BEMIDJI, Minn. -- Raquel Thelen and Bayley Ertl led the Bemidji State University Soccer Team to a season-opening 5-1 victory over Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference rival University of Minnesota Crookston. The forwards each recorded a goal and an assist in the victory.

BSU jumped out to an early lead, when Ertl took a pass for fellow captain Sarah Stram in the third minute of the 2016 season. The Beavers' lead would swell to 2-0 in the 13th minute on a Miranda Famestad header off a Thelen corner kick. The goal would stand as the game-winner--the third of her career.

The Golden Eagles would cut BSU's lead in half before the end of the first half when Kallie Gau, beat the Beavers' goalkeeper Kat Arneson for her first goal of the season on UMC's first shot on goal of the afternoon.

The Beavers continues to roll after the break, opening the final 45 minutes of play with a penalty-kick goal by Christine Szurek. Szurek took the kick after Stram left the game, in the 52nd minute, after an aggressive play by the UMC goalkeeper and collision. Allie Erickson was credited her first collegiate goal less than six minutes later when her shot caromed off a UMC defender and into the back of the net. Ertl was credited with her first assist of the season on the play.

Thelen capped BSU scoring in the 89th minute, tucking an odd-angle shot just inside the left post from across the 18-yard box.

Arneson opened the season with a victory, stopping 1-of-2 shots she face, while the Beaver defense allowed a total of just four shots all day in front of her. She is 1-0 on the season.

The Beavers look to protect their unblemished record (1-0;1-0 NSIC) Tuesday when they travel to St. Joseph, Mo. to open the non-conference season versus Missouri Western State University. The match is set for a 3 p.m. opening kick from Craig Field at Spratt Memorial Stadium.

--bsu--