SIOUX FALLS – In their final road game of the season, University of Sioux Falls Soccer dropped a 4-1 decision at crosstown rival Augustana on Friday afternoon. The Cougars enter their final game of the season with a 5-9-3 overall record, including a 4-7-3 mark in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference.
 
Augustana entered the week in the projected NCAA Tournament field based on the most recent NCAA region rankings and the Cougars needed a pair of wins to keep their hopes of reaching the NSIC tournament for the first time alive. The Vikings squashed that hope early, scoring in the seventh minute then adding two more before the Cougars could get on the board.
 
Answering Augustana's third goal, freshman Lindsey Power connected on her first career tally. With a free kick from nearly 40 yards out, Power beat the Augustana goalkeeper. Despite trimming their deficit from three to two, the goal was an accomplishment in itself as Augustana owns the one of the top defenses in the league and USF is one of six Augustana opponents to have scored on the Vikings.
 
USF wouldn't come any closer than their two-goal margin and the Vikings would tack on a fourth goal in the 84th minute. Power took three of the Cougars' five shots, and senior Alexandria Scott registered USF's only other shot on goal. Lauren LaFavre had Sioux Falls's lone shot in the first half, but her 16th minute shot drifted wide of the frame.
 
Morgan Perkins made some big saves in the first half, when Augustana controlled the possession with the help of the wind at their backs. The junior keeper finished the game with four saves.
 
USF will honor its seniors and close the regular season on Sunday, Oct. 29. The Cougars host Wayne State for a 1 p.m. game at the USF Sports Complex.