ST. PAUL, Minn. - The Bemidji State University soccer team opened its season today with a 1-0 non-conference victory at Bethel. Each team was playing their first game of the season.

After battling through a gritty first half, in which the Beavers started seven freshmen, the Beavers began to elevate their play. BSU found the net at the 60th minute of the match, as newcomer Ashley Lehmeier scored her first collegiate goal to give the Beavers a 1-0 lead.

Head Coach Jim Stone was pleased with how well his youthful team picked up their play in the second half.

“We are starting to come together and late in the second half we started commanding play,” Stone said.

BSU goalkeeper Kari Torgerson performed well in goal, after replacing 2003 NSIC Defensive Player to Watch Nikki Dalka. Torgerson stopped five shots and earned a shutout in her first start in goal as a Beaver.

The Beavers are now 1-0 on the season and Bethel falls to 0-1. BSU will now travel to Duluth where they will play tomorrow and Sunday in the Big S Tournament against the University of Wisconsin-Stout and St. Scholastica. Wisonsin-Stout will take on the Beavers at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, while St. Scholastica hosts BSU at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday.