Contact: Ashleigh Jones, Sports Information Graduate Assistant

Oct. 26, 2017 (CHICAGO, Ill.) - Following an unforeseen 20-minute maintenance delay the North Central College men's soccer team met defeat in its 3-0 loss to #8 North Park University in its evening game on October 25.

Looking to hold onto its chances to earn the coveted College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) championship, the Cardinals sought a win over the highly competitive Vikings.

With a North Park crowd roaring from the opening minutes of this highly anticipated game North Central opened the match with intensity and urgency, surprising the Vikings defense early.

For the first six minutes of the match the Cardinals put the pressure of the game on North Park's backline, resulting in two corner kicks by Ryan O'Deen and two header attempts on goal by Alexis Flores.

Unfortunately, the Vikings starting goalie and CCIW leader in save percentage Mathias Stulen was on his A game, stifling what seemed like every ball that came within a 10-foot radius of the goalie box.

Despite North Parks ability to hinder North Centrals advancement on goal that did not stop Flores from taking a clean pass across the middle of the pitch to barrel down the center of the field to the Vikings goalie box.

With just two defenders to beat Flores looked like he had a step on them, but at the last second one of the defenders slide tacked the ball, tripping Flores and ending his route on goal.

After recovering from that scare on goal, the Vikings reset the field and went to work, utilizing their incredible footwork to slowly break down the Cardinals midfield then defense.

As North Park methodically moved downfield they finally got close enough to the North Central goal to be rewarded a corner kick. 

The Vikings quickly packed the goalie box, leaving the Cardinals disheveled and with an exposed back post. With a North Park corner kick sailing right into the crowd, North Central's Connor O'Neill confidently punched the ball out of play and was cleared quickly by the defensive line.

Gaining possession back from the Vikings with over 30 minutes left in the game Ivan Bohorquez was fouled as he was advancing up the field just outside of the goalie box. 

Rewarded a free kick O'Deen did a quick restart of the ball catching the North Park defense off guard and with a couple of quick taps towards the net O'Deen was just 10 yards out from the goal and took a powerful strike on goal.

In the midst of scrambling the Vikings recovered at the last second and blocked O'Deen's attempt.

With time slowly ticking away the tides seem to change and the speed and intensity that North Central started with began to wane. 

Seeing this shift in momentum, North Park went to work, introducing combination plays that highlighted why they were nationally ranked #8 in the United Soccer Coaches Association.

Putting up a fight, however, the Cardinals did not allow themselves to get mesmerized by the Vikings' quick footwork. 

As North Park moved up the field and found its top scorer Carel Kuzona at the front of the goalie box, defender Clint Rader stepped up and blocked what would have been an early goal, as O'Neill was on his heels unsure of the trajectory of the ball.

Continuing to take advantage of North Central's decrease in intensity and new faces on the field, North Park kept possession of the ball for what seemed like the remainder of the half.

Though the Vikings did outshoot the Cardinals eight to 12, the solid defensive plays by Andreas Kristiansson and Sean Sweeney kept the Cardinals in the match.

With just about six minutes left in the first half, North Park began inching closer and closer to the goal line. With Peder Olsen leading the Vikings in an attack, a combination play between Olsen, Gustav Ericsson, and Kuzona led to an emphatic North Park goal that slipped just past the fingers of O'Neill.

Taking the air out of the Cardinals, North Park attacked the back line of North Central again only to be blocked and later called offside, just before the closing horn of the first half.


Entering the second half and starting with the ball the energy North Central had during the first half was no longer effective against North Park. By the 67th-minute, the Vikings had outshot the Cardinals two to four and continued to maintain possession of the ball.

Discouraged by its inability to capitalize and frustrated by some of the physical plays against North Park, North Central fouled the Vikings resulting in a free kick by for North Park.

With the Cardinals creating a five-person wall, with the remaining players on the Vikings, a short tap from Olsen to Matias Warp of North Park was the dagger that put North Central down by two. 

Looking for a change of pace, the Cardinals added some fresh legs to the field, though it did bring some rest for North Central starters, the Vikings remained in control of the game.

Bringing an onslaught of shots following its second goal, the Cardinals seemed to be playing on its heels. Leaving O'Neill to make some difficult saves from point-blank shots.

With emotions growing and with time no longer on its side, North Central tried to push the ball into the Vikings territory but was contained too quickly by North Park.

The final straw for North Central came at the 87th minute of the game. For a third North Park player with the help of its leading scorer, Kuzona drew the defense to him and passed it to teammate Henrik Roesholt for the goal.

Despite the crushing loss, the Cardinals met last evening, the competition of the Vikings was expected and with an unusual start to the game recovering its pregame routine proved to be difficult.

Now tied for second place with Illinois Wesleyan University in the CCIW, this Saturday, October 28th will prove to be a competitive and highly emotional season closer, as the Cardinals have qualified for the CCIW conference tournament and will be playing for a chance to host the semi finals next Wednesday Nov. 1.

Come out to Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium and support North Central College men's soccer at 2:30 PM following the women's game to cheer on the Cardinals and celebrate our seniors. Live stats and streaming can be found HERE.