The Bemidji State soccer team will open the season this Saturday night, hosting Minnesota Crookston in an NSIC matchup at The Chet. BSU was picked to finish fifth in the NSIC preseason coaches poll. That’s the highest pick for BSU in the last six years.

BSU was led in scoring by the reining BSU Female Athlete of the Year in Sarah Stram. Joining Stram as one of the captains of the 2016 team is Christine Szurek.

Here’s what BSUBeavers.com says about Szurek

Szurek, a native of Andover, Minn., also saw time in 19 matches last fall with 18 starts at midfield. She ranked third on the team in scoring with career-highs of five goals and four assists. As a midfielder, she also played a vital role in winning individual defensive battles to spark a BSU offensive attack that ranked fourth in the NSIC with more than 15 shots and eight shots on goal per match.

In 55 appearances as a Beaver, Szurek, who was also a NSCAA All-Central Region pick and NSCAA Scholar All-Region Team selection in 2015, has logged 10 goals and seven assists for 27 points.

The Beavers are coached by Jim Stone, who is entering his fifteenth season at BSU.