CHICAGO, Ill. -- Junior defender Dennis Rinne headed home the game-winning goal in the 81st minute, lifting No. 25 North Park to a 1-0 victory over Wisconsin-Platteville on Wednesday night at the Holmgren Athletic Complex.
The win completed the Vikings' regular-season non-conference schedule and improved North Park to 7-1-2 overall. The Vikings have won five straight matches and have gone unbeaten in their past nine.
North Park controlled much of the ball early but could not turn that possession into a shot on goal. Sophomore defender David Tracewicz had an attempt blocked in the 20th minute, while senior midfielder Eduardo Cirilo and freshman midfielder Hampus Fogelberg both fired shots off target later in the opening half.
The Pioneers generated the only shot on goal before halftime when Caden Wits tested junior goalkeeper Melker Regland in the ninth minute. Regland secured the effort, and the teams went into the break scoreless as Regland registered the first save of his career.
UW-Platteville increased its pressure after halftime. Regland stopped Aiden Hatleberg twice in the opening 16 minutes of the period, and Westley Hankes sent another Pioneer attempt wide in the 70th minute.
North Park, which had been held without a shot on goal for more than 70 minutes, finally tested Connor Waite when Tracewicz put an effort on frame in the 72nd minute. Waite made the save to keep the match level.
The Pioneers continued to threaten, forcing Regland into saves against Thomas Gaither and Matthew Thiessen. North Park's defense held firm before the Vikings broke through at the other end.
Following a UW-Platteville foul, sophomore forward Noah Cameron played a short free kick into the box, where Rinne rose to drive a header into the right side of the net at 80:54. The goal was Rinne's second of the season and Cameron's assist gave the Vikings a 1-0 advantage.
UW-Platteville produced one final chance in the 89th minute, but Regland stopped Brady Harwood to preserve the clean sheet. Regland finished with six saves as North Park recorded its sixth shutout of the season.
The Pioneers held a 13-6 advantage in shots and placed six attempts on goal compared with two for the Vikings. North Park finished with a 3-2 edge in corner kicks in a game that was played entirely underneath rainy weather.
What's Next?
North Park returns to CCIW competition Saturday, Oct. 3, traveling to Rock Island for a 5:00 PM matchup against Augustana College (3-2-3, 0-1-1 CCIW).
