MANKATO, Minn. – The No. 24 Bemidji State University Women's Soccer team captured the programs' fist ever Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Women's Soccer Tournament Championship Sunday afternoon after defeating Minot State University 2-0 in Mankato, Minn.
 
The Beavers earn the automatic qualifying bid into the NCAA Division II Regional Tournament with the tournament title and all signs point to Bemidji State hosting the first and second round either Thursday-Saturday or Friday-Sunday of next weekend at Chet Anderson Stadium. Bemidji State will know for certain if it will host next weekend at the NCAA Selection Show Monday at 6:00 p.m. CDT and can be viewed online at NCAA.com.
 
Both teams were in top shape defensively entering the championship match with neither team allowing a goal in the first two rounds of the tournament. The championship match would hold similar shape and would require extra time after neither team could crack the other's defense and were tied 0-0 after 90 minutes.
 
However, just seven minutes into the first overtime, Bemidji State applied pressure within Minot State's penalty area and fifth-year senior Sarah Wendt went down inside the box and earned a penalty kick in the 97^th minute. Fifth-year senior Erin Becker lined up at the dot for her fourth penalty kick of the season and was steady as she has been all season long and converted the penalty kick to put the Beavers up 1-0. Becker is now 4-for-4 taking penalty kicks this season.
 
The Beavers then caught Minot State pressing and after a long pass from fifth-year senior Megan Majewski, Sara Wendt found herself one-on-one with a defender and beat the goalkeeper with a left-foot shot to the far-right post to put the Beavers up 2-0 in the 102^nd minute. 
The Beavers cruised through the remaining seven minutes and change and following the final horn, earned the program's first-ever NSIC Tournament Championship in the program's 27-year history.
 
Bemidji State the greater number of opportunities in the game and posted 16 shots with seven being on goal while Minot State totaled eight shots, four of which were on goal.
 
The daunting Bemidji State defense once again was dominant and four the sixth consecutive game, held the opponent off the scoreboard. The Beavers didn't allow a goal during its run in the NSIC Tournament.
 
Senior Alyssa Stumbaugh earned her eighth shutout of the season after making four saves and improves to 8-2-3 on the season.
 
Following the conclusion of the game, five Beavers were named to the NSIC All-Tournament Team with Alyssa Stumabugh, Erin Becker, Megan Dahl, Halle Peterson, Allyson Smith and Sara Wendt earning the honor. Wendt was also voted the tournament's Most Valuable Player.



For more information on the Bemidji State soccer program, follow the Beavers on Twitter (@BSUBeaversSoccer), like them on Facebook (facebook.com/BSUBeavers) and follow them on Instagram (@BSUBeaversSoccer)
 
Nestled in Northern Minnesota's wooden region and located on the shore of Lake Bemidji, BSU 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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