BEMIDJI, Minn. - Paced by second-half goals from junior Lindsey Natwick (Bismarck, N.D.) and sophomore Ashley Lehmeier (Sartell, Minn.) and a five-save performance by sophomore Kari Torgerson (New Hope, Minn.), the Bemidji State soccer program notched its sixth win on the season, a school record, with a 2-0 non-conference victory over Minnesota-Morris Sunday at the BSU Soccer Complex. The Beavers achieved five wins last season and four the previous three seasons.

“It was the best game of the year by far,” Head coach Jim Stone commented. “We did the things that we talked about in our training sessions this week. We beat a very good team in Minnesota-Morris, as they will probably get second in their conference. We also had someone other than Katie Meinhardt step up today and it was nice to see others pick up their level of play.”

After the two teams played through a scoreless first half, Bemidji State jumped on the board in the 53rd minute when Lindsey Natwick stole the ball from a Minnesota-Morris defender before snapping a shot over goalkeeper Amanda Prodger’s right shoulder to record what proved to be the game-winning score for the Beavers. Natwick’s unassisted goal was her third of the season and her second gamewinner of the season, a team best.

BSU added a second score in the 71st minute, as Ashley Lehmeier recorded her third marker of the year, an unassisted tally, off a steal right in front of the Minnesota-Morris net. Lehmeier sits third on the team in scoring with 11 points (3g, 5a).

Netminder Kari Torgerson stifled any comeback attempts the Cougars made by stopping five saves in the contest. Torgerson has now earned a school-record nine shutouts in her two-year career, after compiling four blankings last season and five in 2004. Nikki Dalka (2000-02) held the old career shutouts record with eight during her three-year stint in a green and white uniform.

“It was nice to see Kari Torgerson break the school record in shutouts in just her second year at BSU and I think that says a lot about her,” Stone said.

For the match, Bemidji State outshot Minnesota-Morris 10-8.

BSU moves to 6-3-0 this season, while UMM drops to 2-4-1. The Beavers continue non-conference play with a match against Upper Iowa on Saturday, Sept. 25 at the BSU Soccer Complex. The contest will begin at 1 p.m.

Game Notes: Sunday’s win was the first in seven prior meetings with Minnesota-Morris. BSU has now shut out five of its last six opponents, a new-school record.