CHICAGO, Ill. – Kickoff didn't come until 9:22 PM, but the North Park men's soccer team churned out a win late Friday night over No. 20 Luther College at the Holmgren Athletic Complex. Peder Olsen's 70th minute free kick was the lone goal of the game in the 1-0 victory for the Vikings.
The Vikings controlled the pace of play for the most part in half number one, but neither side could come up with many genuine chances. Just minutes into the contest, Gustav Ericsson pounded a free kick with his right foot the ricocheted hard off the crossbar. Five minutes later, Angel Barriga broke through the Norse defense and forced a save out of Luther keeper Carson Davenport.
Except for a lone Alfred Sward save on a hard ground shot by the Norse, both offenses were held at bay until the 44th minute when Ericsson had another crack at goal, and this one would have gone in if not for a full extension save from Davenport to keep it out. Neither side went into halftime with a goal.
Halftime: North Park 0, No. 20 Luther 0
In the 53rd minute, the Norse came oh-so-close to finding an opener. A mistake in the backline from the Vikings had Luther striker Will Overberg all alone with just Sward to beat. The NPU goalkeeper stood tall though, making one save on Overberg, then lunging to get his fingertips on the follow-up from Steven Johnson which pushed it just enough to go off the right post and stay out of the Vikings' goal.
Luther's David Burgad committed a foul to break up a Viking counter in the 62nd minute, receiving a yellow card, his second of the game, thus translating to a red and putting the Norse down to 10 men for the remainder of the contest. The fouls continued for Luther as North Park's Patrick Knap put the heat on Luther's keeper and a defender, drawing enough contact after he took possession of the ball to earn a free kick just outside the box. Olsen stepped up, and with calm precision swiftly buried the ball in the back of the net to put NPU ahead.
The Norse pushed forward for the rest of the game but weren't able to find a shorthanded equalizer. North Park saw the clock expire to clinch their first top-20 upset win on the year.
FINAL: North Park 1, No. 20 Luther 0
What's Next?
The Vikings (5-1) have a chance for another top-20 upset on Sunday, September 19th when they host the Captains of Christopher Newport (2-1-2). That game is scheduled for 1 PM at the Holmgren Athletic Complex.
