Mar. 5, 2007

BEMIDJI, Minn. -- Bemidji State University head soccer coach Jim Stone announced today the signing of one more player to his 2007 recruiting class. Megan Smalkoski becomes the eighth student-athlete to sign a National Letter of Intent to join the BSU program for the 2007-08 academic year.

Smalkoski, a native of Minnetonka, Minn., will help shore up a defense that is losing two four-year starters in Tegan Moehn and Tracy Ringgenberg. She also joins defensive signees Alysha Domiano and Sara Dalton.

Smalkoski was a four-year letterwinner at Minnetonka High School and was part of a 2005 team that won its section and finished third at the Minnesota State Tournament. She also served as the captain of the 2006 MHS squad and plays club soccer for Bangu Tsunami. Smalkoski is the second signee from Bangu Tsunami in the last two years along with current BSU midfielder Dani Egeberg.

“Megan is our second player to come from the Bangu Tsunami club. Obviously playing with Bangu and playing for a highly competitive high school program at Minnetonka, she has had experience at a high level and understands the game well,” Stone said. “She missed most of her senior high school season with a back injury but is fully recovered now and excited to play. She is extremely good at making the simple play and keeping the ball moving, she is good positionally and has a great mind set for a defender. I am excited about her joining our program.”

Stone’s 2007 signing class will be counted on to help fill the shoes of six departing seniors. Those 2006 seniors, which includes one All-American and three other All-NSIC performers, helped lead last fall’s team to a 10-6-2 record before losing to Wayne State (Neb.) in a shootout in the first round of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Tournament.

The 2007 signing class now includes three defenders, two forwards, a midfielder, a goalkeeper, and a one player who has spent time at both midfield and forward. This class marks Stone’s largest recruiting class since he brought in thirteen players, including the six graduating seniors, in his first signing.

--bsu-