Covenant News

Vikings Hand Wheaton First CCIW Loss in Seven Years

WHEATON, IL (October 12, 2001) - North Park University's men's soccer team scored the biggest win in team history Wednesday as the Vikings upset the Wheaton College Thunder, 2-1.

The win puts the Vikings in the driver's seat in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) race at 6-6, 4-1. If the Vikings beat Millikin University November 3, they will win the conference and the automatic bid into the NCAA Division III Regional Playoffs.

It was only the second CCIW loss for Wheaton since conference play began 14 years ago. The Thunder have compiled a 73-2-1 record in CCIW play.

The Vikings took an early 1-0 lead on a goal by Andreas Olofsson in the 10th minute. Wheaton tied the game on a goal by John Kightlinger in the 21st minute. The deciding score came on a goal that went into the Thunder net in the 42nd minute. Goalie Matt Evans made seven saves to post his team's third consecutive victory.

In the previous week's action, Fredrik Airosto scored two goals and Evans notched the shutout in North Park's CCIW Homecoming win over visiting Illinois Wesleyan. He had tallied three goals in a 4-0 victory over Carthage October 3.

Airosto, a junior forward from Holysbybrunn, Sweden, had 10 goals, three assists this season and 27 goals and 16 assists for his North Park career.

Printable version of this page.