BEMIDJI, Minn. - The Bemidji State University soccer team found itself in a defensive battle that saw two teams unable to net a marker as the Beavers drew with Northern State University 0-0 Saturday afternoon at the BSU Soccer Field.

The game began with the Wolves controlling the ball for long stretches of the first half. This was largely due to a strong breeze that was helping NSU, going south to north.

Northern State got off 13 first-half shots with three on goal and had three corner-kick opportunities. Bemidji State was on its heels for the entire first stanza and only attempted three shots with only one on goal.

The second half was much kinder to the Beavers, partly due to the wind advantage and partly due to a calmer team that cut down on the turnovers.

BSU nearly tied the shots back up in the second half, winning the shot battle 7-3. The Beavers brought the corner kicks back to a tie, with three in the second while NSU was shut out in that category.

With no goals to speak of, the game went into two 10-minute overtimes to try and decide a winner.

Even though both teams were able to manage quality shots in the extra sessions, which included a Northern State shot from 25 yards out that hit the top post in the second overtime, the game wrapped up with no winner and two teams who left with a tie.

Bemidji State now moves to 9-5-1 on the season and are 3-5-1 in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play. The Beavers notched the fifth shutout of the season, which is the fourth most in a single season in school history. Northern State moves to 8-6-1 on the year and 4-3-1 in conference play.

BSU goalkeeper Samantha Ross (So., Stillwater, Minn.) had one of the best performances of her career as she was one off her career-high with 10 saves in her third-career shutout. She also played a career-high-tying 110 minutes.

Of the seven shots on goal by the Beavers, three were taken by Jamie Ford (Jr., Edina, Minn.) and two were attempted by Kelly Hyvare (Sr., Coon Rapids, Minn.)

Bemidji State will wrap up the weekend with a huge battle when the University of Mary comes to town at 1:00 p.m. Sunday.

--bsu--