Feb. 10, 2003

BEMIDJI, Minn. - Bemidji State University head women's soccer coach Jim Stone today announced the signing of five student-athletes to national letters of intent for the 2003 season.

Stone announced the signing of forward Whitney Sengthao (Duluth, Minn.), midfielders Diane Kalin (New Hope, Minn.) and Megan Reberg (Fargo, N.D.), defenders Tegan Moehn (Ramsey, Minn.) and goalkeeper Kari Torgerson (New Hope, Minn.). Stone hopes to add as many as two additional signees at a later date.

" I think it's a class that when combined with our strong group of returning players is going to give us a chance to be competitive for the first time in the history of our program," Stone said.

BSU looked to fill several immediate needs, primarily in the area of goal production, and also looked to recruit a goalkeeper of the future to replace record-setting Niki Dalka, who will be a senior in 2003.

" We knew that our first need was a goal-scorer, and after that we went after the best soccer players available. Whitney [Sengthao] will help meet that goal-scoring need for us. She was one of the top scorers in the high school game with 20 goals last season," Stone said. "I think Kari [Torgerson] was the best goalkeeper in Minnesota after spending six years with the Olympic Development Team. Talent-wise, she'd be ready to step right in, but Niki will benefit from having Kari push her. And Kari will benefit from being around an experienced goalkeeper like Niki."

Bemidji State bolstered its corps of midfielders with Kalin and Reberg.

" Megan Reberg is a creative player who has the ability and the vision to put the ball in good spots for our forwards to finish," Stone said. "And Diane [Kalin] is a hard worker who wins a lot of balls and also has a lot of skill to complement her work ethic."

Stone also added a potential star on defense as well.

" Tegan [Moehn] has great height and has the ability to get her head on the ball in the defensive third," Stone said. "She has a good fitness level and she's very skilled. She'll be one of the better defenders in our conference in no time."

In all, Stone has been pleased with his first recruiting class at Bemidji State.

" Talent-wise, I would expect this to be one of the best recruiting classes in the NSIC," Stone said. "I don't think we'd trade the girls we have coming in with the recruiting class of any other school in the conference."

Bemidji State finished its 2002 campaign with a 4-12 overall record, 1-8 in NSIC play under Stone, in his first year with the program.

• Diane KALIN (5-4/M/Fr-HS; New Hope, Minn.) - A four-year soccer letterwinner at Robbinsdale-Cooper High... Captained team as a senior; earned Most Dedicated Player award in 1999 and 2000... Honorable-mention All-Conference in 2001 and 2002... Also earned three varsity letters in hockey, two in lacrosse and one in track... Four-year High Honor Roll honoree and a two-year member of the National Honor Society.

• Tegan MOEHN (5-10/D/Fr-HS; Ramsey, Minn.) - Voted team Defensive MVP and All-Conference as a senior at Osseo High... Helped lead team to school-record 17 wins and school-record .833 regular-season winning percentage (17-3-1)... Helped lead Osseo to back-to-back conference titles... Led Kickers U-16 club team to State Classic championship... Also an All-State performer in track; three-year letterwinner, finished eighth in state in 800m.

• Megan REBERG (5-8/M/Fr-HS; Fargo, N.D.) - A three-sport star at Fargo North, Reberg captained the school's undefeated 2002 soccer program en route to all-Eastern Dakota Conference and All-State honors... Earned All-Tournament honors after team's runner-up finish at 2001 state championship... Selected to Tourney Sports tournament in Hawaii during summer 2002... Also lettered in basketball and volleyball... Led Fargo North club team to three consecutive state championships... A four-time member of Fargo North's "A" Honor Roll and a member of the National Honor Society.

• Whitney SENGTHAO (5-4/F/Fr-HS; Duluth, Minn.) - Earned First-Team All-State and Team MVP honors as a senior in 2002... Rookie of the Year as an eighth grader; three consecutive years named First-Team All-Area and All-Conference from 2000 - 2002... Helped lead Duluth Denfield to Section 7A championships in 2000 and 2001... Team finished fourth in state in 2000... Four-time academic letterwinner... Also member of National Honor Society and Honor Court as a senior.

• Kari TORGERSON (5-6/G/Fr-HS; New Hope, Minn.) - Has been a member of the Minnesota state Olympic Development Program for six years... Attended regional Olympic Development Camps in 2001 and 2002... Armstrong High School MVP in 2001 and 2002; team captain in 2002... Classic Lake All-Conference selection in 2002... Helped lead Armstrong to Premier League championships in 1999 and 2001... Also played four years at forward for Armstrong varsity ice hockey program... Won total of eight varsity letters at Armstrong (four in soccer, four in hockey).