KANSAS CITY, Mo. – For the second consecutive season, Bemidji State University women's soccer defender Megan Dahl has been recognized as a United Soccer Coaches All-American announced on Thursday. Dahl becomes the first Bemidji State women's soccer student-athlete to be recognized as an all-American in two different seasons after being named to the second team in 2022 and first team in 2021.
 
After leading the Beavers to the program's first-ever NCAA Women's Soccer Central Region Championship and Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Tournament Championship, Dahl is the just the fifth member of the BSU soccer program to earn all-American accolades.
 
She follows Kari Torgerson, who earned a spot on the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (now United Soccer Coaches) All-America Second Team in 2005, Ashlee Ellefsen, who was named to the D2CCA (formerly Daktronics) Honorable Mention All-America squad in 2008, Miranda Famestad, who was a First-Team All-America selection by the D2CCA in 2017 and Rachael Norton, who was selected to the All-America Third Team by both D2CCA and United Soccer Coaches following the 2018 campaign.
 
Dahl, who was named NSIC Defensive Player of the Year in back-to-back seasons, anchored the Bemidji State backline that held opponents to just 16 goals over 25 matches and posted 15 shutouts during the regular and postseason which was tied for second most in Division II. Dahl, a native of Rosemount, Minn., was a key contributor to the Beavers' defense that held opponents to just a .060 shot percentage. She started all 25 games at center back for the Beavers leading the team with 2,235 minutes played which was 96.8 percent of the team's minutes played this season and played every minute during the NSIC and NCAA tournaments. Dahl also pitched in on offense as well and recorded four points off one goal and two assists.
 
Dahl ends her career as one of the Beavers' all-time greats to come through the 27-year Bemidji State women's soccer program and is the program's career record holder for most games started and minutes played.
 
She is one of seven out of the 37 student-athletes receiving all-America recognition to earn the honor for the second time.
 
This year's All-Americans will be recognized for their accomplishments at the United Soccer Coaches All-America Ceremony & Reception on Saturday, Jan. 14, 2023, at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia in conjunction with the United Soccer Coaches Convention.
 
Founded in 1941 and headquartered in Kansas City, Mo., United Soccer Coaches is the trusted and unifying voice, advocate and partner for coaches at all levels of the game. The largest community for soccer coaches in the world, we unite coaches of all levels around the love of the game and we elevate the game through advocacy, education and service. To learn more visit UnitedSoccerCoaches.org.
 
For more information on the Bemidji State soccer program, follow the Beavers on Twitter (@BSUBeaversSoccer), like them on Facebook (facebook.com/BSUBeavers) and follow them on Instagram (@BSUBeaversSoccer)
 
Located on the shore of Lake Bemidji, Bemidji State University sponsors 15 varsity athletic programs with NCAA Division I men's hockey membership in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association and women's hockey membership in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association, while its 13 NCAA Division II programs hold membership in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC).
 
--bsu--