BEMIDJI, Minn. - Multiple Bemidji State University soccer players either set or tied career highs in front of a raucous crowd as the Beavers defeated Northwestern (Iowa) College 4-0 in the first game of the 2nd annual Super 8 Fall Classic Friday night at the BSU Soccer Field.

Bemidji State got on the board early, when midfielder Ashlee Ellefsen (So., Hugo, Minn.) notched a pretty goal off an assist from midfielder Lauren Olivares (Sr., El Paso, Texas). Olivares was awarded a free kick about 25 yards out on the left side of the field. Ellefsen ran by her on the left on the set play, and Olivares fed the ball to the streaking player. Ellefsen collected the pass and found herself wide open for a split second. She kicked the ball as hard as she could towards the net, attempting to get a deflection for a teammate. The ball sailed however, into the back right of the net, giving the Beavers a 1-0 lead in the ninth minute.

The Red Raiders didn’t have an answer for Ellefsen, who scored another goal in the 14th minute off assists from midfielder Kim Sorteberg (Jr., Anoka, Minn.) and forward Analey Skog (Fr., St. Francis, Minn.). Sorteberg took a pass from fellow center mid Kelly Hyvare (Sr., Coon Rapids, Minn.) near midfield. She beat a defender and scooted the ball up the field to Skog, who kicked it to Ellefsen just ahead of the defense. Ellefsen beat the goalkeeper for her second goal of the game. The assists for Skog and Sorteberg were the second of their respective careers, and Sorteberg has now recorded an assist in the last two games.

Ellefsen scored her 11th career goal, which ties her for seventh place on the all-time list at BSU. She is just one goal shy of forward Jamie Ford (Jr., Edina, Minn.), who made sure she made her presence felt in this contest, as well.

Ford, the reigning Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Offensive Player of the Week, and Ellefsen combined for the assists on a goal scored in the 28th minute by forward Jenny Stromberg (So., Elk River, Minn.), who scored her second career goal with a nifty little flick over the goalkeeper after Ellefsen led her with a pass just ahead of the defense. Stromberg had to jump over a defender to catch up to the ball, and she did so successfully before calmly chipping the ball over the outstretched arms of the goalkeeper and into the back of the net. Ford continues her impress streak, as she has scored at least one point in all four games this season.

Ellefsen tied her career high for points in a game with five, and she recorded her 26th career point, moving her into the top 10 in points scored by a Beaver. She also notched her fourth-career game-winning goal, moving her into a tie for fourth-place in BSU history in that category.

The 3-0 lead held up all the way to the 82nd minute, when Bemidji State added another goal after a light drizzle made its way into the area and most of the reserves made their way onto the field. Olivares took her third-consecutive corner kick on the left side of the field, and instead of booting the ball into the pack of players inside the penalty box this time, she slid it over to Sorteberg who was waiting right outside the 18-yard box. No defender was marking her, and she took a strike that went over the goalkeeper and curled right into the net. The 4-0 lead would hold up, and the Beavers recorded their second shutout of the season.

A superb and much-welcomed crowd of 275 saw Sorteberg notch her third-career goal and her first of the season. She also set a personal-best with three points in the game. Olivares’ two assists were a career high.

Goalkeeper Samantha Ross (So., Stillwater, Minn.) continues to impress in the early going this year in goal for the Beavers as she pitched her second first-half shutout in as many games, saving five shots. She lowered her goals against average to a mere 0.32 goals per game, and the reigning NSIC Defensive Player of the Week boasts a ridiculous .964 save percentage.

Goalkeeper Abby Kjonaas (Fr., Fargo, N.D.) saw action for the second-consecutive game, and shut out the Red Raiders for the final 45 minutes, saving four shots in the process.

The Beavers outshot Northwestern 13-9, and led in corner kicks 8-2. They also extended their best start to a season in school history to 4-0.

Northwestern will play Minnesota State University Moorhead in the second game of the tournament Saturday at 3 p.m., and the tourney finale will take place Sunday at 2 p.m., when the Beavers play host to the Dragons. Both games will be held at BSU Soccer Field.

--bsu--