BOYS SOCCER

Bemidji Youth Soccer fosters consistency, continuity and culture

Jared Rubado — Tue, 03 Jun 2025 16:06:29 GMT

BEMIDJI — Every 45 minutes on a typical warm, sunny Saturday in late May, the echoes of an air horn can be heard through the air near Bemidji High ��.

It’s time for eight more games to commence.

Bemidji Youth Soccer has hosted its six-on-six tournament, the Bemidji 6V6, for over a decade. On its surface, it’s a laid-back, family-friendly youth sporting event at a low cost with lower stakes. While that’s by the design of program directors Jeff Mitchell and Rick Toward, it’s helped infuse a culture that’s carrying over generations as former program players now guide their kids through their past footsteps.

“The club has given us the flexibility that not every sport gets to have,” Toward said. “Our 19s team, our oldest team, will essentially be our varsity team. It’s not going to exclusively be that, but a lot of those kids get to play together all summer. That’s an advantage we have over a lot of (Twin Cities) teams, where kids all break up and play for their own clubs.”

Toward, who will enter his 31st season as head coach of the BHS boys soccer team, with Mitchell by his side as a valued assistant, sees the benefit in the continuity Bemidji provides in its coaching.

Players are taught the fundamentals and systems that are used at the boys and girls varsity levels. Toward is using his “same message, different voice” approach to find his leg up on programs that have more players to pull from.

“Our guys get to play together all year long, and there’s an advantage to that,” he added. “Those teams have a depth of talent we will never reach, and that’s their advantage. We have to make do with what we have.

“What grows our program is we are seamless between club soccer and high school soccer. The voice you get in the season is the voice you’re getting in high school. … The success you see in the high school programs and the club’s growth are correlated. It’s a strategy we use in how we approach kids and their development.”

What Bemidji Youth Soccer has is consistency.

Every summer, parents can pencil in four tournaments and the Bemidji 6V6 held at the end of May. Regardless of age, Bemidji teams travel the same places on the same weekends.

“We don’t split up our tournaments,” Mitchell said. “If you have a kid who’s 8 and another who’s 16, they play at the same tournaments. You don’t have to choose which parent goes with which kid, and that’s important for a lot of families. You’re all in one place.”

BYS plays in tournaments around the state, from Grand Forks down to the metro area. So Saturdays like the Bemidji 6V6 give the locals a chance to stay local.

Forty-one teams competed in the Bemidji 6V6, with over 400 players in levels U9 to U19. Each block includes 45 minutes. All games start and end at the same time with the help of an air horn.

The Bemidji 6V6 features Lumberjacks of the past and future, and then some. It is not a requirement that a player needs to be signed up for organized soccer to compete, paving the way for BHS athletes in other sports to lace up their cleats.

It also gives recently graduated Lumberjacks one more chance to play at home. Kids in club soccer can play until they turn 20, meaning the newly-minted alumni can compete the summer after they graduate.

The Bemidji 6V6 ultimately serves as a fundraising effort for BYS. Each road tournament can cost anywhere from $8,000 to $9,000 for the traveling 15-16 Bemidji teams. The Bemidji 6V6 helps fortify the BYS sum, while also going toward funding soccer for underprivileged players.

“The first money that comes out of the pot goes to players who can’t afford the full registration,” Mitchell said. “This covers that cost and the cost for scholarships. … I’d say about $3,000 of that will go toward scholarships for players and jerseys for players who can’t afford them, and so on.”

Ultimately, BYS is a cyclical program. Once players reach the varsity level, they begin serving as coaches for the youngest age groups BYS offers.

Toward attributes the cycle to the culture of soccer at all ages in Bemidji.

“It’s a big part of it,” he said. “It’s stuff like this. It’s also stuff like our rec program on Tuesdays and Thursdays, where we have 250 kids, 4-8 years old, over at the complex. The vast majority of the coaches are high school kids. Harper (Toward) used to play rec as a kid, then coached rec in high school and now is a coach in the club.

“We’re seeing that second generation come through, and that’s part of the environment Jeff and I worked hard to create. We’re a family-friendly organization.”

While it’s too late to register for the BYS program for the summer of 2025, registration opens in late July for 2026. For more information, visit bemidjiyouthsoccer.org.

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Top-seeded Millers too much for Lumberjacks in Class 3A state quarterfinal

Jared Rubado — Thu, 24 Oct 2024 01:44:48 GMT

MONTICELLO – In the previous three seasons the Bemidji High �� boys soccer team qualified for the state tournament, the opposing programs were Class A schools.

There were only two classes back then, meaning the Lumberjacks represented one of the bigger schools in the field in 2016, 2017 and 2018.

Six years later, the high school soccer landscape looks much different. The Minnesota State High �� League added a third class, and BHS fit the bill to compete among the largest schools in the state as a Class 3A team.

On Wednesday, the Jacks found out what it’s like to face an undefeated 3A team in the state tournament.

Top-seeded Minneapolis Washburn preserved its undefeated record with a 3-0 win over Bemidji at Monticello High ��.

“They were exactly what we expected — very clinical, very technical, no bad first touches,” Lumberjacks head coach Rick Toward said. “They played the ball just like we expected — one side to the other.”

Facing one of the best teams in the state, Bemidji junior goalkeeper Kellen Heuer knew he’d be called on early and often.

Heuer made a diving save on Washburn’s Elliot Walthour in the seventh minute. It would’ve been his most impressive save if it weren’t for Axel Linares’ more dangerous chance in the ninth minute.

Linares found himself all alone five yards in front of Heuer with the ball and attempted a low-left shot. Again, Heuer made a save, this time with his right leg.

“He was outstanding tonight,” Toward said of Heuer. “He played very well tonight. I don’t think there’s anything we can say he did incorrectly tonight. … I give Kellen a lot of credit for keeping us in the game. He had a terrific game.”

In the 19th minute, however, Minnesota’s Mr. Soccer winner got off a shot Heuer couldn’t stop.

Ronan Selbo’s header off of Nico Amaya’s corner kick was pointed, finding the top-left corner of the goal to give the Millers a 1-0 lead.

Bemidji had a grade-A chance to equalize before halftime, thanks to another highlight-reel save from Heuer. Linares was denied again by Heuer’s right leg to cap off a potpourri of chances on two Washburn corner kicks.

It led to a rush for BHS, which resulted in scoring chance for Isaac Stone – the Jacks’ leading goal getter – with the ball on his foot in front of Millers keeper Henry Johnson. Rushed by defenders closing in Stone’s off-balanced shot was corralled by Johnson to preserve the 1-0 lead in the 34th minute.

With a minute left in the first half, Gabe Morin induced another close call with a heavy boot that sailed wide of the Millers’ goal.

The opening minutes of the second half played out much like the opening minutes in the first, except Bemidji controlled the pace offensively. Austin Riewer couldn’t get a clean shot after Washburn’s Johnson fumbled a cross in the 41st minute. Stone also missed wide on a shot he took just inside the box in the 45th minute.

Johnson was called on to make his fourth save in the 53rd minute when Al Toward redirected a cross from Lincoln Schmitt on target.

“The biggest thing was the pace of play,” Toward said. “The difference between what we see on a regular basis and what we saw tonight is how quickly they were able to pressure us, get on the ball and deny us opportunities. We had a couple of chances.

“I would’ve bet money Reed Johnson finishes that cross of Isaac’s ball (in the 76th minute). Isaac had a chance in the first half that didn’t get off the field quick enough. That’s what happens against teams like this.”

Washburn’s thwarted chances in the second half paid off when Lucas Neu doubled the Millers’ lead in the 54th minute. Toward called the goal “a back-breaker.”

Any hope of a Bemidji comeback was put to rest in the 72nd minute when Lineras finally beat Heuer on a seeing-eye shot in the top-left corner.

Washburn (15-0-3) sat on its 3-0 lead in the closing minutes to secure a spot in the 3A semifinal next Wednesday at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. It’s a result that also ended Bemidji’s (14-4-2) season.

“It stings right now, but they’re going to look back on this and say, ‘We did something nobody else in Bemidji has ever done before,” Toward said. “Of course it’s disappointing to be in this moment and have that moment taken away from you, but they should be proud of themselves. They have nothing to hang their heads about.”

Toward has coached most of the Lumberjacks’ seniors for over a decade. Levi Renn, Dash Hiller, Hunter Olson, Brady Riley, Al Toward, Charlie Zellmann, Johnson, Schmitt and Stone comprised the core group of veterans that clinched the program’s first Section 8-3A title, with the help of additional seniors Andrew Kavanagh and Sam Byrne, and a formidable group of underclassmen.

“Ultimately, we’re trying to turn them into good human beings,” Toward said. “They came together as a group this year and grew tremendously into young men. In terms of what they mean to me, they’re an extended family. My kid is on this team, but I’ve known these kids since they were 4 years old. In a sense, it’s like you’re graduating your whole family.

Minneapolis Washburn 3, Bemidji 0

BHS 0 0 — 0

MW 1 2 — 3

Bemidji — No scoring.

Minneapolis Washburn — Selbo 19’ (Amaya); Neu 54’; Lineras 72’.

Saves — Heuer (BSU) 6; Johnson (MW) 4.

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Isaac Stone named to All-State Team; Jacks unseeded at state

Pioneer Staff Report — Mon, 21 Oct 2024 20:51:50 GMT

BEMIDJI – The Bemidji High �� boys soccer team will have its hands full in its Class 3A State Tournament quarterfinal matchup.

The Lumberjacks drew top-seeded Minneapolis Washburn in the first round. The Millers currently hold an unbeaten 14-0-3 record. They allowed just one goal in the Section 6-3A Tournament in a 2-1 quarterfinal win over Rogers.

Washburn advanced through the semifinals with a 1-0 win over Bloomington Kennedy before dispatching Hopkins 4-0 in the 6-3A title game.

The Millers are the third-ranked team in the QRF at 98.5. Minnetonka (16-1-1) is the third-seeded team in the state tournament despite having the highest QRF score (107.2). Bemidji enters with a record of 14-3-2 after beating top-seeded Buffalo 1-0 in the section championship.

The winner of Bemidji’s quarterfinal game against Washburn at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 23, at Monticello High �� will play the winner of No. 4 Eagan (13-0-3) and No. 5 Woodbury (12-1-4). Second-seeded Maple Grove takes on Rochester Mayo (15-0-2), while No. 3 Minnetonka plays against Andover (10-3-3).

Each state-tournament round will be hosted at a neutral site. The semifinals start on Oct. 30 and run through Nov. 1 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. Losers in the quarterfinal round do not play in a consolation tournament.

The Bemidji boys soccer team traveled to St. Paul on Sunday. Isaac Stone was named to the Class 3A All-State Team for his efforts during the 2024 season. Stone had 18 goals and eight assists this season, which were first and second among the Jacks, respectively.

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Sam Byrne’s ‘prophetic’ winning goal nets Bemidji Section 8-3A championship

Jared Rubado — Fri, 18 Oct 2024 05:03:48 GMT

BUFFALO – When Sam Byrne decided to come to the United States as an exchange student, the chances he landed at Bemidji High �� were minuscule.

The senior opted for a random selection.

“I didn’t know where I was going to end up,” Bryne said. “A family – my family – they chose me. At first, I was like, ‘Where is Bemidji? Oh, it’s all the way up North?’ I was super open to it. This team has been like family to me. I’m super lucky to be placed in a school like this with a team like this.”

Sarah and Travis Guida became Byrne’s host parents. They also watched Byrne score the winning goal in the Section 8-3A championship game against top-seeded Buffalo (11-4-4) to send the BHS boys soccer team (14-3-2) to state for the fourth time in program history.

It was a goal that was 4,000 miles in the making.

“It’s a feeling you dream about,” Bryne said. “You dream about having the ball and scoring the winning goal. It doesn’t feel real.”

In the 70th minute, the kid from the Netherlands fielded a cross from Reed Johnson just outside the 18-yard box before beating Buffalo keeper Isaac Brandstrom with a low-left shot. It was the difference in a 1-0 contest.

“He promised me a goal before the game,” head coach Rick Toward said. “In the second half, he promised me the game-winner. You can’t be much more prophetic than that.”

Toward has praised the efforts of his core seniors from the moment summer practices opened. He’s witnessed a group of nine players bond together on the pitch for the better part of a decade.

But Toward needed one more.

Byrne isn’t a Bemidjian, but his 70th-minute strike will live in Lumberjacks lore forever.

“I’m so happy he goes to Bemidji,” senior Dash Hiller said. “Ecstatic, actually.”

“The second he showed up to practice, I was like, ‘This is our guy,’” senior Lincoln Schmitt said. “I knew he was going to be the one who makes a difference. He pushes us in practice and he’s there to finish the goals. When we needed one, he gave us one.”

Thursday was the first time Bemidji and Buffalo met in a section championship game in any class. With winds gusting between 20-30 miles per hour, the 8-3A title game quickly turned into a tale of two halves. The Jacks had the benefit of having the wind at their backs in the opening 40 minutes.

Bemidji had the majority of chances in the first half but couldn’t break through. However, the Bison couldn’t take advantage of the favorable conditions in the second half either.

“Having the wind at your back can lead you to play a style of game you don’t like to play,” Toward said. “We tried to play a longer ball in the first half, and it bit us. We played more of a possession game in the second half, created a great scoring opportunity and Sam found the back of the net. Buffalo never had anything to respond with.”

Once Bemidji got the eventual winning goal, the focus shifted to draining out the remaining 10 minutes and change on the clock.

The Lumberjacks leaned on their stout back line and goalkeeping, surrendering just three shots on target in 80 minutes.

“The last two practices, we’ve just been hammering,” said Hiller, a defender. “We know they want to play the long ball, and they’re good at it. We knew their goalie had an enormous foot, so we just had to drop back and watch the long ball. We just had to play our game.”

When the clock showed a collection of zeros, the celebration commenced.

“I’m pretty speechless, I can’t lie,” Schmitt said. “We’ve worked countless hours for this. We fell short a couple of times, but that led to this. We did it on our last ride.”

Toward has donned first-place medals on his players three other times in his three-decade-long coaching career. He called his fourth turn at the honor “rewarding.”

“The goal was to get them to play as a group,” Toward said. “There’s talent on this team, but can we get them to play as 11? The game against Duluth East was our turning point. We lost 2-0 on their field and played one of the worst games of our season. Right after that, we didn’t lose for 11 games. We got nipped against (St. Cloud) Cathedral because we went in with a bad attitude. Then we win three straight in the section playoffs.

“I’m super excited, super proud. But most of all, I’m so happy they believed in themselves and their coaches for what we were trying to get them to do.”

For the players, the slow walk up to the center of the impromptu stage was years in the making.

“I wouldn’t want anyone else to give me this medal,” Schmitt said of Toward. “From day one, he told me to trust him and we’ll go all the way. He said he believes in us to go all the way, now we’re doing it. … There were times where we’d bike to the high school together to play soccer growing up. You do that for moments like this. I wouldn’t trade this team or these guys for anything.”

One player in particular received a longer embrace after getting his medal. Toward put it around his son, Al, one of Bemidji’s nine core seniors.

“(Assistant coach) Elmer (Galdamez’s) son played in the state tournament,” Toward said. “He asked me tonight, ‘So, what do you think?’ Well, now I understand how much that moment meant to him while Aspen was playing for us and when he got to be his coach. So for Al, especially with his journey he’s been on to get to this point, I’m just so proud.”

As for Byrne, his trepidation of finding a quality American soccer team to play on were put to bed far before Thursday night at Buffalo High ��. But having the hardware to take home to the Netherlands to prove it was the finishing touch.

“I’m used to a high level of soccer back home,” Bryne said. “Finding a soccer team was a concern for me. I didn’t know what kind of team, if any, I’d get to play on. But this team is all I’ve ever wanted. I knew our team had it in them since the first time I played with them. Now, it’s our reality. I don’t know if I believe it’s happened yet. I mean, we’re section champions, it’s insane.”

No. 2 Bemidji 1, No. 1 Buffalo 0

BEM 0 1 – 1

BUF 0 0 – 0

Bemidji – Byrne 70’ (Johnson).

Buffalo – No scoring.

Saves – Heuer (BEM) 3; Brandstorm (BUF) 4.

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Jacks rewrite sour past, punch ticket to Section 8-3A final with win over Moorhead

Jared Rubado — Wed, 16 Oct 2024 03:38:26 GMT

BEMIDJI – Down 2-1 in the waning minutes of the 2023 Section 8-3A semifinal against Sartell, the Bemidji High �� boys soccer team couldn’t find an equalizer.

It was a game and a result that plagued the Lumberjacks for 368 days. Then they got their chance at redemption at Chet Anderson Stadium.

Down 2-1 to No. 6 Moorhead, second-seeded BHS found the tying goal it missed a year ago.

“The (doubt) was there, but we have a really tough group of guys that just keep battling,” junior Austin Riewer said. “We don’t give up, it was awesome that nobody quit on that field. They were all locked in.”

Riewer tied the game, then the Jacks found two more in a 4-2 win over the Spuds to grab the second and final spot in the Section 8-3A championship.

“It’s senior leadership,” head coach Rick Toward said. “That group of kids who watched their season end 2-1 last year, they saw the same thing potentially happening again. They just dug within themselves, calmed themselves down and said, ‘This is not going to happen.’”

When it looked like the Lumberjacks couldn’t find a spark in the attacking third, Riewer whittled a pair of sticks together. He finished off a similar cross as he did in the third minute, this time from Al Toward. Riewer’s second goal came in the 53rd minute to make it 2-2.

“They’re not always the highlight reel goals,” Coach Toward said. “He gets the grind-it-out, gritty goals you get in front of the net. But they all count the same, so the one that Austin got off of Al’s header, that was the difference-maker. … That bought us a little confidence.”

Moorhead protested the equalizer, claiming it hit Riewer in the arm. The officials convened and determined the goal was a good one.

“It was close,” Riewer said. “I’d say it was more off my shoulder, more off my chest than anything. I have to give a lot of credit to my guys Al and Isaac (Stone). They had beautiful (passes) right to me. I was just in the right place at the right time.”

Bemidji moved into the driver’s seat in the 70th minute. Reed Johnson led an attack into the offensive third, carrying the ball into the penalty area. So when a Spuds defender took him to the ground, Stone was left to ensure the Jacks a spot in the Section 8-3A title game with a penalty kick.

Stone stood over the ball looking at Yusuf Hassan, who relieved Gyvan Beljulji, Moorhead’s typical keeper. Stone went to Hassan’s right, while Hassan leaned to his left in the 70th minute.

Stone sealed the win in the 77th minute with his second goal, assisted by Sam Byrne.

“He always plays on edge,” Toward said of Stone. “He was sitting on a yellow card 15 minutes into the game. But he had to play within himself for the next 55 (minutes) when I got him back out there. He’s always going to play on the edge. That’s his style, that’s his play. When I put him out there, he can’t let me down. So far, he has not disappointed.”

BHS got out of trouble during a few Moorhead threats in the opening minutes of the first half, then made the Spuds pay for it. Riewer finished off Stone’s cross deep in the 18-yard box to give the Jacks a 1-0 lead in the third minute.

Stone received a high through ball from Levi Renn in the midfield to set up the game’s first goal.

Reiwer’s finish was the lone goal for either team in the first half. Both teams combined for just three shots on target.

An offensively stagnant first half flipped on its head in the opening minutes of the second. Broderick Hansen headed in the equalizer in the 37th minute on a free kick for Moorhead. Then, a minute later, Bemidji’s Charlie Zellmann redirected another Moorhead free kick from the midfield off the post and in to give the Spuds a 2-1 lead.

“It’s the gut check,” Toward said. “That’s where that senior leadership comes in, where the kids have to dig within themselves and trust each other.”

On top of being down a goal, the Lumberjacks (13-3-2) were also playing against the emotions of a hotly-contested game. Renn, Stone, Brady Riley and Lincoln Schmitt were all served yellow cards on Tuesday. If any of them had received a second, they would be ruled out for the section final.

“Playing on a yellow for Brady, Lincoln or Isaac is not a new thing,” Toward said. “They’ve played a lot of their careers on yellow. They play with emotion, intensity and such heart, and sometimes, it spills over. They’re 17-year-old kids, they’re going to have those moments. But in the end, the scoreboard was right.”

The Spuds (5-9-4) also posed entirely different threats than Brainerd did in the 8-3A quarterfinal.

“That’s what Moorhead brings – chaos,” Toward said. “It was a big adjustment from Thursday. Brainerd did not press the way Moorhead presses. They pushed us hard and tried to win the ball back early on the field, and it took an adjustment for our boys to figure that out. We tried to play small ball, we tried to play cute in the back. The adjustment in the second half was the ball getting off Charlie, Levi and Dash (Hiller’s) feet quicker to find space.”

Only top-seeded Buffalo (11-3-4) stands in the way of Bemidji reaching its fourth state tournament. With a win at Buffalo High �� on Thursday, it would be the first time the Lumberjacks won a section championship since being moved to Class 3A.

BHS earned a 2-2 draw with the Bison on Sept. 23 on the road. The Jacks trailed 2-0 in the first half of the game.

“Buffalo plays the long ball really well,” Riewer said. “Their keeper plays it very far. We have to win the 50/50 balls and just battle like we did tonight. … We need to focus and play how we typically play, moving the ball around as a team.”

For 30-year head coach Rick Toward, who’s preparing to coach in his seventh section final, the feeling of getting there doesn’t tire.

“It never gets old,” Toward said. “Sometimes the ride is exhausting, sometimes the ride is aging. But when I look back on it, it’s never boring. It’s what keeps me coming back after 30 years.”

No. 2 Bemidji 4, No. 6 Moorhead 0

MHD 0 2 – 2

BHS 1 3 – 4

Bemidji – Riewer 3’ (Stone), 53’ (Toward); Stone 70’ (PK), 76’ (Byrne).

Moorhead – Hansen 42’ (Totorice); Own Goal 43’.

Saves – Heuer (BHS) 2; Beljulji (MHD) 0; Y. Hassan (MHD) 1.

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Bemidji ensures ‘Heart Will Go On’ in 8-3A quarterfinal triumph over Brainerd

Jared Rubado — Fri, 11 Oct 2024 03:21:33 GMT

BEMIDJI – What do Celine Dion and GloRilla have in common?

Aside from being wildly popular artists, the two can now say they were the subject of Isaac Stone scoring celebrations.

In the 14th minute of the Section 8-3A quarterfinal match against No. 7 Brainerd, the Bemidji High �� boys soccer senior beat a Warriors’ defender with a quick shimmy before streaking to the goal. He beat keeper Owen Sjoberg to his left to give the second-seeded Lumberjacks a 2-0 lead.

For his first act, Stone raised his arms out to his side, playing the role of Rose from the 1997 hit movie “Titanic.” Fellow senior Sam Byrne was cast to play Jack, placing his hands under Rose’s arms to the silent tune of Dion’s “My Heart Will Go On.”

Ten minutes later, Stone scored again. This time, he took to the sideline for his second act.

Stone fast-forwarded 27 years to perform a dance from the song “BOP.” It’s a sequence that was popularized on TikTok this fall to the beat of hip-hop musician GloRilla.

“All week during practice, we were planning celebrations as a team for when we score,” Stone said. “But for the second one, I just saw a TikTok and thought, ‘Why not?’

It was Stone’s world on Thursday, and everybody else was living in it.

“I was never a big goal scorer, so I didn’t get a ton of celebrations,” head coach Rick Toward said with a laugh. “My dad taught me to do the Walter Payton – get in the end zone and flip the ball to the refs, act like you’ve been there before. I wasn’t a big celly guy, but the kid’s always got his creative side showing.”

With a pair of goals and two assists, Stone moved into third all-time in points over his career in program history (75). He’s scored 56 goals in total – 16 this season – while adding 19 assists.

Stone got on the scoresheet for a third time in the 40th minute, assisting on Riewer’s fourth goal this season. He also assisted Al Toward’s first goal of the year to open the second half in the 42nd minute.

The Jacks (12-3-2) got their first goal off the foot of Gabe Morin in the eighth minute. The junior took 23 shots toward opposing keepers this season, but none of them led to goals.

That streak ended on Thursday night.

Reed Johnson heaved a 15-yard throw-in to Lincoln Schmitt, who dished a first-touch pass to Austin Riewer just outside the 18-yard box. Reiwer moved the ball backward to Morin, who belted a seeing-eye shot past Sjoberg’s outstretched arms.

It was Morin’s first career goal.

“Way too many,” Morin said when asked if he knew how many shots he took before getting his first goal. “There were quite a few, and it took long enough to get one. It felt insane to get it. All of the guys have been teasing me, so I had to prove them wrong.”

It was a goal that settled Bemidji’s nerves, who entered the Section 8-3A Tournament on a sour note with a 3-1 road loss against St. Cloud Cathedral last Saturday.

“I think it deflated Brainerd,” Toward said. “You know you’re the underdog, but can you steal one? Can you get a 1-0 or 2-1 game? That first goal going in, in the manner it went in from a kid who’s never scored, it calmed everybody down. I felt like Isaac would get one tonight, maybe two, which he did. He’s a hard guy to deny. But the first one goes in from someone who’s not your goal scorer, you feel pretty good.”

The Lumberjacks clicked on each third of the field. They hammered 14 shots on target for Sjoberg without surrendering any to Brainerd (4-9-3). It was a welcomed sight for Toward, who entered Thursday night with trepidations.

“Playing to your potential is every coach’s goal,” Toward said. “If you’d asked me two days ago what we were going to do tonight after what we looked like in practice, I would’ve told you I was kind of nervous. But when they stepped on the field and started going, when they got that first goal from Gabe, it was just a ride from there.”

Since the beginning of the summer, Bemidji’s objective has been clear: rewrite the wrong that occurred in the 8-3A semifinal a year ago. The Jacks suffered a 2-1 loss on the road against Sartell, leaving more to be desired after a promising season.

However, in a game that left Bemidji with an empty feeling, it’s since turned into fuel. The Lumberjacks are back where it all ended last season as they will host No. 6 Moorhead on Tuesday, Oct. 15, at Chet Anderson Stadium. The Spuds upset third-seeded St. Michael-Albertville, the two-time defending 8-3A champions, 5-3.

“We know what we have to do to get the next win,” Stone said. “It definitely hurt last year. We’re going to try to clean up those mistakes and get better. Any team in our section is decent. No one is going to come here, roll over and give us the win. We need to lock in during these next few days of practice and get it done.”

As for Stone’s third act, he left his audience with a cliffhanger.

“We did have a third one,” Stone said. “I guess we’ll show you next game.”

No. 2 Bemidji 5, No. 7 Brainerd 0

BRD 0 0 – 0

BEM 4 1 – 5

Bemidji – Morin 8’ (Riewer); Stone 14’ (Johnson), 24’ (Bryne); Riewer 40’ (Stone); Toward 42’ (Stone).

Brainerd – No scoring.

Saves – Heuer (BEM) 0; Sjoberg (BRD) 9.

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Bemidji girls, boys soccer teams take conference title-winning seasons into sections

Pioneer Staff Report — Mon, 07 Oct 2024 20:38:43 GMT

BEMIDJI – There will be at least two more Bemidji High �� soccer games at Chet Anderson Stadium this fall.

The BHS girls, fresh off of winning their third straight Lakes to Prairie Conference title, were voted as the No. 3 seed in Section 8-3A. The Lumberjacks will host No. 6 Sartell (10-5-0, 2-5-0 8-3A) at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 9, at Bemidji State.

The Jacks beat the Sabres 4-1 in their home opener on Aug. 24 at Bemidji Middle ��. Bemidji finished with a regular-season record of 8-6-1 and went 3-2-0 in 8-3A play.

Buffalo (10-1-5, 4-0-1 8-3A) earned the top seed and will host No. 8 Sauk Rapids-Rice (3-11-1, 0-3-0). Second-seeded St. Michael-Albertville (11-4-1, 6-0-1 8-3A) welcomes No. 7 Moorhead (6-10-0, 1-7-0 8-3A) to town, while No. 4 Brainerd (12-3-1, 3-2-1 8-3A) hosts fifth-seeded Elk River (6-7-3, 2-2-1 8-3A).

The first two rounds of the girls Section 8-3A Tournament will be hosted by the highest seeds. The semifinals will be played on Saturday, Oct. 12, with the high-seed host championship game being played on Oct. 15.

The Bemidji boys soccer team also takes a conference crown into sections. The Lumberjacks were awarded the No. 2 seed on Monday morning.

The Lumberjacks head into sections with a record of 11-3-2 and a section mark of 5-1-1. BHS will host No. 7 Brainerd (4-8-3, 1-6-1 8-3A) at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 10.

Buffalo picked up the top seed with an unbeaten section record of 4-0-2 (9-3-4 overall) and will host No. 8 Sauk Rapids-Rice (7-7-1, 0-3-0 8-3A). Two-time defending champion STMA (6-7-3, 6-1-0) is the third-seeded team and will host No. 6 Moorhead (4-8-4, 1-6-0 8-3A), while fourth-seeded Sartell (8-6-1, 3-3-0 8-3A) takes on Elk River (4-8-4, 1-1-1 8-3A).

All quarterfinal games will be played on Thursday, with the semifinals being hosted by the highest remaining seeds on Tuesday, Oct. 15. The 8-3A title game is hosted by the high seed on Thursday, Oct. 17.

Both the Bemidji girls and boys soccer teams earned the highest seedings in their respective program histories since moving up to Class 3A.

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Reed Johnson scores lone goal in Lumberjacks' loss to St. Cloud Cathedral

Pioneer Staff Report — Sun, 06 Oct 2024 01:32:21 GMT

ST. CLOUD – The Bemidji High �� boys soccer team traveled down to St. Cloud Cathedral on Saturday afternoon to cap off the regular season.

The Lumberjacks lost 3-1, thanks in large part to a stellar individual performance from one of the Crusaders.

Reed Johnson scored the Jacks’ lone goal of the game, cashing in on an assist from Brady Riley to take a 1-0 lead in the first half.

However, St. Cloud Cathedral’s Jacob Oliver was unstoppable in the second half, earning a hat trick in the final 40 minutes to push SCC to a win.

St. Cloud Cathedral 3, Bemidji 1

BEM 1 0 – 1

STC 0 3 – 3

Bemidji – Johnson 28’ (Riley).

St. Cloud Cathedral – Oliver 47’ (Stockman), Oliver 49’ (Stockman), Oliver 68’ (Lee).

Saves – Heuer (BHS) 1; Vaske (SCC) 3.

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Bemidji’s seniors get their moment in dominating win over Hillcrest Lutheran Academy

Jared Rubado — Fri, 04 Oct 2024 03:55:36 GMT

BEMIDJI – A lot of Bemidji High �� seniors play boys soccer – enough to fill out an entire lineup.

So that’s what head coach Rick Toward did on Senior Night.

From top to bottom, the Lumberjacks had 11 seniors in 11 positions at Chet Anderson Stadium on Thursday night. BHS rolled to an efficient 10-0 win over Hillcrest Lutheran Academy in its final home game of the regular season.

Charlie Zellmann, Al Toward, Isaac Stone, Brady Riley, Andrew Kavanagh, Lincoln Schmitt, Hunter Olson, Dash Hiller, Sam Bryne and Reed Johnson all took the pitch together, but it wasn’t until the game was out of reach when the senior moments were cemented.

In the 57th minute, after most of the seniors were taken off the field, Bemidji's focus shifted. The objective was to get Renn, a defender, his first goal.

After several close calls, Renn got it, and the players on the sideline rushed the field in euphoria.

“It was epic,” Renn said. “It was so epic to be out there and finally connect on one. I was excited, and I was like, ‘It’s finally here. I finally got one.’”

With plenty of time left on the clock, the Lumberjacks shifted the attention once again. This time it was pointed toward Kavanagh, who scored his first varsity goal in the 77th minute.

“It was one of the happiest moments of my life,” Kavanagh said. “It was really cool, the whole night was really cool.”

Once again, the Jacks rushed the field.

“They never get old,” Toward said of the celebratory moments. “You love to see your kids celebrate each other. To me, it says a lot about the things we want sports to give us besides a victory. It’s camaraderie, teamwork – all of those things. These guys genuinely care about each other.”

Eight of the 11 BHS seniors found themselves on the scoresheet. But in the waning moments on Senior Night, the generosity Toward saw from his players stood out.

“There were several kids on the field who had yet to score this year,” Toward said. “But they’re underclassmen. They turned down the opportunity to get a goal. They made the extra pass to make sure (Kavanagh) got one. The selflessness of each of these guys and the commitment we’re trying to get, it’s rewarding to know they value that.”

For Renn, he finally got a different vantage point for one of those moments.

“I’ve been on the other side of it, celebrating with everybody else,” Renn said. “It was fun to kind of be the person they’re celebrating this time. It was super special, and I’ll remember it for a long time.”

Stone and Byrne each scored twice, while Johnson, Riley, Austin Riewer and an own goal accounted for the rest of Bemidji’s scoring. Al Toward and Schmitt each had an assist.

One senior, however, played all 80 minutes and didn’t chip in offensively. That’s because he was in net.

Junior Kellen Heuer typically starts in goal for the Lumberjacks. However, he’s currently nursing an injury, and his recovery paved the way for Olson to play his third game at keeper.

Olson made one save in the clean sheet Lakes to Prairie Conference championship-clinching win.

“He played the game in Sartell and had a clean sheet there,” Toward said. “He played a half over in Crookston last night and had one there too. He’s played 200 minutes without giving up a goal. … Hunter had the opportunity to play, and he hasn’t scored a varsity goal. But he said, ‘No, I’ll be your goalie tonight.’”

As for Toward, who’s nearing the end of his 30th season as the head coach of the Jacks, he can’t recall many opportunities to play a senior in every spot to open a Senior Night match like he did on Thursday.

“It’s pretty unusual,” Toward said. “Typically, we’re in that five, six, seven range on a good year. This group has been together for a long time. My kid being a part of it, I’ve known these kids for a long time, and that makes it a little extra special.”

Bemidji has one more game before it turns the page to the Section 8-3A playoffs. With one final tune-up against St. Cloud Cathedral on the road on Saturday, the Lumberjacks are looking to extend their unbeaten streak to 12 games.

But for now, Renn will relish a night that was years in the making. After the win, BHS players hoisted their head coach over their shoulders in yet another celebration. This time, it was for Toward’s birthday.

“We’ve been playing together for a long, long time,” Renn said. “Tonight was a manifestation of all of those years of play.”

Bemidji 10, Hillcrest Lutheran Academy 0

HLA 0 0 – 0

BHS 3 7 – 10

Bemidji – Johnson 9’ (Byrne); Stone 9’ (Riley), 48’ (Riewer); Own goal 12’; Riley 47’ (Riewer); Riewer 48’ (Toward); Byrne 50’ (Schmitt), 51’ (Riley); Renn 57’; Kavanagh 77’ (Ceballos).

Hillcrest Lutheran Academy – No scoring.

Saves – Olson (BHS) 1; Selvig (HLA) 14.

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Strong first half propels Bemidji to clean-sheet win over Crookston

Pioneer Staff Report — Thu, 03 Oct 2024 01:03:16 GMT

CROOKSTON – The Bemidji High �� boys soccer team scored three goals in the first half and earned a clean sheet in net to secure a 3-0 road victory over Crookston Wednesday evening.

Isaac Stone opened the scoring for the Lumberjacks, cashing in on an assist from Austin Riewer in the 4th minute.

In the 12th minute, Riewer added some padding to the Jacks’ lead with a goal of his own, thanks to an assist from Jeron Huseby.

Brady Riley scored Bemidji’s final goal of the evening in the 28th minute to make it 3-0. Reed Johnson was credited with the assist.

The Lumberjacks’ clean sheet came courtesy of a pair of goalkeepers. Dash Hiller made one save in the first half and Hunter Olson didn’t have to make any in the second to keep the goose egg on the scoreboard.

Crookston’s goalkeeper Reggie Winjum made 11 saves on the night.

Bemidji 3, Crookston 0

BHS 3 0 – 3

CRK 0 0 – 0

Bemidji – Stone 4’ (Riewer), Riewer 12’ (Huseby), Riley 28’ (Johnson).

Crookston – No scoring.

Saves – Hiller (BHS) 1, Olson (BHS) 0; Winjum (CRK) 11.

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