Bemidji State hosts First and Second round of NCAA DII Central Region Tournament
BSU Women’s Soccer to face Central Missouri Friday at 1 p.m.
For the third time in program history the Bemidji State University Women’s Soccer team will host the first and second round of the NCAA DII Women’s Soccer Central Region tournament at Chet Anderson Stadium. The Beavers host University of Central Missouri Friday afternoon at 1 p.m., in the program’s sixth NCAA Tournament appearance.
The second-seed Beavers play host throughout the first and second rounds of the tournament to be held Friday and Sunday in Bemidji. Prior to the Beavers and Jennies match, third-seed St. Cloud State University and sixth-seed Pittsburg State University will face-off at 10 a.m., Friday.
The Beavers mark their sixth appearance into the NCAA DII Women’s Soccer Tournament in their 30-year program history. Bemidji State earned the second seed in the Central Region tying the highest seeding in program history set in 2022 and 2018. Bemidji State enters the NCAA Tournament with a 14-2-4 record and finished second in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference with a 11-1-3 league record.
The Beavers fell in the NSIC Tournament semifinals to St. Cloud State in penalty kicks after a 0-0 tie after two overtime periods. The tie snapped an eight-match winning streak for the Beavers but extended their unbeaten streak to 13 matches (10-0-3).
The Beavers have not lost a match since Sept. 28, a 1-0 loss at Wayne State College. Bemidji State has not allowed a goal over the last five matches posting five consecutive clean sheets. The Beavers have outscored their opponents 11-0 over the last five matches.
BSU ranks second in the Central Region with a 0.495 goals against average only trailing No. 1 seed Minnesota State University, Mankato. It is tied for 13th nationally.
Bemidji State is led offensively by back-to-back NSIC Offensive Player of the Year in senior Katrina Barthelt. Barthelt leads the team with a career-high 32 points. She has scored a career-best 13 goals on the season, 14th most in the nation. She has scored in 10-of-20 matches this season and is just the fourth student-athlete in the NSIC’s history to repeat as NSIC Offensive Player of the Year. She currently ranks fourth in career goals at BSU (38), sixth in career points (87) and seventh in career games played (87). Her career 15 game-winning goals is tied for the second most in program history.
Barthelt was joined by Emma Huelsnitz on the All-NSIC First Team while Maggie Kramer, Madeline Davey, Megan Ko, Sonia Alfieri, Ella Wade and Julia Freed were all named to the All-NSIC Second Team.
Senior Kenzie Harer follows Barthelt with a career-high 12 points this season totaling four goals and four assists. A total of 14 Beavers have scored a goal this season with eight scoring two or more.
Bemidji State’s defense ranks one of the best in DII allowing just 10 goals over 20 matches, the 14th least in the nation. BSU’s backline is anchored by All-NSIC First Team selection Emma Huelsnitz and All-NSIC Second Team selection Julia Freed. They have combined to help hold opponents to just 9.1 shots per game and just a 0.486 shots on goal percentage. Opposing attackers are averaging just a 5.5-precent shots percentage on BSU’s defense.
When shots do make their way through, they are met by graduate goalkeeper Sonia Alfieri who has not let much past her. In 14 matches she is 11-0-3 allowing just five goals for a 0.37 goals against average. She has made 53 saves for .914 save percentage which is tied for the best in Division II and is second across NCAA DI and DII. Alfieri’s goals against average also ranks among the nation’s best and is fourth in DII. She has posted eight clean sheets this season. Alfieri has not allowed a goal in 443:48 minutes of action the sixth longest shutout streak in BSU history.
Bemidji State meets Central Missouri for just the fourth time in the two program’s storied histories and the third in NCAA Tournament play. Central Missouri boasts a 3-0-0 record against the Beavers including a 4-1 victory in the NCAA DII Tournament Round of 16 In 2021 in their last meeting. The Jennies have outscored the Beavers 7-1 in the series. The Beavers and Jennies have met just once at Chet Anderson Stadium with UCM earning a 2-0 victory in the NCAA Central Region semifinals in 2018.