BEMIDJI, Minn. – The Bemidji State University Women's Soccer team begins its quest for a back-to-back NCAA Central Region Tournament Championship Friday, Nov. 17 in Emporia, Kansas as the 2023 NCAA DII Women's Soccer Tournament gets underway.
 
The Beavers (12-3-6) earned the sixth seed in the Central Region and will face Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference foe and third seed, St. Cloud State University in the first round hosted by Emporia State University.
 
Bemidji State and St. Cloud State battle for the third meeting of the 2023 season Friday with kick-off scheduled for 10 a.m. CT at ESU Soccer Pitch. The Beavers took the first two meetings against the Huskies by scores of 2-0 each match first in the regular season and then later in the semifinal round of the NSIC Tournament.
 
The winner of Friday's match will advance to the second round of the Central Region Tournament and face the winner of Emporia State and Fort Hays State University Sunday at 1 p.m.
 
All matches at ESU will be streamed for free at www.theMIAANetwork.com/esuhornets/ with live stats available at https://esuhornets.com/sidearmstats/wsoc/summary.
 
Bemidji State Notes

• Bemidji State advances to its fourth consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance and fourth overall after winning its second consecutive NSIC Tournament Championship and earning the automatic bid.
• The Beavers finished fourth in the NSIC during the regular season going 12-3-6 overall and 7-3-4 in conference play.
• Bemidji State is guided by the program's all-time leader in coaching victories in Jim Stone who has been at the helm of the BSU Women's Soccer program for 23 seasons.
• He has a 247-132-47 all-time coaching record and has recorded the second most wins among active coaches in the NSIC.
• Bemidji State is led on the pitch by sophomore Katrina Barthelt who has posted 26 points off 12 goals and two assists. She was selected to the All-NSIC Second Team following the regular season.
• She has led the Beavers in the postseason thus far and was named the NSIC Tournament MVP after scoring two goals in three matches.
• Following Barthelt is junior Maria Stocke who has totaled 11 points off five goals and an assist from the midfield. She is an All-NSIC First Team selection this year and posted a goal and assist in the NSIC Tournament.
• Bemidji State's backline is led by NSIC Defensive Player of the Year fifth-year senior Halle Peterson. She is a three-time All-NSIC First Team selection and was voted an All-Region member last year.
• She has helped Bemidji State earn 11 shutouts this season including two in the NSIC Tournament while allowing just 14 goals over 21 matches (0.67g/gm). The Stillwater, Minn., native has also contributed offensively and is second among NSIC defenders with four goals from the backline.
• Junior Edie Frantzen has played every minute in goal for the Beavers this season leading the nation in goalie minutes played (1910). She has a 0.66 goals against average and .821 save percentage and is coming off stopping 17-of-18 shots in the NSIC Tournament (.947).
• Bemidji State is 12-10-3 all-time against St. Cloud State including two 2-0 victories this season. The Beavers are 7-1-2 over the last 10 matches against the Huskies.

For more information on the Bemidji State soccer program, follow the Beavers on X (@BSUBeaverSoccer), 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).
 
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