CHICAGO, Ill. – North Park University men's soccer enjoyed a 2-0 shutout win on Monday night, blanking the Milwaukee School of Engineering, 2-0, at the Holmgren Athletic Complex for its first win of the season.
Junior midfielder Bastian Eikeland scored the first goal of the game on a penalty kick in the 55th minute and assisted senior forward Emil Svenander on an insurance goal in the 83rd. Sophomore goalkeeper Arvid Skoglund and the North Park defense held MSOE without a shot on goal until the final minute.
The Vikings controlled the match with advantages of 19-8 in shots, 6-1 in shots on goal and 7-4 in corner kicks.
North Park nearly opened the scoring in the eighth minute when senior forward Carson Belcher forced an early save by the MSOE defense. The Vikings increased the pressure midway through the opening half, producing five shots in a span of 44 seconds. Senior midfielder Eduardo Cirilo and senior forward Leon Ottesen had consecutive attempts blocked before senior defender Nico Chavez forced a save from MSOE goalkeeper Christian Dershem.
MSOE produced six shots and four corner kicks in the first half, but North Park prevented the Raiders from placing an attempt on target, dispossessing the Raiders throughout the first 45. The visitors earned three corners in a 36-second span late in the period, but the Vikings' defense again held firm.
North Park broke through at 54:55. After Eikeland's initial shot was blocked and MSOE was called for a handball in the box, the junior midfielder converted the ensuing penalty kick to put the Vikings ahead, 1-0.
The Vikings continued to create opportunities after taking the lead. Belcher and junior midfielder Hampus Fogelberg had shots blocked before senior midfielder Thomas Roenning forced a save in the 71st minute. Eikeland nearly added another goal in the 81st, but Dershem made the stop.
Just over two minutes later, Eikeland connected with Svenander on a pair of quick touches for North Park's second goal. Svenander finished the opportunity at 82:42 for his first goal of the season.
Chavez and junior defender Dennis Rinne played all 90 minutes in front of Skoglund, helping limit MSOE to two second-half shots and no corner kicks after halftime. Cirilo and freshman midfielder Emil Soelscher were all over the field, pestering MSOE's offense throughout the match. The Raiders' only shot on goal came on Ditar Useni's low free kick at 89:38, which Skoglund saved to preserve the shutout.
Eikeland led all players with four shots, two shots on goal, a goal and an assist. Skoglund earned the win with one save as North Park improved to 1-1-1. MSOE fell to 0-3-0.
Quick Hits
- North Park outshot MSOE, 19-8.
- The Vikings held a 6-1 advantage in shots on goal.
- MSOE did not record a shot on goal until the final minute.
- North Park held the Raiders to two shots and no corner kicks after halftime.
- Eikeland totaled three points with a goal and an assist.
- Svenander scored his first goal of the season.
- Skoglund recorded the shutout with one save.
What's Next?
North Park (1-1-1) has a unique pair of upcoming matches as they travel to a familiar location in Wheaton's Joe Bean Stadium for neutral contests against Claremont-Mudd-Scripps and Pacific Lutheran on September 11 and 12, respectively.
