BEMIDJI, Minn. - The Bemidji State University soccer team needed a win Sunday against Upper Iowa University if it wanted to maintain hopes of a postseason berth come seasons’ end.

The Beavers got exactly what they were looking for to the tune of three goals from three different players en route to a 3-1 win over the Peacocks at the BSU Soccer Field.

An aggressive home team was awarded three early corner kicks, and the third time was a charm for Bemidji State (8-4, 2-4 NSIC).

Lauren Olivares (Sr., El Paso, Texas) served the ball into the penalty box in the seventh minute of action, but a Peacock player got to it first and attempted to clear it.

The ball was kicked to Madeline Pletta (Jr., Rochester, Minn.) who was standing about 10 yards away from the right post down the goal line. She settled the ball and served it back into the six-yard box past a defender to Jamie Ford (Jr., Edina, Minn.). Ford rifled a shot that would usually have gone over the post, but because she was so close the only thing the ball could do was find the back of the net, and Bemidji State gained an early 1-0 advantage.

The Beavers were able to tack on an insurance goal in the ninth minute when Olivares was awarded a penalty kick - her second in as many weeks - when Ford was taken down inside the 18-yard box and Upper Iowa was whistled for a foul.

Olivares converted on the penalty kick just like she did last week when she scored against the University of Minnesota, Crookston, and BSU was ahead 2-0 in the blink of an eye.

Bemidji State has had trouble holding leads this season, and the Peacocks took advantage of a possible chink in the Beaver armor when Amy Campbell was able to squeeze past the defense and score a goal in the 17th minute off an assist by Jennifer Lee to cut BSU’s lead in half.

The physicality of the game intensified after Campbell’s goal with UIU trying desperately to notch an equalizer and BSU trying to ice the game and possibly add another insurance goal.

Overall, there were 27 combined fouls and three yellow cards in the game.

Despite increased effort on both sides of the ball, neither team was able to find the back of the net and the score remained 2-1 in favor of Bemidji State heading into the half.

Upper Iowa controlled possession for long periods of time in the second half, and had numerous opportunities to score a game-tying goal. BSU cleared the ball time and time again in an attempt to slow down the Peacock attack, but to no avail. They kept coming and attempted 16 shots in the second half, with five being on net.

One of the times Bemidji State was able to clear the ball proved fatal to Upper Iowa. BSU took possession to the left side of the UIU half of the field in the 76th minute. Briana Scanlan (Fr., East Grand Forks, Minn.) controlled the ball and was able to find Kara Smyth (So., Cary, Ill.), who was waiting 25 yards away directly in front of the goal. She received the pass and shot hard with her left foot, scoring her first goal of the season in the top of the net over the outstreched arms of the UIU goalkeeper.

The third goal was all the Beavers needed to secure their second conference win and and second in their last three games.

BSU goalkeeper Samantha Ross (So., Stillwater, Minn.) came charging out of her net on numerous occasions to stop potential scoring threats, and she collided with Upper Iowa forwards more than once. Her aggressive style of play allowed her to save 11 shots while giving up just the one goal. She moved to 8-4 on the season with the second win in her last three games.

Bemidji State was outshot 5-12, but had four corner kicks to UIU’s three.

Pletta notched her first assist and point of the season, and she now has two assists for her career. Scanlan also notched her second-career assist, and Smyth scored her third career goal and the first during NSIC action.

Ford’s goal was the seventh of the season, leaving her just one shy of Ashlee Ellefsen (So., Hugo, Minn.), who still leads the conference in that department with eight goals despite not having scored in the past two games.

Bemidji State moves to 4-0 all-time against the Peacocks, and will prepare to hit the road for two more crucial NSIC contests next weekend. The Beavers will travel to play Oct. 11 against Concordia University-St. Paul (5-8, 2-4 NSIC) and then will play Oct. 12 against St. Cloud State University (6-4, 4-2 NSIC). Both games will begin at 1 p.m.

 

--bsu--