Bemidji caps regular season with conference title

FERGUS FALLS – Bemidji accomplished one of its goals Monday at Hillcrest Lutheran Academy – finishing the Lakes to Prairie Conference schedule unbeaten – by battling HLA to a 2-2 draw.

The result gave BHS a 7-0-1 league record and an 11-2-2 overall mark. The rewards for those records are the conference championship and the top seed in the North Sub-Section 8A tournament.

BHS spotted HLA a 1-0 lead after the first half but goals by Austin Kovach and Riley Brooks within a 3-minute span in the second half gave the Lumberjacks a 2-1 lead.

The home team tied the game 64 minutes in on a deflected free kick and the 2-2 deadlock carried through the overtime.

Bemidji will open its section tournament action at the middle school field Saturday against either East Grand Forks or Fergus Falls. The time will be determined Friday.

Kovach connected off a touch feed from Seth Wall at the 49-minute mark and three minutes later Brooks found an opening 12 yards out and ripped home Alex Schussman’s pass.

Connor McNallan finished with six saves while the Jacks sent six shots on the HLA net.

Bemidji 0 2 - 2

Hillcrest 1 1 - 2

First Half

H-Pellagrirno (unassisted). 38:42

Second Half

B-Kovach (Wall). 48:50

B-Brooks (Schussman). 51:25

H-Martinez (unassisted). 63:54

Saves

McNallan (B) 3 3 0 - 6

Hetlebakke (H) 1 3 0 - 4