MONTGOMERY, Ill. -- In a physical contest at Aurora's Spartan Athletic Park on Wednesday evening, North Park Men's Soccer posted three goals again, securing a 3-1 road win. Junior midfielder Mathias Soerum had a career high two assists in the non-conference triumph.
Aurora was first to put shots on goal when Josue Roman fired quick shots towards North Park sophomore goalkeeper Ludvig Almborg, who stopped both in the seventh minute. Freshman midfielder Viktor Jonsson returned fire in the ninth minute to the low-left corner but the shot was saved by Spartan keeper Alex Ageladelis leading to an NPU corner.
That corner kick set up another chance for the Vikings when senior midfielder Vidar Rydell made some space with a hop step to his left before sending a bending shot towards the left post that was, once more, stopped by a diving Ageladelis.
The Vikings would break the scoreless tie shortly before halftime. After registering his first career goal in his first collegiate appearance last Friday against Dubuque, freshman forward Noah Cameron enjoyed his first collegiate assist in the 41st minute. Cameron raced up the right side before finding sophomore midfielder Alexander Gahm, who pinned a sliding kick inside the right post to break the tie.
Soerum, who had a breakaway goal last week against Dubuque, utilized his speed once more in the second half against Aurora. Taking off 20 yards from midfield, Soerum would bolt through Aurora defenders before playing a pass up to junior defender Kevin Perez. Perez, the reigning CCIW Defensive Player of the Week, juked his defender before left-footing a 15-yard strike inside the left post for the second score of the game.
The 77-minute blanking on the scoreboard's home side was not due to lack of effort. as the Spartans put plenty of shots towards Almborg in both halves. The bulk of these shots found a packed defensive group for the Vikings, but Aurora would find their first goal in the 78th minute. A lobbing pass from Jorge Morales was brought in by Roman, who let the ball bounce once before sending a low, skipping shot inside the right post to put Aurora closer at 2-1. However, this tally was quickly negated.
A nearly identical play on the other side of the field allowed junior midfielder Thomas Roenning to find the back of the net for his first goal of the 2025 season in the 79th minute. An arcing pass from Soerum landed next to Roenning, who was already breaking up the left side of the field. With Ageladelis charging out of goal, Roenning popped a shot over his head, landing in the net for North Park's third and final goal of the game.
What's Next?
North Park (2-0-0) plays in their only other September home match of the season next Monday, Sept. 8, when they welcome Trine University (0-2-0) to the Holmgren Athletic Complex. Kickoff in Chicago is set for 6:00 PM CT.
