CHICAGO, Ill., -- The Vikings (1-0) held their home opener this evening against the Raiders of the Milwaukee School of Engineering (0-1) after winning their season opener at the road against Benedictine University on Tuesday. The Raiders were the aggressors from the jump, firing off six shots with four on goal to North Park's three shots and two on goal. Junior midfielder Nikki Geijer was the only Viking who was able to record a shot, seeing one of her two be on goal.
Most of the first half was a scoreless affair as neither team was able to find the back of the net, however, MSOE broke the deadlock in the 42nd minute just before halftime. Chi-Chi Lugonzo found Macie Herting in the middle of the box where she snuck a shot just passed the remaining Viking defense for the 1-0 lead heading into halftime. The Vikings stayed the course throughout the second half, tying the game in the 64th minute. On their second corner kick of the game, the Vikings' senior midfielder Maja Applequist hooked a kick into the box that bounced off the chest of a Raider player who knocked it into the net for the own goal.
The 82nd minute was when the Raiders responded with the game-sealing goal to take the 2-1 lead, as Kit Gormley scored a rare 'olimpico' goal off her corner kick the bounced in the net unabated. From there the Vikings emptied the tank to try and even the match up at two-apiece but MSOE's stout defense wouldn't budge, securing their first win of the season.
North Park (1-1) will stay at home for their next game when they play host to DePauw University on Sunday, September 6th at 1pm.
