Oct. 10 , 2005

MISSION, Kan. -- The Bemidji State University soccer team worked its way into the National Soccer Coaches Association of America regional rankings for the first time in the ten-year history of the program, debuting eighth in the October 10, 2005 poll.

Head Coach Jim Stone’s club has posted a season record of 8-3-4 and 6-1-2 in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play. The Beavers are on pace to eclipse the school record of 11 wins which last season. The previous record for conference wins (3) set last season, was passed as this year’s team picked up their fourth win in just the fifth NSIC game.

The Beavers played just seven conference games last season, but will play 14 this year as the NSIC implemented double-round conference play. The double-round match setup gives each team a chance to play each other twice during the regular season, as opposed to once in the past.

The Beavers, ranked eighth, are one of three NSIC teams to be in the NSCAA Central Region top 10. Defending NSIC champion Winona State sits in the second spot and Northern State is ranked fifth.

The University of Nebraska-Omaha continues to have a firm grip on the first spot, ranked at the top for the fifth consecutive week. Missouri Southern is ranked third and South Dakota fourth to round out the top five.

Bemidji State will have a chance to move up in the rankings this week with a home game versus fifth-ranked Northern State University. The Beavers beat NSU earlier this season in Aberdeen, S.D., in a 3-0 shutout.

The Beavers will also take on Minnesota State-Moorhead at home on Sunday. This weekend’s game also mark the Parents’ Weekend festivities for the program. Each game is scheduled to kick-off at 1:00 pm.

--bsu--