NSIC play begins as (RV) Beavers face Golden Eagles and Huskies Friday-Sunday
Women’s Soccer travels to face Minnesota Crookston before hosting St. Cloud State to open NSIC action
The (RV) Bemidji State University Women’s Soccer team begins its defense as reigning 2022 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Tournament Champions this weekend as NSIC action is set to begin. The Beavers open the conference season Friday, Sept. 15 by traveling to Highway 2 rival University of Minnesota, Crookston before returning home Sunday to host St. Cloud State University at Chet Anderson Stadium.
Friday’s match between the Beavers (2-0-2) and Golden Eagles (0-4-0) is slated for a 3 p.m., kick-off while the Beavers versus Huskies will begin at 1 p.m., Sunday afternoon. The Beavers will also be sponsoring cancer awareness Sunday in part of the Cheryl Smyth Memorial Cancer Awareness Match.
All matches will be streamed live on NSICNetwork.com/bsubeavers, live stats available at BSUBeavers.com and a radio brodcast provided by Beaver Radio Network (FM 94.3) available for home matches.
Lucy Stanton Interview – HERE
Bemidji State begins conference play as the lone team from the NSIC to go undefeated in non-conference matches going 2-0-2 in the first two weeks of the season.
After a week hiatus from the United Soccer Coaches Top-25 National Poll, the Beavers are back to receiving votes in the poll.
BSU boasts the top defense in the NSIC and a top-10 defense in DII through the first two weeks of the season. The Beavers led the NSIC in goals against average (.250) ranking them eighth in all of DII while holding opponents to just a .250 shots on goal percentage also leads the conference.
The Beavers have posted three consecutive shutouts and have only allowed one goal so far into the season. Only one team in DII has posted four straight shutouts to start the 2023 season (Tampa).
Junior Edie Frantzen has played every minute in goal for BSU posting a 2-0-2 record with three shutouts. She is the conference’s leader in goals against average (.250) and is tied for the nation’s lead for shutouts (3).
The Beavers’ attack has also started to find their legs and after scoring just one goal through the first two matches of the season, Bemidji State has scored four goals over its last two matches including a three-goal effort against Upper Iowa University.
The Beavers stand fifth in the NSIC with five goals in four matches and their 1.00 scoring margin is third best in the league.
BSU has utilized its strong depth to score so far this season and all five goals have been scored by different scorers.
Four of the Beavers’ five goals have been scored by underclassmen with Katrina Barthelt (So.), Madeline Davey (Fr.), Kenzie Harer (R-Fr.) and Lucy Stanton (Fr.) each scoring goals. Junior Maria Stocke is the lone upperclassmen to score for BSU.
Barthelt and Davey pace the Beavers in points with each totaling three points with a goal and assist while freshman Ella Wade is the only other Beaver to add an assist.
Davey has recorded a point over the last two matches to lead the team with a two-match scoring streak.
Barthelt leads BSU and is third in the conference with 14 shots and also paces the team with four shots on goal.
Bemidji State is 26-5-1 all-time against Minnesota Crookston and is currently riding a 23-match winning streak versus the Golden Eagles. Its last loss against UMC was Oct. 6, 2002 (3-0).
BSU is 10-10-3 all-time against St. Cloud State and are 2-1-2 over their last five meetings. BSU met in St. Cloud, Minn., last year with the match ending in a 0-0 tie.