CHICAGO, Ill. – The North Park men's soccer team was stunned last night as a 10-men Wheaton College was able to find a goal in the 96th minute to win the CCIW semifinals in walk-off fashion.
It was the Vikings that struck first when Peder Olson sent a sumptuous through ball down the left side that found Tobias Lunde who dribbled the ball along the end line before poking it to William de Carro who slapped it into the promised land. The Thunder found an answer just seven minutes later when a brilliant move combined with a lethal strike by Silas Galvao had the game tied at one in the 29th. Wheaton controlled the ball the remainder of the half, but nothing would come from it.
Halftime: North Park 1, Wheaton 1
The two sides were fairly equal in possession at the start of the second half, but everything changed when Wheaton's Michael Groza picked up his second yellow card to put the visitors down a man for the remainder of the contest. The final 20 minutes of the contest had chance after chance going to the Vikings, but numerous brilliant saves from Thunder keeper Hasten Biddlecome get the sides even. Biddlecome finished with seven saves, all but one coming in the second half.
With nobody finding a winner in regulation, the game went to a golden goal overtime. Five minutes into the extra period, Wheaton drew a foul in their attacking third. Thunder forward Alessandra D'Argento delivered a lofting ball to the back post that Wheaton's Drew Beamer headed into the back of the net to win the game for the Thunder.
Final: Wheaton 2, North Park 1
What's Next?
The Vikings (13-5) await to see if their resume was good enough to get into the NCAA tournament which starts next weekend. The selection show will be at noon on Monday, November 8th.
