Box Score

North Park nearly staged a comeback in its non-conference men's soccer matchup with host Alma College in Michigan Friday afternoon, but the Vikings came up on the short end of the result losing by 3-2 margin.

NP, which controlled the game with 23 total shots, including 13 on goal compared to Alma's nine, initially took a 1-0 lead in 20th minute when senior Carl Damberg tallied his second goal of the season off a pass from Mike Herbst. Damberg dribbled the ball in and fired a shot just inside the box. Alma came back to tie the match at 1-1 however 12 minutes later when Matt Sovis scored unassisted from 22 yards out on a shot that landed in the bottom right corner of the net. The Scots then took a 2-1 lead going into halftime when Zack Vandeveer tallied his first goal of the season just five minutes before the break on a rebounded ball from inside the 18-yard line.

Junior Jonas Pettersson, NP's top goal-scorer from last season was marked most of the contest as he didn't record a shot during action, but the Vikings created other chances from within their possessions. Junior Markus Fodstad, who had five shots, three on goal, came up with the equalizer for the Vikings in the 69th minute after Pettersson's lone shot, a penalty kick rebounded off Alma's keeper and into Fodstad's possession for his first goal of the season. Alma decided the game however seven minutes later when Joonas Kotke scored on a penalty kick after NPU received a yellow card. The Vikings did have a chance to take the lead a minute earlier when Fodstad was awarded a PK after an Alma foul, but his shot missed.

North Park (2-2-1) looks to rebound tomorrow afternoon as it continues its Michigan trip with Olivet College at 3 p.m.