Bemidji State University

BISMARCK, N.D. — Freshmen Olivia Utley and Meredith Paar scored second-half goals, while Payton Kropp made eight saves to lead the seventh-seeded Bemidji State University Women's Soccer team past second-seeded University of Mary, 2-1, in the first round of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Tournament Monday evening at MDU Resources Community Bowl in Bismarck, N.D.
 
The Beavers improved to 9-4-6 overall and advanced to the NSIC Tournament semifinals for the second consecutive season and will face University of Minnesota Duluth Friday, November 6 in Mankato, Minn.
 
UMary created the match's first opportunities, but Kropp stopped shots by Dina Polanco and Maggie Bono during the opening seven minutes. She added another save against Polanco in the 18th minute to keep the match scoreless.
 
Bemidji State nearly opened the scoring in the 37th minute when Utley struck the left post. The Marauders answered less than two minutes later as Maicee Burke scored at 38:43, sending UMary into halftime with a 1-0 advantage.
 
The Beavers erased the deficit 10:20 into the second half. Paar set up Utley, who scored her first collegiate goal at 55:20 to tie the match at 1-1. The goal came on Utley's second shot after her first-half attempt struck the post.
 
Kropp then made three saves during the next 14 minutes to preserve the tie before Bemidji State moved ahead at 71:09. Paar scored her second goal of the season off assists from Jayda Davis and Molly Hagelie, giving the Beavers a 2-1 lead.
 
UMary applied pressure over the closing 19 minutes, but Kropp stopped three additional shots, including attempts by Polanco and Bono. The Bemidji State defense held the Marauders scoreless throughout the second half to complete the tournament upset.
 
Kropp played all 90 minutes and stopped eight of the nine shots she faced. Five of her saves came during the second half. Paar contributed to both Bemidji State goals, finishing with the game-winning goal and an assist for a match-high three points.
 
The Marauders finished with a 25-9 advantage in shots, a 9-3 edge in shots on goal and an 8-1 advantage in corner kicks. Bemidji State made its limited opportunities count, scoring on two of its three shots on goal.
 
Molly Burkstrand led the Beavers with three shots, while Utley recorded two. Paar and Sydney Sutherland placed their only attempts on goal, with Sutherland forcing a save in the 77th minute.
 
Bemidji State advances to the NSIC Tournament semifinal round Friday in Mankato against the Bulldogs who it sees for the second time in four days after the closing the regular season in Duluth, Minn. Kick-off between the Beavers and Bulldogs is slated for 10:00 a.m. and will be streamed online at Midco Sports Plus.
 
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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