Beaver Fever Friday – Dani Nelson – @bsubeaversoccer

No. 10 Bemidji State opens 2018 NCAA Tournament play versus Minot State

The No. 10 Bemidji State University Soccer Team opens the 2018 Tournament play at 2 p.m. Friday when it hosts Minot State University (13-5-3) at Chet Anderson Stadium. The regular-season champion and second-seeded Beavers host No. 7 seeded MSU in the first round of the 2018 NCAA Division II Central Regional.

After their best finish in 22 years of NSIC league membership, the Beavers make their second consecutive appearance in the national tournament and host the tournament for the first time in program history.

Stone-coached teams at BSU are 4-13-3 all-time in NSIC postseason play with each of the ties decided by a shootout. Three of BSU’s four postseason victories have come at home.

The Beavers open the tournament riding a 19-match unbeaten streak (17-0-2), and a hope to take advantage of home pitch advantage. BSU has not lost a match at Chet Anderson Stadium in more than two seasons, which includes a NSIC regular-season victory over Minot State, 1-0, Spt. 24, 2017. Dating back 24 matches to Oct. 2, 2016, the Beavers 21-0-3 at home and since moving their home to the turf at Chet Anderson Stadium for the 2013 season, BSU is 43-9-3 (.815).

As one of only five unbeaten NCAA Division II teams in the country, the Beavers open the week holding down a spot in the United Soccer Coaches national for the ninth consecutive week. This week BSU sits at No. 10, while they are No. 2 in the United Soccer Coaches Central Regional poll.

Last week BSU pushed its record to 17-0-2 overall despite being ousted from the NSIC Tournament by the University of Mary in penalty kicks. Goalkeeper Anna Fobbe recorded her program single-season-best 12th shutout of the season in the match making two saves.

With a program single-season-best and NSIC-leading 19 goals, BSU’s all-time scoring leader Rachael Norton leads the NSIC and is tied for eighth in the nation in goal scoring, while her 2.42 points per game ranks 11th.

Minot State, which finished third in the NSIC standings with a record of 12-5-3 overall and 10-3-2 in league action, opens NCAA play nine of their last 10 contests, including a 3-1 victory over the University Mary to advance to the NSIC Tournament championship match. Minot State, fell to the region’s No. 4 seed Minnesota State University 1-0.

The Beavers are 6-5-0 all-time versus Minot State, which includes a 3-3-0 mark when playing MSU in Bemidji, Minn. Earlier this season, BSU hosted the Beavers, Oct. 5. Rachael Norton scored a goal and added two assists, while Anna Fobbe turned aside both shots she faced to propel BSU to a 3-0 victory.

Joining Bemidji State and Minot State in the Bemidji, Minn. Central Regional is No. 3 seed and defending national champion University of Central Missouri (16-4-1; 8-2-1 MIAA) and No. 6 Augustana University (12-5-3).

BSU has never met UCM, while it is 6-4-5 all-time versus Augusutana, which includes a back-to-back 0-0, double ovetime draws.

Central Missouri will play Augustana in the regional’s opening match at 11 a.m. Friday at Chet Anderson Stadium followed by Minot State and Bemidji State at 2 p.m. The winners will advance to regional’s second round match to be played at 1 p.m. Sunday. The winner advances to the third and quarterfinal rounds played on the campus of the highest remaining Midwest Regional seed, Nov. 16 and 18. The NCAA Division II semifinals and championship will be played Nov. 29 and Dec. 1 at Highmark Stadium in Pittsburgh.

Minot State match up information:

Bemidji State is 6-5-0 all-time versus Minot State.
BSU is 3-3-0 against Minot State when playing at home.
Seven of the previous 10 meetings between BSU and MSU have been decided by one goal.
BSU earned a 3-0 victory over Minot State in Minot, N.D. Oct. 5 to earn its 11th victory of the season. The Beavers got a goal and two assists from Norton and 1 goal and an assist from Alanna Mattson, while Fobbe turned aside two shots for a shutout.