PICTURED: Miguel Valle
Men's Soccer Photo Gallery

In arguably its best defensive performance of the season, North Park handed No. 23 nationally-ranked the University of Dubuque its first loss of the season, a 2-0 decision Wednesday night at the Holmgren Athletic Complex.

Despite being out-shot 21-12, the Vikings made theirs matter as they put away goals in both halves. Coming off a disappointing loss the weekend before, NP bounced back in a big way by using their speed and agility to move the ball through the Spartan defense.

Sophomore Carel Kawele Kuzona tallied his second goal in the last two games and his fourth overall in the 40th minute when he took a Gianfranco DeCarne free kick offering and headed the ball in the lower right third of the goal.  For DeCarne it was his team-best fifth assist of the season.

After a defensively sound 35 minutes by both teams into the second half, North Park then all but put the match out of reach when Miguel Valle scored from two yards out on a feed from Marrion Alvaro for only the second goal of his career. In all, North Park had four shots on goal.

Of the Spartans 21 shots, six were on goal with Gonzalo Hernandez firing a game-high seven shots. Both keepers made a combined eight saves. Vikings keeper Wesley Woodley improved his saves percentage to 72.7 and earned his first shutout.

North Park (4-2-1) returns to action Saturday night when it hosts CCIW opponent Carroll University at 7 p.m.