CHICAGO, Ill. – The North Park University men's soccer team opened its 2026 campaign Tuesday night with a 5-2 loss to No. 20 University of Chicago at Stagg Field.
The Maroons wasted little time taking control, finding the back of the net just 2:10 into the match when Chase Perry converted a chance off an assist from Evan Kanellos. UChicago carried that 1-0 advantage into halftime after limiting the Vikings to no shots during the opening 45 minutes.
The hosts doubled their lead just 50 seconds into the second half as Edward Wu scored to make it 2-0.
North Park began to find its rhythm after the break and cut the deficit in half in the 61st minute. Junior midfielder Alexander Gahm skipped a low free kick to junior defender Adrian Grden, who right-footed the Vikings' first goal of the season, alongside the first tally of his career.
The goal sparked momentum for North Park, but UChicago responded with a penalty kick goal from Kanellos in the 71st minute to restore a two-goal cushion.
The Vikings refused to go away quietly. Just under four minutes later, junior midfielder Bastian Eikeland converted a penalty kick of his own inside the left post to pull North Park within 3-2 with more than 15 minutes remaining.
With the match still within reach, the Maroons delivered the decisive blow late. Timothy Ratokhin scored in the 83rd minute on a rebounded shot, and Samuel Jimenez added another goal just 86 seconds later in breakaway fashion to push the final score to 5-2.
Grden and Eikeland each scored their first goals of the season for North Park, while Gahm recorded the team's first assist of the year.
UChicago finished with a 15-8 advantage in shots and held a 7-4 edge in corner kicks. The Vikings generated all eight of their shots in the second half and briefly trimmed the deficit to one goal before the nationally-ranked Maroons pulled away in the closing minutes.
What's Next?
North Park (0-1) looks to its home opener on Saturday, September 5, hosting 14th-ranked Washington University in St. Louis. Kickoff at the Holmgren Athletic Complex in Chicago is set for 5:00 PM CT.
