Oct. 28, 2009

BEMIDJI, Minn. -- Bemidji State University’s Ashlee Ellefsen (Jr., F, Hugo, Minn.) and Derek Edholm (Jr., QB, Anoka, Minn.) have been named Beaver Pride Athletes of the Week after outstanding athletic performances during the week of Oct. 19-25.

Ellefsen provided the lone goal for Bemidji State in a 1-1 tie with No. 25 University of Minnesota Duluth Friday. In addition to accounting for the Beavers’ offense in the game, the goal established Ellefsen as the new all-time points leader at Bemidji State with 72 career points. In just under three seasons, Ellefsen has accumulated 28 goals and 16 assists. This season she has nine goals and seven assists and remains just one helper from becoming the Beavers’ single-season assists leader.

The announcement marks the second Beaver Pride award of the season for Ellefsen and the fifth time that a member of the BSU soccer team has been honored during the 2009 campaign. Ellefsen also garnered the award one time during 2008-09 making Wednesday’s laurel the third of her collegiate career.

Edholm threw for a career-high 391 yards and matched a career-best five touchdown passes Saturday leading Bemidji State on a pair of fourth quarter comeback attempts versus No. 7 Minnesota Duluth. Edholm finished the day 27-of-41 (65.9-percent), without an interception, which included an astounding 10-of-13 (76.9) for 157 yards and three touchdowns in the game’s final 7:11. Edholm hit six different receivers in the second 300-yard game of his career while climbing to fourth on BSU’s all-time touchdown pass list with 37. His 391 yards also stands as the Beavers’ fourth-best single-game passing yardage total since 1980.

In the last two weeks, Edholm has been nothing short of spectacular. He is 38-for-56 (67.9-percent) with just one interception, while rolling up 570 yards and 10 touchdowns.

This also marks the second Beaver Pride Athlete of the Week award of the season for Edholm, while he is the seventh football player to receive the award during the 2009 campaign.

Ellefsen and the BSU soccer team (9-6-1; 5-5-1 NSIC) wrap up their home schedule this weekend when they host Augustana College Friday at 3 p.m. and Wayne State College Sunday at 1 p.m. Both games will be played at the BSU Soccer field.

The Bemidji State football team, now 6-3 overall and 5-3 in league play, continues NSIC North action this week as it travels to Bismarck, N.D. to battle the University of Mary. The opening kick off is slated for 2:30 p.m. from the Bismarck Community Bowl.

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