BLOOMINGTON, Ill. -- On Saturday afternoon at Neis Field, Illinois Wesleyan flipped the script in the second half to defeat North Park 2-1. The Titans, trailing early, found their rhythm after halftime and rode a wave of offensive pressure to secure the win. The Titans (8-2-2, 2-1-0 CCIW) continue their climb in the conference standings, while North Park (7-4-0, 2-3-0) will look to regroup after letting a promising start slip away.

North Park struck first in the 4th minute with a solo effort from senior forward Adam Hamad, who finished up a spilled shot from Alexander Gahm before flipping the go-ahead goal in. But the Vikings struggled to maintain momentum, managing only three shots in the second half compared to IWU's 12. Despite Almborg's eight saves, the Titans' pressure proved too much.

The game's turning point came in the 55th minute. IWU midfielder Faheem Mujahid threaded a precise assist to Matthew Perchik, who buried the equalizer. That goal ignited the Titans' attack, which had been stifled by North Park's always-steady defense and junior goalkeeper Ludvig Almborg's early saves.

From there, the Titans built their offense through relentless midfield control and timely fresh legs via substitutions. Ben Lyons and Jerry Smazil anchored the buildup, while the bench provided fresh legs and tactical flexibility. In the 83rd minute, Mujahid capped his standout performance with a goal of his own, finishing a well-placed ball from Smazil to seal the comeback.

What's Next?

North Park steps away from conference action next Wednesday, October 15, for a home contest against U-Chicago (7-1-4, 1-0-1 UAA). Kickoff at Holmgren is set for 7:00 PM CT.