CHICAGO, Ill. – The North Park men's soccer team concluded their 2021 season Saturday with a 2-0 loss against the University of Chicago. The defeat not only concludes the season for the Vikings, but also brings a close to the careers of one of the most prolific senior classes in North Park history.
The Maroons got off to a quick start on their home turf earning a corner just as the clock ticked past five minutes in. After the ball was batted around for the quite some time, it eventually took an awkward ricochet off of a Chicago body before falling to the foot of Robbie Pino who was in perfect position to stab the ball in the back of the net, which he did. The Vikings immediately surrounded the ref with appeals of a handball by a Maroon. After conferring with the linesmen, no handball was given, and the goal stood.
15 minutes later, a perfectly scripted play by NPU nearly had the contest equal as a give-and-go to Peder Olsen just sailed over the bar. Both defenses limited possession in each other's attacking third and it seemed as if the battle was destined to go into halftime with no more goals.
With less than six minutes to go in the half, though, UChicago was able to bookend the half with another goal, this time a 23-yard shot from Kameron Bloye that perfectly one-hopped up and beyond the reach of NPU's Alfred Sward. The University of Chicago outshot the Vikings 6-3 in the first half, but the only two on target for the Maroons got them on the scoresheet.
Halftime: UChicago 2, North Park 0
The Vikings had an offensive onslaught in the second half, controlling possession the entire frame and mostly having the ball in their attacking half. On numerous occasions, North Park looked to draw within one, including an Olsen shot high and a Jostein Blindheim shot that just drifted wide left in the first 20 minutes. In the 68th minute, NPU's Angel Barriga was robbed on a full layout save from the Maroons Will Boyes to preserve his clean sheet.
North Park did not give in until the final whistle blew, missing on a trio of shots in the final ten minutes, and not allowing a goal despite throwing almost all their bodies into the attack. The University of Chicago defense was able to buckle down and preserve the lead in order to book the Maroons a trip to the National Semifinal.
Final: UChicago 2, North Park 0
What's Next?
The Vikings finish their season with an overall record of 16-6 as well as graduate an outstanding senior class of Olsen, Gustav Ericsson, Ulrik Lund, Erik Lundeen, Patrick Knap, Edin Sabovic, Miguel Moreno, and Gavin Johnson.
