Bemidji Girls Soccer Going To State With Win Over Sartell-St. Stephen

After the two teams were tied 1-1 after overtime, the Bemidji Lumberjacks girls soccer team defeated Sartell-St. Stephen in penalty kicks 4-1 to advance to the state tournament for the second straight year.

“I thought that I was going to have a heart attack,” said senior Miciah Renn. “It is so nerve-racking. I would almost take the PK than stand there and watch because all I can do is support my team, and that’s what we did. We held hands, we prayed, and it was intense, let me say.”

“I honestly don’t have words for it,” said senior Harper Toward. “It’s amazing, us and the boys winning on the same night, at our home field? Wow, I just don’t have words.”

“Honestly, when the girl was walking up I was watching her body language and I kind of just knew where it was going,” said goalie Ali Beard about her save in PKs. “So, just a good way to read body language on my part I guess.”

“I think it means progress,” said head coach Logan Larsen. “Last year we went to state, we were nervous. We have most of our girls back. Of course, winning sections was a humongous goal, but we’d love to play at the U.S. Bank Stadium, so that’s the next big step we’d love to see that happen for us.”

Katie Alto’s final PK goal gives the Bemidji girls soccer team the victory 4-1 in penalty kicks. Audio courtesy of Joel Hoover of KBUN and the Lumberjack radio network.

Highlights of the first half including Harper Toward’s goal, the only Bemidji scored in regulation.