WAYNE, Neb. - The Bemidji State University soccer team started off slow before exploding in the second half of a 4-0 victory over Wayne State College Saturday afternoon at Wayne State Soccer Field.

With the win, the Beavers moved into second all-time for wins in a single season with a record of 11-7-1 overall and 4-7-1 mark in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. The Wildcats moved to 1-17-1 overall and 1-11-0 in the NSIC.

BSU might have been eliminated from playoff contention, but that didn’t stop the team from putting on a show in the second-to-last game of the season.

Despite being outshot 3-5 in the first half, the Beavers were able to notch a goal to enter halftime with a 1-0 advantage.

The goal was a pretty one by Jamie Ford (Jr., Edina, Minn.) in the 16th minute. The play was started when Ashlee Ellefsen (So., Hugo, Minn.) passed a ball through to Jenny Stromberg (So., Elk River, Minn.) near the end line just outside the goal box. Stromberg served a ball into the box, and Ford got her head on it and pushed it past the goalkeeper for the early lead.

Bemidji State didn’t have a corner kick in the first half, but the Beavers allowed four to the home squad. BSU got four in the second and Wayne State was held to just two.

Ford’s first goal was pretty, but apparently one wasn’t enough for her. The second-leading scorer on the team pumped in another nice goal in the 56th minute, with the final pass provided by Lauren Olivares (Sr., El Paso, Texas). Ford got the ball after Olivares won a 50-50 near the midline, and she floated a shot over the head of the goalkeeper from 30 yards out to put Bemidji State up 2-0.

It took just three minutes for the Beavers to get on the board again, but this time it was Ellefsen’s turn to find the net. Kelly Hyvare (Sr., Coon Rapids, Minn.) served a through-ball to Ellefsen, who chipped a ball over the keeper for her team-leading 12th goal of the season.

Analey Skog (Fr., St. Francis, Minn.) added a decisive fourth goal in the 89th minute with an assist from Briana Scanlan (Fr., East Grand Forks, Minn.), and the first-career assist and point from Kelsey Robinson (So., Rochester, Minn.). Scanlan recorded her fourth-career assist.

Skog’s goal gives her 11 points this season, and BSU now has five 10-point scorers this season, which is the first time in school history that five Beavers have scored at least 10 points.

The Beavers outshot the Wildcats 14-8, with a 7-2 shots on goal advantage.

Bemidji State goalkeeper Samantha Ross (So., Stillwater, Minn.) had to make just two saves in 67:15 of action, and moved to 10-7-1 this season with the win. Abby Kjonaas (Fr., Fargo, N.D.) came on in relief duty and played the final 22:45. Neither goalie was tested much and added the seventh shutout of the season.

BSU scored seven goals in its last game, a 7-0 win over the University of Wisconsin-Superior, and the 11 goals scored in the last two games is the most in a two-game span since Sept. 2-3, 2006.

The Beavers moved to 4-6-3 all-time against Wayne State, and are now 4-1-3 in the last eight meetings.

Ellefsen notched her sixth multi-mark game of the season and the eighth of her career. She now has 30 points this season, making her just the third 30-point scorer in a single season in school history, and the first since Katie Meinhardt had 38 points in 2004. Ellefsen is also tied for the third-most goals in a single season with 12, and is one off the school record for most assists in a single year with six.

Ford recorded her third-career two-goal game, and the second of the season. She also notched her fifth game-winning goal, and has 25 points this season. Her and Ellefsen have recorded a combined 55 points, making them the second-highest scoring duo in a single season in school history behind only Meinhardt and Whitney Sengthao (2004, 57 points).

Stromberg has six assists this season, which is one behind the school record for a assists in a single year. BSU now has 49 assists this season, which ties the record for most assists in a single season, and the 40 goals are tied for third most in a single season.

Hyvare now has 11 career points against WSC, and has notched a point in six of her seven career games against Wayne State. She also recorded her 19th-career assist, which is second in school history, and her 65 career points makes her the third-most prolific scorer in school history.

Bemidji State is currently tied with Minnesota State University Moorhead for ninth place in the NSIC. The Beavers have been eliminated from playoff contention, but they will try and go out on a high note Sunday at Augustana College. The game will begin at 1:00 p.m.

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