection; Head Coach Brenton Joseph steps down at season's conclusion
 

The 2014 men's soccer season at Augustana was highlighted by a 10-7-1 overall record and the naming of senior midfielder Nathan Kyes (Oswego HS, Oswego, Ill.) to the Capital One Academic All-America second team. In addition, senior defender Adam Bengfort (Assumption HS, Davenport, Iowa) earned second team All-CCIW honors. The Vikings finished 2-4-1 and in sixth place in the CCIW. After eight years at Augustana, Head Coach Brenton Joseph stepped down at the conclusion of the season.
 
Despite playing its first six matches and seven of its first eight away from the friendly confines of Thorson-Lucken Field, the Blue & Gold started out 6-2. Five of those victories were shutouts, with Bengfort, senior goalkeeper Brett Johnson (Zion-Benton HS, Beach Park, Ill.) and the rest of the Augustana defense whitewashing Adrian (3-0), Northwestern (1-0), Lake Forest (1-0), Westminster (4-0) and Central (1-0). The Vikings also picked up a 2-1 win at Benedictine on September 13 which, along with the previous day's shutout of Lake Forest, earned Johnson CCIW Defensive Player of the Week honors. The team's two losses in that stretch came 3-1 in the season-opener at Albion and 2-1 in overtime at Hamline.
 
A late goal by Wisconsin-Whitewater handed Augustana a 1-0 defeat at home, but Joseph's side bounced back to close out the pre-CCIW slate with a 2-0 win at St. Ambrose.
 
The Vikings opened conference play at home against Illinois Wesleyan, falling 1-0 in overtime. After a 2-1 win at Simpson, senior Danny Campagna (Glenbard North HS, Carol Stream, Ill.) scored in the 86th minute at Elmhurst to earn his side a 1-1 tie.
 
Augustana moved to 9-4-1 overall and evened its CCIW mark at 1-1-1 when sophomore Rahul Bhatia (Naperville Central HS, Naperville, Ill.) scored in overtime against Carthage for a 1-0 Viking victory. Bengfort was named CCIW Defensive Player of the Week for his efforts versus the Red Men.
 
The team dropped two of its next three matches, falling to North Central (1-0) at home and on the road to eventual national runner-up Wheaton (3-0). However, the win in that stretch was an emotional 3-2 Senior Day victory over 21st-ranked North Park. Junior Jonathan Colucci (Glenbard North HS, Carol Stream, Ill.) had two goals and an assist in that match, earning CCIW Offensive Player of the Week honors. A 1-0 loss at Millikin in the regular season finale eliminated Augustana from CCIW tournament consideration.
 
Colucci was selected as the Vikings' "Best Offensive Player" after leading the team in assists (six) and points (14) and tying for the team lead in goals (four). Junior Anthony D'Angelo (Stevenson HS, Buffalo Grove, Ill.) also found the net four times. Sophomore Michael Brazinski (Plainfield East HS, Plainfield, Ill.) had three goals and three assists. Other offensive leaders for Augustana included junior Patrick Nelson (Jacksonville HS, Jacksonville, Ill.), with two goals and three assists and senior Danilo Panici (Lincoln-Way West HS, New Lenox, Ill.), who finished with two goals and two assists.
 
Johnson was named the Vikings' "Best Defensive Player" after going 10-7-1 in goal with a .767 save percentage and a goals against average of 0.93. He, Kyes and Bengfort, along with senior Cole Collins (Lisle HS, Lisle, Ill.) and juniors Adam Witucki (Libertyville HS, Libertyville, Ill.) and Erik Gustafson (Cary-Grove HS, Cary, Ill.) led an Augustana defense that posted seven shutouts and allowed just 17 goals in 18 games for a 0.93 goals-against-average.
 
Kyes, who had one goal and one assist this season, became Augustana's 154th Academic All-American in November. A four-year letter winner and four-time Academic All-CCIW honoree, he sported a 3.96 grade point average at the end of the fall term with majors in accounting and business administration. 
 
Joseph compiled a 64-69-14 record in eight seasons as the Vikings' head coach.
 
2014 CCIW MEN'S SOCCER STANDINGS

School	CCIW	Pct.	Overall	Pct.
Wheaton	6-1-0	.857	22-4-0	.846
North Park	5-2-0	.714	13-6-1	.675
Elmhurst	4-2-1	.643	11-5-4	.650
Millikin	4-3-0	.571	9-8-1	.528
North Central	3-4-0	.429	10-7-1	.583
AUGUSTANA	2-4-1	.357	10-7-1	.583
Carthage	2-5-0	.286	9-10-0	.474
Illinois Wesleyan	1-6-0	.143	7-12-0	.368

 
2014 CCIW MEN'S SOCCER TOURNAMENT
Semifinals – Wednesday, November 5
#1 Wheaton 4, #4 Millikin 0
#3 Elmhurst 1, #2 North Park 1 (Elmhurst advances 7-6 on PKs)
 
Championship – Saturday, November 8
Wheaton 5, Elmhurst 2
 
2014 AUGUSTANA MEN'S SOCCER SUPERLATIVES
ALL-CCIW: Adam Bengfort, 2nd team
CCIW PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Defensive – Brett Johnson (09/16/14), Adam Bengfort (10/21/14); Offensive – Jonathan Colucci (10/28/14)
CCIW ACADEMIC ALL-CONFERENCE: Adam Bengfort, Daniel Campagna, Jonathan Colucci, Ryan Curry, Nathan Kyes, Patrick Nelson, Danilo Panici, Dominick Sullivan, Grant Whitlow, Adam Witucki
CCIW STATISTICAL TOP 5 – INDIVIDUAL
Assists – Jonathan Colucci, T-4 @ 2
Game-winning goals – Rahul Bhatia, Jonathan Colucci, T-4 @ 1
Goals against average – Brett Johnson, 5th @ 1.24
Saves – Brett Johnson, 4th @ 26
Shutouts – Brett Johnson, T-5th @ 1
 
INDIVIDUAL TOP TEN LISTS
None
 
TEAM AWARDS
MVP – Brett Johnson
Best Defensive Player – Brett Johnson
Best Offensive Player – Jonathan Colucci
Newcomer of the Year – Grant Bracken