DECATUR, Ill. -- The No. 10-ranked North Park Men's Soccer team moved its undefeated streak to 11 games but had to settle for a 1-1 draw with the Millikin Big Blue under the lights of Frank M. Lindsay Field on Wednesday night.
North Park enjoyed the run of play throughout most of the first half. The first opportunity for the Vikings arrived in the fifth minute. After a free kick, sophomore midfielder Vidar Rydell had the first scoring chance with a shot that was saved by Millikin goalkeeper Oliwier Holowinski. However, in his next chance four minutes later, a breakaway opportunity led to Rydell getting the better of Holowinski. Junior defender Hugo Neborg played a pass up to Rydell who ripped a shot into the right side of the goal for the first score of the game in the 11th minute.
Millikin would score the equalizer in the 32nd minute. A near throw in in quality field position for the Big Blue allowed Nico Sahilices to wait out a bouncing ball inside the box where he would head it inside the right post to tie things up at one apiece. This score would not only hold through halftime, but the rest of the game.
After a couple of key pieces to the NPU offense went down in the second half, Millikin would get more opportunities. However, the Vikings still held a shots advantage of 5-3 in the second half despite not gaining any corner kick chances. Rydell and Sahilices's goals were the only two in the contest, at the Vikings and Big Blue played to a draw.
Quick Hits:
- Goal for Rydell off an assist from Neborg
- North Park puts five shots on frame, Big Blue with three
- NPU with four corner kick chances in first 45, zero in the second half
What's Next?
North Park (7-0-4, 1-0-1 CCIW) heads to Wheaton College (5-4-1, 1-0-0 CCIW) this coming Saturday, October 5, for a game against the Thunder. Kickoff at Joe Bean Stadium is set for 7:00 PM CT.
