Bemidji-If you ask Irene Becker, the success of the Bemidji State Women's Football Team should be attributed to her matchday routine.

First, there is a Dunkin' Donuts run and a bowl of Cocoa Pebbles in the morning. Her hair is braided in the same way, and she uses the same ponytail. Somewhere there, her mother sent a Snapchat wishing you good luck.

Becker's socks, shin guards and shoes continue-always from right to left. The warm-up always starts at the same place on the court. She passed Sara Wendt and Emma Huelsnitz before the game, hugged Madisanne Dahl and shook hands with the coach.

"A lot of my teammates think I'm crazy," said Becker, who also had to sit on the right side of the bus before the away game. "I may be the most superstitious....I don't know why I have them. It just makes me feel more prepared."

Regardless of management wisdom, the most important question is whether all this is effective.

"Yes!" she exclaimed. "We got the dubbing."

On Friday, October 29, 2021, Bemidji State University senior Erin Becker (11 years old) won possession of the ball in the first half against U-Mary at Chet Anderson Stadium. (Jillian Gandersey/Bemidji Pioneer)

This week, the No. 6 Beavers can rely on Becker to bring the same lucky routine to the NSIC Championship.

"This year, we are going to make a show first," Becker said. "This is our goal to win the championship."

BSU (16-0-2, 13-0-2 NSIC) remained unbeaten this fall and won the NSIC regular season championship. This championship is the second in the history of the show, but similar successes in recent years have not brought the glory of the playoffs.

Bemidji State University participated in the Divisional Championship for the 11th consecutive time, but the Beavers never entered the championship. BSU is only 4-14-3 in this century's game.

"It is always exciting when you have the opportunity to write your own story and possibly add a chapter or two that has never appeared before," said Bemidji State University head coach Jim Stone. "The children are very excited, and the coach is also very excited."

The Beavers will reach new heights this season. Just like superstition, the close connection of the team makes history possible.

"This team is the closest team I have ever played," said junior goalkeeper Alyssa Stumbaugh, who has not scored in a goal difference of 363 minutes and 54 seconds. "It really feels like a sisterhood and a family. It's great to be able to celebrate these achievements with this particular team."

On Friday, October 22, 2021, against Southwest Minnesota State University's Bemidji State University teenager Alyssa Stubb in the first half at Chet Anderson Stadium. (Micah Fritz/Bemidji Pioneer)

"They have a very good friendship," Stone added. "But even in this kind of friendship, they can be competitive. It's quite unique."

The first test of the playoffs was on Wednesday, November 10th at 1:00 pm, when the top-seeded Beavers played against the eighth-seeded Northern State University at Chet Anderson Stadium. The winner will participate in the fourth-seeded Minot State University or fifth-seeded Concordia-St. Paul will participate in the semi-finals on Friday, and the championship game will kick off at 2 pm on Sunday.

"We want to break records here," Stumbaugh said. "We want to do something that the previous team hasn't done. We want to be famous for ourselves."

Moreover, if you are lucky, BSU can participate in the conference and subsequent competitions.

"Our goal this year is clearly to go further than ever before," Becker said. "We want to keep improving in every game. Honestly, we just want to be the best version of ourselves."