Bemidji, Minn. - A dominant performance by the Bemidji State soccer team was capped by an overtime goal by Ashlee Ellefsen (Fr., Hugo, Minn.), giving the Beavers a hard-fought 1-0 victory over the University of Minnesota, Crookston Saturday at the BSU Soccer Field.

Bemdiji State controlled the tempo for the majority of the game, making sure the ball rarely got out of the Golden Eagles half of the field. Crookston attempted only one shot the entire first half, while the Beavers had 12 shots.

The second half was pretty much the same as the first. Crookston took only two shots to BSU’s 14, but none of those shots were able to find the back of the net.

Then came overtime. Bemidji State continued to keep the ball deep in Crookston territory, and finally found a seam to convert on the final goal.

In the seventh overtime minute, the ball was being played on the right side of the field. Danielle Uphoff (So., Brainerd, Minn.) found Ellefsen in the middle of the field, who had just enough room to take a chance at the goal before the Crookston defense collapsed on her.

Her shot sailed high and appeared to be going over the net, but then somehow had just enough spin to curve under the top post and above the goalkeepers prying hands. The hard work of a 97-minute thriller finally paid off, and the Beavers were ecstatic afterwards.

Ellefsen has been a force lately. The reigning NSIC Offensive Player of the Week now has four goals in her last four games. She is leading BSU in scoring with nine points on the season, and her four goals are also a team high. She attempted a game-high five shots on goal against UMC.

Uphoff is now tied for the team lead in assists with two, and her six points are tied with Kara Smyth (Fr., Cary, Ill.) for second on the team.

Four Beavers attempted at least three shots, and 12 players had at least one shot attempt en route to outshooting the Golden Eagles 29-4.

Goalkeeper Jessica Meath (Jr., Bethel, Minn.) went the distance in net for the Beavers, playing all 96:55 minutes. She held Crookston scoreless while making four saves in the game. She lowered her goals against average to 1.28, and she now has 44 saves on the season. She also increased her save percentage to .815 and improved her record to 4-2-1.

The UMC goalkeeper, Athena Mussenden, played the first 82 minutes of the contest and had 13 saves. She was replaced by Anna Ogaard who played 14 minutes and had four saves. Ogaard gave up the game-winning goal to Ellefsen.

BSU has now won its last three home contests, outscoring opponents 4-0 in those games. The Beavers have also won three of their last four games, and now have three shutouts on the season.

The last time Bemidji State won a game in overtime was a 2-1 triumph over the University of Mary on Oct. 8, 2006.

The Beavers return home at 1 p.m. Sept. 22 to take on the University of Mary.

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