MARQUETTE, Mich. - A phenomenal defensive performance and an outstanding play in the final minutes of the game gave the Bemidji State University soccer team a 1-0 victory over Northern Michigan University Saturday afternoon at the NMU practice field.

The 2008 campaign couldn’t have gotten off to a better start, as this was both the first-ever win and shutout over the Wildcats in school history. BSU came into the contest with an 0-5 record all-time against NMU, which included a 4-0 defeat Aug. 24, 2007.

After BSU survived numerous first-half scares from the Wildcat attack, the Beavers picked up the intensity and were rewarded with a goal from forward Ashlee Ellefsen (So., Hugo, Minn.) in the 89th minute.

Bemidji State was outshot 6-2 in the opening 45 minutes, but the defensive pressure from both the defenders and midfielders gave the Beavers what they needed to stop Northern Michigan from finding the back of the net.

The first half was all about hanging on and surviving with a tie game, but the second half was all about offensive pressure and forcing the Wildcat backline to stop the BSU attack.

Northern Michigan attempted one more corner kick than BSU, 4-3, but all three Beaver corners came in the second half. The two teams also tied in shots in the second half with four apiece.

The play that won the game for Bemidji State began when center back Alysha Domiano (So., Dayton, Minn.) collected an errant NMU pass on the back line. She proceeded to find the feet of left back Kari McAllen (Fr., Fargo, N.D.), who gave a touch to midfielder Briana Scanlan (Fr., East Grand Forks, N.D.) on the left side of the field. Scanlan moved the ball forward a few yards before cutting inside, barely beating an oncoming defender.

After juking out the NMU player, Scanlan rifled a pass to forward Jamie Ford (Jr., Edina, Minn.) who was waiting in the middle of the field just outside of the goalkeeper’s box. Without hesitation, she softly passed the ball to her right to a wide-open Ellefsen, who took no time firing a shot to the right side of the net with a little more than a minute remaining, past the diving goalkeeper who unsuccessfully charged out to try and stop the shot.

The goal for last year’s leading scorer gave her eight for her career as a Beaver, moving her into a tie for 10th place in school history. Scanlan recorded her first point wearing the green and white, as she and Ford accounted for the two assists.

After a jubilant celebration, the Beavers calmed down to finish out the final minute of the game and walk away with a much-deserved victory.

Samantha Ross (So., Stillwater, Minn.) played extremely aggressive en route to her first career shutout, and had 10 saves in the contest.

BSU opens the season with a 1-0 record, and defeated a Northern Michigan team that went 12-5-2 overall last year, which included a 9-2 non-conference record and a victory over BSU.

Bemidji State will face the University of Minnesota Duluth in the final game of the weekend at 12 p.m. Sunday at the NMU practice field. The Beavers own a 1-10-1 all-time record against the Bulldogs.

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