BEMIDJI, Minn. – The No. 9 Bemidji State University Women's Soccer team officially kicks-off its 2023 season this weekend looking to carry last season's postseason success into the fresh new season. The Beavers travel to St. Joseph, Mo., for a pair of non-conference matches hosted by Missouri Western State University at Spratt Stadium.
 
The No. 9 Beavers begin the new season Friday, Sept. 1 by facing the Griffons of Missouri Western State at 7:30 p.m. BSU will then face Rockhurst University Sunday at 11 a.m.
 
Fans will be able to stream the Beavers versus the Griffons Friday on the MIAANetwork but will need to purchase access. Sunday's game will not be streamed but live stats for both games will be provided here.
 
Bemidji State notes

• The Beavers enter the 2023 campaign as the No. 9 ranked team in the United Soccer Coaches Pre-Season Top-25 National Poll. It is the second consecutive year the Beavers were ranked ninth in the preseason poll and was the ninth ranked team in the final poll of the 2022 season.
• Bemidji State was voted by league coaches to finish third in the 2023 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll. BSU garnered 170 points and two first-place votes in the poll to finish third and seven points behind second-place Augustana University.
• Fifth-year senior Halle Peterson was voted the NSIC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year. She is a two-time all-NSIC First Team selection, All-Region selection and Scholar All-American. It is the third consecutive season a Bemidji State defender was voted the Preseason Defensive Player of the Year.
• Head coach Jim Stone enters his 22^nd season as the leader of the Bemidji State Women's Soccer program and is the winningest coach in the program's history. He boasts a 235-129-41 (.631) career record, is a five-time NSIC Coach of the Year and he and his staff are back-to-back United Soccer Coaches Central Region Staff of the Year.
• Bemidji State will be captained by fifth-year seniors Halle Peterson, Maggie Cade, senior Madisanne Dahl and junior Maria Stocke.
• The Beavers return four starters in Peterson, Cade, Stocke and Lauren Hodny from last year's NSIC Tournament Champions and NCAA Central Region champion squad while nine more letterwinners make their return to the team.
• Stone added 12 newcomers to the team to fill the loss of 11 from last year's squad.
• Bemidji State graduated 30 of its 39 goals from last season including the program's career leading goal scorer Sara Wendt. The program also lost its leading assist getter in Allyson Smith.
• The Beavers also graduated both of its goalkeepers to see time in net last season in Alyssa Stumbaugh and Georgiana Harber. The duo guided the Beavers to 15 shutouts in 2022 to tie for the second most in DII.
• Bemidji State's returning strength is its midfield and returns all seven midfielders from last year. All-NSIC Second Team selection Maria Stocke highlights the group while Cade and senior Lauren Hodny provide leadership for the Beaver midfield.
• Stocke is the Beavers highest returning point-getter after scoring a career-high 10 points off three goals and four assists in 2022. She is followed by Peterson (3g-1a=7pts), Hodny (1g-3a=5pts), Katrina Barthelt (2g-0a=4pts) and Cade (0g-3a) as the Beavers' top returning scorers.
• Junior Edie Frantzen leads the Beavers' goalkeeping group and has logged 132:20 career minutes and has made five saves. She is joined by freshman Ana Steadman and Kiera Nelson.
• Steadman and Nelson are joined by Lucy Stanton, Kadyn Ellevold, Madeline Davey, Ella Wade, Jessica Emerson, Grace Kittel, Sophia Rinaldi, Megan Ko, Julia Freed and Keely Yager as freshman on the 2023 Beaver squad.

Bemidji State will play four non-conference matches before beginning NSIC play Sept. 15 at University of Minnesota Crookston. Following the Beavers' trip to Missouri, they will return to Chet Anderson Stadium Sept. 8 and 12 to host its first matches of the season. BSU will host Upper Iowa University Friday, Sept. 8 in a non-conference match-up for its home opener before hosting Minot State Tuesday, Sept. 12.
 
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).
 
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