WHEATON, Ill. -- The No. 10-ranked North Park Men's Soccer suffered its first defeat of the season against the Wheaton Thunder at Joe Bean Stadium on Saturday night. The Vikings were inches away from scoring multiple times throughout the contest but dropped the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) battle 1-0.
North Park put the first three shots of the game on goal as sophomore midfielder Vidar Rydell, sophomore midfielder Mathias Soerum, and junior forward Angel Arismendiz all had shots stopped by Wheaton goalkeeper Mason Escalante.
Misfortune would strike the Vikings in the 33rd minute when a ball attempting to be cleared by the Viking defense out of the box was misplayed, resulting in an own goal.
After halftime, North Park had plenty more opportunities to tie things up. Freshman midfielder Leon Otteson put a shot on frame in the 49th minute and, not long after in the 54th, a foul in the box gave the Vikings a penalty kick chance. Unfortunately, Escalante knocked that one away too with a dive to his left.
Freshman defender Dennis Rinne, fifth-year forward Jostein Blindheim, junior defender Teo Helm, and junior defender Hugo Neborg all put shots on frame in the second half but each was saved by Escalante as the Vikings dropped their first game of the season, 1-0.
What's Next?
North Park (7-1-4, 1-1-1 CCIW) will face Elmhurst University at home this coming Wednesday, October 9. Kickoff is set for 7:00 PM at the Holmgren Athletic Complex.
