Erin Becker scored a pair of penalty kick goals and the Bemidji State University defense held Northern State University without a shot on goal as the Beavers defeated the Wolves to advance to the NSIC Soccer Tournament’s semifinal round.
The top-seeded Beavers took a 1-0 lead in the ninth minute of play. The NSU goalkeeper collided with BSU’s freshman forward Mason Schilling just outside the 10-yard box and sent the rookie tumbling. Becker stepped in and buried the penalty kick inside the right post for her third goal of the season.
The Beavers cruised into the halftime break clinging to the one-goal advantage.
BSU opened the second half with the benefit of the brisk wind off Lake Bemidji. While it didn’t lead directly to a BSU goal, the Beavers used the advantage to outshoot the Wolves 8-2 in the half and generate several scoring chances. One of those opportunities by midfielder Maggie Cade was thwarted by an NSU defender who tackled her in the box to prevent a goal in the virtually open net in the 71st minute. Again Becker was called upon to take the penalty kick, and again she buried it. This time tucking it inside the left post for her fourth goal of the season.
The BSU defense took over from there. The Beavers completed their sixth consecutive shutout and extended the team’s shutout streak to 543:54.
Alyssa Stumbaugh earned the victory in net, improving to 15-0-1 on the season, while she stretched her shutout streak to 453:54 to move into third in program history.
The 17-0-2 Beavers used the 2-0 victory to extend their unbeaten streak to a program-record 22 matches (20-0-2), while it won its 11th straight home match to set another program record. The team’s 17 wins now rank just one win shy of a program record for victories in a season set in 2018 (18-1-2). By virtue of advancing, BSU earned the right to host the remainder of the NSIC Tournament and will play the winner of the 4/Minot State University and 5/Concordia-University-St. Paul quarterfinal matchup. BSU’s semifinal is set for a 2 p.m. opening kick at Chat Anderson Stadium. The other semifinal matchup is set for an 11 a.m start at Chet Anderson Stadium.
Jim Stone Pregame Pregame Coach Interview
Sara Wendt Pregame Pregame Player Interview
Sara Wendt’s 18th goal assisted by Mason Schilling in the 54th minuteBeaver Goal
Jim Stone PostgamePostgame Coach Interview
Full Game Audio Archive Bemidji State vs. Concordia-St. Paul Soccer