ROCK ISLAND -- The Augustana Vikings women's soccer team will officially kick off its 2024 campaign on Friday, August 30 when they welcome the Concordia-Chicago Cougars to Thorson-Lucken Field.

Augustana enters the new year after finishing 10-5-4 in 2023 with a 3-2-3 mark in conference play. The Vikings got off to a hot start last year, enjoying a 12-game unbeaten streak during the beginning. Included in that span was a home win over Illinois Wesleyan, the first over the Titans in five seasons, as well as a pair of CCIW shutouts over North Park and Elmhurst. Despite a bumpy road to close out the regular season, the Vikings did enough to host their first CCIW Tournament game since 2018. Augie fell in overtime to Millikin to end the season, but the 10 wins for the team was the highest total since 2019.

The Vikings will be led by a group of six seniors entering 2024, including two all-conference members in Liesl Whitener and Abby DeGustino. Whitener returns for a fifth year after earning her third All-CCIW nod and second All-Region recognition in 2023. DeGustino, a Second Team selection in 2023, will be back to anchor a defensive unit that boasted 12 shutouts last season.

The Cougars come into the new season after finishing 3-12-3 in 2023. Two of the team's three wins came in the final five games of the season, while also not allowing more than one goal during that five-game span. Concordia struggled on the road last season, going winless in seven tries. 

Augustana is 5-1 all-time against Concordia, winning the most recent matchup last season on the road by a score of 2-0. Whitener scored both times in the victory, with Jordyn Swanson notching an assist.

Start time on Friday is scheduled for 3 p.m.