ROCK ISLAND, Ill. – Augustana opened the 2019 men's soccer season on Friday evening, falling to Simpson 2-0 at Thorson-Lucken Field. The Storm scored twice in the first half and held off the Vikings in a chippy second that saw six yellow cards issued. Coach Mick Regan's side is back in action at 4:00 p.m. on Monday, September 2 versus Buena Vista in Storm Lake, Iowa.
 
Darius Doswell got Simpson on the board in the 13th minute, slipping his free kick inside the post. The visitors extended their lead to 2-0 in the 32nd minute, when Dominek Miyeng parlayed a Julius Cooper assist into a goal.
 
Augustana's best scoring opportunity of the first half came in the 40th minute, when Justin Murphy's (Glenbard East HS, Lombard, Ill.) header off a corner hit the crossbar.
 
The Storm kept up the pressure in the second period, outshooting their hosts 9-3, although they put just two attempts on frame. None of the Vikings' tries were put on goal.
 
Simpson finished the evening with a 15-8 edge in shots and a 4-1 advantage in shots on goal. Augustana had five corners to the Storm's three. The visitors were called for 16 of the match's 28 fouls and received four of the six yellow cards issued.
 
Augustana keeper Jeremy Klaber (Stevenson HS, Buffalo Grove, Ill.) stopped two shots, while his counterpart for Simpson, Jake Potratz, was credited with one save.