SOCCER: Bemidji State secures playoff bets with 2-1 win over St. Cloud State

BEMIDJI — Mary O’Brien and Hillary Arechigo supplied the Bemidji State soccer team with offense, as each netted a goal in the Beavers’ come-from-behind 2-1 victory over St. Cloud State Friday afternoon.

With the victory, the Beavers (10-6-1, 8-5-1 NSIC) assured themselves of a spot in the eight-team postseason conference tournament next week. The Beavers came into the weekend in a sixth-place tie with the Huskies and have now vaulted ahead of them.

BSU’s opponent for the playoffs – as well as its playoff seed – is yet to be determined, as the Beavers still have one last game remaining at Minnesota-Duluth Sunday.

During Friday afternoon’s snowy game, St. Cloud State struck first, off a corner kick in the 9th minute.

SCSU forward Gabby Fleck scored her fifth goal of the season, beating BSU sophomore goalkeeper Sonja Barr.

Less than fifteen minutes later, however, BSU answered off a corner kick of its own at the 23 minute mark.

Abigail Nyquist took the corner kick, which found Tiffany VanHaaften. She headed it towards the net.

O’Brien was able to get her foot on it and knock it in past Huskies goalkeeper Kenzie Hanzlik for her team-leading ninth of the season. Both Nyquist and VanHaaften were credited with an assist on the play.

The score remained tied until the 35th minute when Arechigo stole the ball from a Huskie defender and shot it from outside the 18-yard box into the right corner of the net for her second goal the season. That turned out to be the eventual game-winning goal, as the teams played a scoreless second half.

Bemidji State outshot SCSU 18-16 while notching five shots on goal.

Barr posted seven saves and allowed one in the victory. She improves to 8-3-1 on the season.