CHICAGO, Ill. -- In an important, non-conference contest on the road Wednesday night, the No. 9-ranked North Park Men's Soccer team picked up their first win over the University of Chicago since the 2016 season, beating the Maroons 3-1. The 3-1 win for North Park represents the first multi-goal victory over the Maroons since Oct. 8, 1997.
The Viking defense continue to put North Park in positions to win. Led by 90 minutes of work by defenders Teo Helm, Hugo Neborg, Dennis Rinne, and goalkeeper Ludvig Almborg, the Vikings prevented any shots on goal through the first half of play. This allowed North Park to push forward and set up a pair of early scoring changes.
In the 9th minute, Helm played a pass to the left side of the field to fifth-year midfielder Jostein Blindheim, who sent a perfect arcing shot untouched into the right side of the goal for the first score of the match.
The Vikings added another shot on goal when junior midfielder Love Brandt centered a shot on goal, saved by U-Chicago goalkeeper Dhirpal Shah in the 12th minute.
However, Brandt's persistence would pay off. Once more on the left side of the box, Brandt sent a sharp pass off the legs of Shah, making its way through to freshman midfielder Alexander Gahm, who obliged with a 17th minute goal.
North Park would quickly score again after the halftime break. Neborg skipped in another sharp pass through the box where a quick touch by sophomore midfielder Mathias Soerum allowed Love to come away with the ball, scoring in the 48th minute.
U-Chicago would respond quickly, as their first shot on goal would pay off as their first score - a 51st minute goal by Lyndon Hu. In fact, all six of the Maroons' shots on frame would arrive in the second half, but the Vikings' strong first half helped them cruise to a 3-1 victory at Stagg Field, their 10th win of the 2024 season.
What's Next?
North Park (10-1-4, 3-1-1 CCIW) plays in its final regular season home game this coming Saturday, Oct. 19, against the Carroll Pioneers (8-2-4, 4-0-1 CCIW). Kickoff at the Holmgren Athletic Complex will follow the women's game with a scheduled start time of 7:30 PM CT.
