CHICAGO, IL (November 13, 2017) – The fifth-ranked North Park men’s soccer team defeated University of Wisconsin Platteville 6-1 on Sunday to advance to the Division III Sectional Semifinals against Washington & Lee University.
This is the furthest that North Park University Men’s Soccer has advanced in the NCAA Division III playoffs.
The fifth-ranked Vikings scored in the first 46 seconds when Ricky Pimentel received a free kick from College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) Newcomer of the Year Peder Olsen and headed it to the right of Platteville’s keeper. The rest of the game belonged to the Vikings.
CIW goals leader Carel Kawele found Gustav Ericsson in the ninth minute of play, and Ericsson returned the favor in the 17th minute when Kawele extended the lead to 3-0.
The scoreless streak broke when UW-Platteville’s Nick Hoklas scored on a free kick from 25 yards out. This was quickly countered with a costly own goal that took the wind out of the Pioneers’ sails.
The Vikings put the game well out of reach when Gustav Ericsson added another goal to his standout performance in the 78th minute off an assist from Chase Lennartz. Ericsson followed that up with an assist to Erlend Kemkers in the 82nd minute to mark his second goal in the past two games.
With the victory, the Vikings (18-1-1) extended their unbeaten streak to 18 games.
The two teams squared off in the first-ever national men’s soccer tournament the school has hosted. The Vikings now wait to hear whether they will host further matches as the tournament progresses.
