Pictures: Paige Wilcox and Angelina Azzo
CHICAGO, Ill. -- The Vikings went wire-to-wire with the IIT Scarlet Hawks on Monday evening, eventually falling in the last minutes by a score of 3-2.
The scoring kicked off immediately, as IIT's Amelia Moseman pocketed a goal in the 2nd minute off a rebounded header. Just a few short minutes later, the Vikings would get a free kick to setup a would-be equalizer.
Kajsa Mansson stepped up to take the kick, sending a low ball into traffic at the edge of the box. The ball made it out to Kaya Dreger, who then tapped it forwards for Madeleine Haeger to send into the net. The 7th minute soon began with the score at 1-1.
The next 70 minutes went on in scoreless fashion. IIT put a plethora of shots over that stretch, and finally was able to connect on one in the 77th minute. Jamie Griggs setup Lisa Rios for a breakaway goal, and Rios took one touch past the keeper before giving her team a 2-1 lead.
North Park pushed up to the midfield on the ensuing possession before being dispossessed of the ball. IIT's center backs began to move the ball around the defense, but Madeleine Haeger jumped into the backline to break the play up. The loose ball careened out to Kajsa Mansson who passed it right back to Haeger, whose 2nd goal secured another equalizer for the Vikings.
Keeper Emily LaSalle made a few big saves in the match, including a would-be breakaway goal late in the second half.
However, unlike the 1-1 tie from earlier, the 2-2 score was sadly short-lived. IIT's Kelly Hitchcock came up with a clutch kick from outside of the box that found its way to the back left of the net, giving her side a 3-2 lead that held for the remaining 5 minutes.
North Park will try to build off today's hard fought game when they take on Ripon this Wednesday. Kickoff is set for 7 PM, with North Park hosting the Red Hawks at Holmgren.
