Aug. 12, 2005

ST. PAUL, Minn. - Nine months removed from its most successful season in program history, the Bemidji State University soccer team has been rewarded by being picked to finish fourth in the 2005 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Pre-Season Soccer Coaches' Poll, the league today announced. BSU junior goaltender Kari Torgerson (New Hope, Minn.) was named as the 2005 NSIC Pre-Season Defensive Player of the Year and junior forward Katie Meinhardt (Maple Grove, Minn.) was selected as Player to Watch in the same poll.

After spending its infant years hovering around the bottom of the league standings, the BSU soccer team, under fourth-year head coach Jim Stone, has ascended into the to the No. 4 spot in this year's poll marking its highest preseason billing in the nine-year history of the program.

In addition to a fifth place tie with Wayne State College in the NSIC standings last fall, much of the pre-season hype is due to BSU returning the bulk of its line-up from a team that last fall posted a program best 11-12-0 overall record. The Beavers also made the NSIC tournament for the first time since 1999 and advanced to the semi-final game after gaining its first ever post-season win.

BSU looks up in the poll to defending regular season and NSIC tournament champion Winona State University who earned seven first place votes and a total of 56 points to claim the top spot in the poll. Northern State University (49) and Southwest Minnesota State University (42) were selected second and third respectively after closing the 2004 regular season tied for second place with league records of 5-2.

Rounding out the bottom half of the poll are; Wayne State (32) in fifth, Concordia University-St. Paul (26) in sixth, Minnesota State University-Moorhead (21) and the University of Minnesota-Crookston in eighth with 16 points.

BSU will have to lean on the play of both of its individuals recognized in the poll, Torgerson and Meinhardt, if it is to live up to or exceed its pre-season billing.

Torgerson, a first team all-conference selection and the 2004 NSIC Defensive Player of the Year became the first Beaver to earn all-region honors from the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Central Region last fall when she garnered third team honors.

The New Hope, Minn. native finished 2004 with an 11-12-0 record, a 1.74 goals against average and .809 save percentage. She led all NSIC goalkeepers in minutes (2069:27) and saves (169), and was tied for second in shutouts (7). Not only did Torgerson make her mark at the top of the NSIC leaderboard, she also set BSU single-season records in each of these three categories. In addition, Torgerson owns career records in minutes (3674:39), goals against average (1.74) and shutouts (11).

Meinhardt, enters 2005 as one of the most dangerous scorers in the NSIC. Last fall she set BSU single-season records for goals (17) and points (38) while leading the conference with six goals scored. She enters her junior campaign needing just 10 goals to overtake Becky Elk (1999-2001) for the all-time record for goals scored.

The Maple Grove, Minn. native is a two-time All-NSIC selection (2003, 2004).

The Beavers begin fall drills tomorrow (Aug. 13) and after a scrimmage versus its alumni on Aug. 20th, the team will open the 2005 season at Mayville State Aug. 25th. BSU returns to Bemidji, Minn. just three days later to open its home season by hosting the University of North Dakota at 1:00 p.m.

2005 NSIC Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. Winona State (7) 56
2. Northern State 49
3. Southwest Minnesota State (1) 42
4. Bemidji State 38
5. Wayne State 32
6. Concordia-St. Paul 26
7. Minnesota State-Moorhead 21
8. Minnesota-Crookston 16

First place votes in ()

2005 NSIC Players to Watch
Katie Meinhardt, Jr., F, Bemidji State
Kari Torgerson, Jr., G, Bemidji State
Lindsay Hartelben, Jr., M, Concordia-St. Paul
Ashley Steinle, So., D, Concordia-St. Paul
Chrisstie Chappell, Sr., M, Minnesota-Crookston
Morgan Landwehr, So., G, Minnesota State-Moorhead
Susanne Lampert, Sr., M, Northern State
Lissa Heaviland, Sr., D, Northern State
Joelle Dean, So., F, Southwest Minnesota State
Cassie Raushel, Sr., D, Southwest Minnesota State
Melissa Benson, Jr., C/M, Wayne State
Sarah James, Jr., C, Wayne State
Annie Asuterer, So., M, Winona State
Sarah Griffith, Sr., C, Winona State