BEMIDJI, Minn. — The seventh-seeded Bemidji State University Women's Soccer team will play for the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Tournament Championship when it faces top-seeded and No. 2 nationally ranked Minnesota State University, Mankato Sunday, November 8. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. at The Pitch in Mankato, Minn.

The winner will capture the NSIC Tournament championship and earn the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Division II Women's Soccer Central Region Tournament. The complete NCAA Tournament field will be announced Monday, Nov. 9 at 6 p.m. CDT during a selection show on NCAA.com.

Bemidji State advanced to the championship match after upsetting third-seeded University of Minnesota Duluth 1-0 in Friday morning's semifinal. Freshman Julia Lewis scored the first goal of her collegiate career in the 42nd minute, while fellow freshman Maya Johnson recorded her first career assist. Sophomore goalkeeper Payton Kropp made five saves to record the shutout.

Bemidji State improved to 10-4-6 overall and has defeated the tournament's second and third seeds during its postseason run. The Beavers opened the tournament by rallying from a halftime deficit to defeat second-seeded University of Mary 2-1 before shutting out Minnesota Duluth in the semifinal.

The Beavers will make their fourth appearance in the NSIC Tournament Championship and their first since 2023. Bemidji State finished as the tournament runner-up in 2021 before capturing consecutive championships in 2022 and 2023. A victory Sunday would give the Beavers their third tournament title in five seasons.

Junior Madisen Fritel leads Bemidji State with five goals and 12 points, while Ko follows with nine points from three goals and three assists. Junior Sydney Sutherland has also recorded three assists, and eight Beavers have scored at least twice as part of a balanced attack. However, the Beavers postseason run has been led mainly by freshmen. Meredith Paar, Olivia Utley and Julia Lewis each scored their first collegiate goals in the past two matches.

Sophomore Payton Kropp has anchored the Beavers' postseason defense and enters the championship with a 6-2-4 record, a 0.87 goals-against average, an .836 save percentage and four shutouts over 12 starts. She made eight saves during the first-round victory at UMary before stopping all five shots on goal against Minnesota Duluth. She has stopped 13-of-14 shots she faced in the postseason boasting a .929 save percentage, one shutout and a 0.50 goals against average.

Four Beavers earned All-NSIC recognition following the regular season. Senior Megan Ko, senior Madeline Davey and junior Grace Schwoch were selected to the All-NSIC First Team, while Fritel received Second Team honors. The three First Team defenders helped Bemidji State allow just 12 goals, record six shutouts and post a 0.80 goals-against average over 15 conference matches.

Minnesota State advanced to the championship following a dramatic 3-3 draw against fourth-seeded Northern State University in Friday's semifinal. The Mavericks advanced 9-8 in a 13-round penalty-kick shootout after converting nine of their final 10 attempts.

The Mavericks enter Sunday 16-1-3 overall after earning a share of their ninth NSIC regular-season championship with a 12-1-2 conference record. Minnesota State received the tournament's top seed through its regular-season victory over co-champion UMary. The Mavericks began the postseason with a 3-0 quarterfinal victory over eighth-seeded St. Cloud State University.

Sunday will be the second meeting between Bemidji State and Minnesota State this season. The Mavericks earned a 1-0 victory Oct. 2 at Chet Anderson Stadium after Archer scored the match's lone goal in the 50th minute. Kropp made four saves for the Beavers, while Fritel and Sutherland each placed one shot on goal.

Minnesota State leads the all-time series 17-4-5 and holds a 9-1-3 record against the Beavers in Mankato. However, the teams battled to a 2-2 draw during Bemidji State's most recent trip to The Pitch in 2025.

Sunday's championship begins at 1 p.m. at The Pitch in Mankato. The match will be streamed live through Midco Sports Plus, with live statistics available through MSUMavericks.com.
 
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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