RIVER FOREST, Ill. -- The North Park University women's soccer team (2-2-1_ won an overtime thriller against the Concordia Cougars on Saturday afternoon by a score of 3-2. Linn Nordqvist hammered home the game-winning goal in the extra period off of Agnes Bohlin's assist to give the Vikings their second win of the season.

The Vikings were on the road for this matchup that turned out to be a defensive battle in the first half as both teams struggled to break through the opposing back line. North Park would finish the half with just two shots compared to Concordia's four, but the script would soon flip in the second half as both teams got their feet underneath them.

The two sides came out of the gates hot following halftime. Keeper Emily LaSalle's save in the 49^th minute kept the game even at 0, but Concordia would regain possession following the goal kick. Their attack would be met by a fatal counter from the Vikings. A clearance from Danielle Boudakh in the 50^th minute slipped through the Concordia defense and created a picture-perfect scoring chance that Ida Hjelle converted from the edge of the box; her second goal of the season. 

Concordia would equalize shortly after thanks to a penalty kick off the foot of Medelin Loza. Not to be deterred, the Vikings continued to pressure the Concordia defense with aggressive runs at the net. One of these runs, courtesy of Clara Wernbo, created a chance for Abigail Balmaseda who made a strong finish through contact to put the Vikings up 2-1 in the 72^nd minute.

The lead would dissipate quickly as Concordia came knocking back with a strong finish of their own. Melica Kenworthy slotted home the equalizer off of a cross from teammate Lucia Fullone to tie the match at 2-2 with 10 minutes of regulation remaining. This score remained until the end of the half. After getting outshot two to four in the first, North Park got the upper hand in the second, finishing with four shots in the half compared to three from Concordia. 

The shifting momentum built in North Park's favor during the overtime period. The four shots that the Vikings took in the second half were matched in just seven minutes of overtime play. The fourth would be the last of the match. A corner kick from Agnes Bohlin in the 97^th minute found its way to Linn Nordqvist who sent the Vikings home with the W.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by North Park Women's Soccer (@npuwsoccer)

What's Next?

Next up for the Vikings is a match against Lake Forest College on Wednesday, September 15^th at 7 P.M. The Vikings will return to the Holmgren Athletic Complex to play in front of their home crowd after picking up the OT win on the road.