BEMIDJI, Minn. – Scoring in the 82nd minute, Jenny Stromberg (Sr., Fwd., Elk River, Minn.) netted the game-winner to propel the Bemidji State soccer team past Augustana College 2-1 in the first round of the NSIC / US Bank Women’s Soccer Tournament on Wednesday afternoon. The playoff win is the first for the Beavers since 2005.
Bemidji State scored in the first six minutes of the game to jump-out to an early lead. Jamie Ford (R-Sr., Fwd., Edina, Minn.) carried the ball down the right flank before crossing it in front of the goal. The ball caught the wind and Augustana keeper Amanda Wagner was forced to tip the ball as it bounced off the cross bar. The rebound was bobbled by Wagner and Ashlee Ellefsen (Sr., Fwd., Hugo, Minn.) followed through putting the loose ball in the back of the net to record her 40th career goal.
The Beavers controlled the majority of play in the second half taking 19 shots to Augie’s nine. Wagner made four saves in the half while Samantha Ross (Sr., GK, Stillwater, Minn.) turned away five shots for the Beavers.
The Vikings came out firing in the second looking for an equalizer. Bemidji State had trouble cracking the Viking midfield in the half and as a result Augustana found the game-tying goal they were looking for at the 59:54 mark.
With the game tied at 1-1, the Beavers started having flash backs of last year’s playoff game that saw BSU lose an early lead to and get knocked out of the playoffs by St. Cloud State. Not wanting to have history repeat, Bemidji State went back on the offensive looking for the go-ahead goal.
The two sides battled for the remained of the second half and it wasn’t until there was less than 10 minutes left in the game did the Beavers get the lucky break they needed. A crossing ball played by Ellefsen was mishandled by an Augie defender and Stromberg was there to carry the loose ball into the Viking 18-yard box. Stromberg then fired a shot that found its way to the top-right corner of the net to give the Beavers a 2-1 lead.
BSU then fended off Augie for the finals minutes to advance on to the semifinals. Ross made a total of nine saves in the match to earn her first postseason win of her career.
Also advancing past the first round were No. 1 seed Winona State, No. 2 seed Minnesota Duluth and No. 4 seed Minnesota State University, Mankato. With the Warriors advancing on, the semifinal and final rounds of the tournament will be held in Winona, Minn.
With The Bulldogs defeating the U-Mary Marauders by a score of 1-0 Wednesday evening, the Beavers and Bulldogs will face off in the semifinals. The game will take place at noon on Friday in Winona.
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