WAUKESHA, Wis. – The North Park University men's soccer team took care of business Wednesday night, routing the Pioneers of Carroll University at Schneider Stadium. The Vikings scored in the 62nd, 64th, and 65th minutes on the way to 4-0 clean sheet victory for Alfred Sward.
Neither side dominated play in the first half, as an opener seemed hard to come by. It wasn't until the 21st minute when Angel Barriga took the ball down the left wing, cut inside a hammered home a fierce right footed shot with authority for a 1-0 lead. That was the only shot on goal for either side in the entire half and the Vikings went into the break up one.
Halftime: North Park 1, Carroll 0
The Vikings hounded Carroll with chance after chance in half number two, seeming to spend the entirety of the frame in their offensive half. It was North Park's all-time leading goal scorer, Peder Olsen, that gave the Vikings the cushion when he found the back of the net on a great pass from Tobias Lunde. NPU did not let an insurance goal comfort them too much as another offensive surge resulted in a Carroll foul in the penalty box, and Patrick Knap converting the resulting PK. In the blink of an eye, NPU added a fourth goal just 23 seconds later when Oscar Safstrom found Tobias Lunde who poked the ball in the back of the net. According to the NCAA record book, this was the 14th-quickest time that a trio of goals has been scored in D3 men's soccer history.
From there, more of the North Park bench was able to see the field, but the defense held strong to keep the zero on Carroll's side of the scoreboard.
Final: North Park 4, Carroll 0
With this win, the NPU men's soccer team has clinched their 17th straight season with double digit wins, and their 20th straight winning season. That is currently the 19th-longest winning-seasons streak in D3 men's soccer history, and it is currently the 5th most active winning-seasons streak trailing only Ohio Wesleyan, Messiah, Williams, and Amherst.
What's Next?
No. 23 North Park (10-3, 5-0 CCIW) will host the No. 14 Cardinals of North Central (14-0-1, 4-0-1 CCIW) in a huge battle on Saturday, October 16th at the Holmgren Athletic Complex. NPU will look to give NCC their first loss of the season in a game starting at 7:30 PM.
