BEMIDJI, Minn. - Sophomore Katie Meinhardt (Maple Grove, Minn.) recorded eight shots and two goals while junior Lindsey Natwick (Bismarck, N.D.) collected a goal, but it would not be enough to earn the Beavers' their first conference victory of the 2004 season as Southwest Minnesota State would score twice in the final 29 minutes to tie the game and eventually take the lead for a 4-3 win.

Bemidji State got on the board first when Meinhardt snuck a shot past the Mustang goalkeeper in the 17th minute. That lead would hold for just 11 minutes as SMSU's Nadia AbuAyed beat the BSU goalie Kari Torgerson to know the game at 1-1. SW Minnesota would go up 2-1 in the 36th minute on a goal by Noelle Bergman taking the one-goal lead into the halftime break.

After a half in which the Beavers were out shot 8-5, they came back in the second as the more aggressive team as the second half got underway scoring a goal just eight minutes into the half (53rd) to tie the game (2-2) and another in the 57th minute. BSU's third goal came off the foot of Meinhardt while Natwick recorded her fourth goal of the season on a pass from Megan Wallner.

The Beavers out shot the Mustangs 12-9 in the half, equaling SMSU's 17 shots in the game.

Netminder Kari Torgerson (New Hope, Minn.) turned away a total of seven SMSU shots while allowing four goals. She is now 7-8 in the net this season. For SMSU, Michelle Gilbert protected the net collecting 10 saves in the win.

BSU falls to 7-8 overall and 0-3 in the NSIC, while SMSU improves to 6-7-1 and a perfect 3-0 in NSIC play. Bemidji State will be in action again Sunday, Oct.. 17 in a league match versus Wayne State College at the BSU Soccer Field. Play is set to begin at 1:00 p.m.