Bemidji State University

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Sophomore Molly Burkstrand scored her second goal of the season and sophomore Payton Kropp made four saves as the Bemidji State University Women's Soccer team earned a 1-1 draw against Concordia University-St. Paul Sunday afternoon at Sea Foam Stadium.
 
The Beavers moved to 7-3-5 overall and 6-2-4 in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play, while the Golden Bears moved to 6-3-6 overall and 5-3-4 in the conference.
 
Bemidji State created the match's first three shots, all from Sydney Sutherland. She forced saves in the fifth and sixth minutes before sending another attempt wide in the 11th. The Beavers also earned three corner kicks during the opening 26 minutes.
 
Kropp made her first save in the 44th minute, stopping Stella Nielsen's attempt to send the teams into halftime scoreless. Bemidji State held a 3-0 advantage in corner kicks during the opening half.
 
The Beavers continued to generate set-piece opportunities after halftime, earning three corner kicks within the first nine minutes of the second half. Bemidji State broke through at 72:27 when Sutherland set up Burkstrand for the match's opening goal.
 
The goal was Burkstrand's second of the season, while Sutherland recorded the assist after producing two of Bemidji State's four shots on goal.
 
Concordia-St. Paul answered with sustained pressure, but Kropp stopped attempts by Lexi Pettit and Sophia Haase to preserve the one-goal lead. Megan Ko nearly doubled the advantage in the 78th minute, but Sydney Potter saved her shot.
 
The Golden Bears tied the match at 82:46 when Haase converted a penalty kick. Neither side recorded another shot over the final seven minutes, and the match ended in a 1-1 draw.
 
Kropp played all 90 minutes and stopped four of the five shots she faced. Sutherland led the Beavers with three shots and two attempts on goal, while Burkstrand totaled two shots and Ko added one.
 
Concordia-St. Paul finished with a 16-6 advantage in shots and a 5-4 edge in shots on goal. Bemidji State held a 6-2 advantage in corner kicks and committed four fouls to the Golden Bears' six.
 
The draw completed an unbeaten NSIC road weekend for Bemidji State following its 2-1 victory at Winona State on Friday. The Beavers collected four conference points during the two-match trip and sit fifth in the NSIC standings after the weekend.
 
Bemidji State now returns and prepares to host their final two regular season home matches next weekend and host University of Jamestown and Northern State University October 23 and 25.
 
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).
 
--bsu--