University of Jamestown

Jamestown, N.D. - The University of Jamestown women's soccer team played a solid all-around game against one of the best teams in the NSIC but could not find the back of the net in a 1-0 loss at Bemidji State Friday evening at Chet Anderson Stadium.  

UJ's record drops to 4-8-4 overall and 4-6-3 in the NSIC. The Beavers clinch an NSIC Tournament playoff berth with the win which moves them to 25 points in the standings with a 7-2-4 conference record and 8-3-5 overall mark.  

It was an extremely windy day up in Bemidji with the wind blowing towards the Beavers end to start things off which heavily favored the Jimmies in the first half. Bemidji State had a tough time moving the ball up the field in the air which led to most of the first half being played in their defensive end.  

The first shot for either side was from the Jimmies in the ninth minute on a deep shot off a free kick by Vega Canada.  

Molly Burkstrand had a great chance in the 12th minute after her teammate got deep into the right corner and crossed it to her, but her shot from only about eight yards went high of the net.  

Canada had the second Jamestown shot in the 17th minute, this coming just outside the top left of the box. The chipped shot hit the top woodwork and then was booted out by a Bemidji State defender. Right after this, the Beavers pushed down the field, and Taylor Musser made a diving stop on a shot around the top of the box to preserve the scoreless tie.  

There were a couple of semi-dangerous opportunities in the final five minutes for the home team, though the Jimmies defense stood strong and got in between defenders when they needed to. Musser made a save on the first chance, then Joselyn Maldonado kicked a ball off a Beaver out of bounds for a goal kick towards the end of the half.  

Bemidji State had a shot in the final minute but could not make anything out of it. Halftime came around with the score still at 0-0. Both teams had three shots in the first half as well as one shot on net.  

There were two good chances for UJ early in the second half. Bre Oettle had a one-hopping shot around the top of the box in the 55th minute, then Kennedy Hansen had a shot from the right side of the field aimed bottom left, but her kick missed towards the left side of the goal not long after Oettle's attempt.  

With the wind now against the Jimmies, the Beavers ramped up the pressure and scored in the 59th minute. A faulty pass from Jamestown in the defensive zone proved devastating as Megan Ko intercepted the ball and scored the game's first and only goal with no defense between her and Musser.  

After the 1-0 advantage for Bemidji State, the Beavers kept Musser plenty busy for the next portion of the game with the freshman goalkeeper for the Jimmies making a couple nice pass-breakups and diving stops.  

Unfortunately, though, the Jimmies did not do much offensively after the Bemidji State goal. They had some decent zone time but struggled to get the ball deep into the Beavers end.  

The best look was in the 73rd minute by Kyah Gabel from just outside the box on a transition attempt that went off Gabel's left foot and over the net.  

The ball was in Jamestown's possession for the final minute of the game, but they were unable to get close enough to the Beavers net to get a shot off as the clock expired with the home team posting a 1-0 shutout.  

Canada had the most shot attempts for UJ with three while Oettle and Emma Belyk had the only two shots on net. Musser made three saves on four Bemidji State shots on goal.  

Total shots in the game finished 12-7 overall and 4-2 on goal with the Beavers ahead of the Jimmies in both those categories. Bemidji State also never allowed a corner kick for Jamestown while they got five themselves.  

The Jimmies will head over to Bemidji State's travel partner, Minnesota Duluth, for their second-to-last match of the season against the Bulldogs on Sunday, October 11 at 1 p.m.