BEMIDJI, Minn. — (RV) Bemidji State University Women's Soccer team continues its postseason run and travels to Mankato, Minn., for the semifinal round of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Women's Soccer Tournament Friday, Nov. 13.
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The second-seed Beavers (14-2-3) battle the third-seeded Huskies (14-1-4) at The Pitch on the campus of Minnesota State University, Mankato for a trip to the NSIC Tournament Championship Sunday. Kick-off between the Beavers and Huskies is scheduled for 10 a.m. Each match of the tournament is streamed exclusively online at
www.NSICNetwork.com.
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The Beavers advanced the program's ninth semifinal round of the NSIC Tournament after defeating seventh-seed Northern State University 2-0 at Chet Anderson Stadium Monday evening. The Beavers used a quick attack to down the Wolves scoring just 30 seconds into the match en route to a 2-0 victory.
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Bemidji State is the hottest team in the NSIC leading the conference with an eight-match win streak and is unbeaten in its last 12 matches. The Beavers' win streak is tied for second across all of Division II trailing just University of West Florida's 13-match win streak.
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The Beavers have also dominated play during the win streak out scoring their opponents 24-1 during the streak and have a clean sheet in each of their last four matches. BSU has not allowed a goal in its last 370:24 minutes and has not surrendered a goal that wasn't off a penalty kick since Oct. 12 at then No. 2 Minnesota State. Bemidji State is tied for 16
th in DII with 11 shutouts.
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All-NSIC selections were announced Thursday morning and the Beavers tied a program record and tied with SCSU for the most all-conference selections in the league totaling eight All-NSIC members. The group was highlighted by senior forward
Katrina Barthelt who was selected as the league's Offensive Player of the Year for the second consecutive season. She joined senior defender
Emma Huelsnitz on the All-NSIC First Team while
Sonia Alfieri,
Madeline Davey,
Megan Ko,
Ella Wade,
Maggie Kramer and
Julia Freed were each named to the All-NSIC Second Team.
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Barthelt leads the team with a career-high 32 points to also lead the NSIC and is tied for 13
th in the nation. She has scored a career-best 13 goals on the season which is tied for the conference lead. She has scored in 10-of-18 matches this season and BSU is 8-0-2 when she scores. She has put together just the 10
th 30-point season in program history and is currently tied for sixth at BSU for points in a single season.
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Bemidji State has one of the stingiest defenses in the league and have allowed just seven goals in 15 NSIC matches. The Beavers have a team goal differential of 28 with is second in the league and 26
th in DII.
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Sonia Alfieri has been near perfect in between the posts for the Beavers and is 11-0-2 in her three starts. She boasts a 0.408 goals against average, .898 save percentage and has 7.2 shutouts on the season finishing second in the league in GAA and save percentage. If the season ended today, Alfieri would have the best GAA for a season in program history and the third best save percentage.
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The final NCAA regional rankings were released Wednesday afternoon and the Beavers jumped from fifth to second in the Central region standings holding prime position to host the first and second round of the NCAA Central Region Tournament. With a win over the Huskies Friday, the Beavers would lock themselves in to host the preliminary rounds of the tournament at Chet Anderson Stadium Nov. 21 and 23.
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Bemidji State and St. Cloud State met earlier this season with BSU earning a 2-1 victory over the Huskies in St. Cloud Oct. 10. The Beavers are 14-11-3 all-time against SCSU and are 6-2-2 over their last 10 matches.
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The winner of Friday's early match will play the winner of No. 1 seed Minnesota State and fifth-seed Concordia University-St. Paul in the NSIC Tournament Championship Sunday at 1 p.m. The Mavericks and Golden Bears kick-off their semifinal round following the Beavers and Huskies at 1 p.m.
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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).
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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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