The Bemidji State University Soccer team lifts the lid on its 2018 home season with a pair of match ups at Chet Anderson Stadium this week. The Beavers get Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play underway Wednesday with a 7:30 p.m. match versus the University of Minnesota Crookston (0-3-0) and return to the Chet at 3 p.m. Friday for a non-conference matinee with Michigan Tech (1-0-1).

The Beavers open the week holding down the No. 22 spot in the United Soccer Coaches national poll and are No. 3 in the Central Region.

Last week BSU earned a 1-0 victory over Oklahoma Baptist University in Minot, N.D. to open the 2018 season. The Beavers and Bison were locked in a scoreless tie until Dani Nelson made good on a free kick from 28 yards out in the 89th minute of play. Anna Fobbe turned aside three shots to collect her first win of the season by way of a shut out.

BSU is coming off a 2017 campaign during which it compiled an overall record of 15-1-4 and finished second in the NSIC standings owning a 12-0-3 mark in league play. At the conclusion of the regular season, BSU made its ninth consecutive appearance in the NSIC Tournament and earned a berth into the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history.

Under Jim Stone, who is in his 17th season at BSU, the beavers return a roster of 19 including seniors Rachael Norton (20 GP, 14G, 10A, 6GWG, 38 pts), the 2017 NSIC Offensive Player of the Year and all-region selection, and Anna Fobbe, a goalkeeper with a with a career 21-10-2 record to go with 11 shutouts. In addition, reigning NSIC Freshman of the Year, Allyson Smith (20 GP, 9 G, 9 A, 27 pts, 3 GWG) and all-region midfielder Nelson (19 GP, 6G, 4A, 16 pts) are back for 2018, while eight of the team’s top 10 scoring threats are back.