CROOKSTON, Minn. - Sophomores Katie Meinhardt
(Maple Grove, Minn.) and Whitney Sengthao
(Duluth, Minn.) each tallied two points in leading the Bemidji
State soccer team (10-10-0 / 3-4-0 NSIC) to a 4-0 win at Minnesota-Crookston
(3-15-0, 1-6-0 NSIC) in its final regular season contest of
the season Saturday. The win gives BSU it first 10-win season
in its history and qualifies the squad for its inaugural appearance
in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Tournament.
"Obviously we are excited to make the NSIC Tournament
for the first time ever," head coach Jim Stone said.
"Fortunately we were able to stay healthy this season
and keep the faith through a few struggles we encountered.
I am really proud of the girls for the year that they had."
Bemidji State scored early and often against Minnesota-Crookston,
as sophomore defender Tegan Moehn (Ramsey,
Minn.) started the offensive showdown by netting her first
goal of the season off an assist from fellow defender junior
Cristina Egnell (Brooklyn Center, Minn.)
in the 8th minute of the match. The assist by Egnell was her
second of the season.
Sophomore Katie Meinhardt recorded her team-leading 16th
marker in the 25th minute of the opening half thanks to a
helper from freshman Sara Susick (Blaine,
Minn.), the first of her collegiate career. Meinhardt capped
her second season in a Green and White uniform with a program-best
16 goals and four assists good for 36 points.
BSU went to the first intermission with a 2-0 lead and 5-3
shot advantage.
The Beavers tacked on two additional scores in the second-half,
including a pair of goals in the 57th and 73rd minute from
Whitney Sengthao, the sixth and seventh tallies of her sophomore
campaign. Sophomore Christina Hicks (Minnetonka,
Minn.) and junior Lindsey Natwick (Bismarck,
N.D.) were credited with their third and sixth assists on
Sengthao's first goal, while Katie Meinhardt tabbed her fourth
assist of the season on Sengthao's second score.
Bemidji State finished the match with 13 shots compared to
four by Minnesota-Crookston.
Sophomore goaltender Kari Torgerson (New
Hope, Minn.) secured her 10th win and sixth shutout of the
2004 season after making two saves on the afternoon. Torgerson's
10 wins and six shutouts rank her first all-time among BSU
goaltenders.
Golden Eagle goalkeeper Rachel LaFond stopped five Beaver
shots in the loss.
With the regular-season now over, Bemidji State focuses its
attention to the NSIC Tournament where the Beavers will begin
play at Concordia-St. Paul on Tuesday, Nov. 2 at 1:00 p.m.
in St. Paul, Minn. BSU owns the fifth-seed while the Golden
Bears carry the fourth-seed.
Stone is excited about the new challenge post-season play
presents to his team.
"We are looking forward to going to Concordia-St. Paul
and taking part in the NSIC Tournament," Stone said.
"It was goal of ours to make it this point and now have
the chance to keep our season alive with another win."
In the other match, No. 6 Wayne State plays at No. 3 Northern
State, while No. 1 Winona State and No. 2 Southwest Minnesota
State both await the winners of Tuesday's games after receiving
first-round byes. The semifinals, championship and third-place
game will take place on Saturday, Nov. 6 and Sunday, Nov.
7 on the campus of the University of Minnesota.
