CHICAGO, IL., -- Despite a pair of second-half goals, North Park Women's Soccer (2-2-1) dropped their second straight game this evening against a strong Scarlet Hawk team from the Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) team that has been receiving votes in the national polls.
The Scarlet Hawks (1-3) wasted no time taking control of the match, capitalizing on an early opportunity less than two minutes into the contest. Following a Viking foul in the box, Eva Narvarte converted a penalty kick to give IIT the 1-0 lead. Just over five minutes later, they struck again in the 8th minute as Olivia Roy found the back of the net. The score sat at 2-0 for the remainder of the first half, with the Scarlet Hawks continuing to apply pressure racking up 14 shots in the first 45 minutes. After the Vikings settled in, first year goalkeeper Linn Nilsson Forsell was a force, recording 9 of her 12 total saves in the first half. However, North Park's offense couldn't seem to find their footing against IIT's stout backline. The Vikings did post three shots in the first half with three being on target from Sofia Svensson, Amara Olivas, and Caroline Sjøstedt, but Illinois Tech keeper Clara Estiandan came away with three saves.
Shortly after the halftime break, IIT extended their 2-0 lead in the 50th minute, when Tvesa Vathulya connected on a goal off an assist from Leyna Yonehara. Roughly three minutes after Yonehara's goal, Maja Applequist sent a strike from nearly 30 yards out to the top right corner of the net to give the Vikings their first goal of the game. The goal marks Applequist's first goal of the season, capping off an all-around strong performance from the senior midfielder, who finished with a goal, an assist, three shots, and two shots on goal. The Scarlet Hawks answered once more around the midway point of the second half, as Vathulya scored her second goal of the night on a penalty kick the pushed IIT's lead to 4-1. North Park's effort never dwindled; the Vikings increased their pressure over the final 20 minutes, seeing Hannah Björkegren and Lily Cerjak both putting a shot on frame. Their persistence finally paid off late in the match when Applequist connected with Cerjak for her second goal of the season in the 87th minute. IIT was able to close out the final minutes and secure the 4-2 victory.
North Park moves to 2-3-1 through six games, and will cap off this three game road stretch in Wisconsin on Thursday, September 17th when they play the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater at 7pm.
