萝莉社

Battling a stiff wind and driving rain, the North Park Vikings defeated Virginia鈥檚 Washington & Lee University 3-0 to advance to their first-ever NCAA Elite Eight soccer game Sunday.

Senior Shatil Khoury struck first for the Vikings, scoring just 1:47 minutes into the first half on a pass from sophomore Peder Nalum Olsen. The 25-mile-per-hour wind-whipped flags and made the ball difficult to pass, keeping the Vikings on the defense for most of the first half. But sophomore goalie Mathias Stulen was able to keep the ball out of the net the entire game, earning the shutout.

The Vikings scored on the Generals again with just 5 minutes left in the first half, when sophomore Gustav Ericsson deked a defender and passed to senior Mathias Warp, who booted the ball in. The Vikings final goal came in the second half off a sweet backward heel pass from Warp to senior Chase Lennartz.

Although the Generals had more shots on goal than the Vikings, they failed to capitalize on their best opportunity, with Stulen making a diving save on a line drive shot by the Generals with just 7:30 left in the game.

The Vikings will move on to the Elite Eight round of the tournament, where they will face the winner of Saturday鈥檚 matchup of Ohio鈥檚 Otterbein University v. University of St. Thomas of Minnesota. That game will also be hosted by North Park, at 1 p.m. Sunday at the Holmgren Athletic Complex.

If the Vikings win tomorrow, they will move into the Final Four, with a shot at the Division III National Championship in North Carolina in the beginning of December.

Sunday鈥檚 game will again be live streamed on 听and on the .

North Park鈥檚 men鈥檚 soccer squad advanced to the third round of the NCAA Division III tournament for the first time in team history after cruising to a 6-1 victory against the Wis.-Platteville Pioneers Sunday.

Led by CCIW Coach of the Year John Born, the Vikings dominated the Pioneers, with goals by Gustav Ericsson, Carel Kuzona, Erlend Kemkers and Ricky Pimentel. Those players join Jason Gonzalez, Peder Nalum Olsen, and Matias Warp in being named Monday as All-Conference Players, with Warp being named Player of the Year and Olsen Newcomer of the Year.

Born called Sunday鈥檚 victory a huge relief. 鈥淕etting our first NCAA victory under our belt sure felt good,鈥� Born said. 鈥淲e were excited and thankful to be able to play in front of a great home crowd.鈥�

Scoring in the opening minute of the game, the Vikings swiftly put to rest any concerns they might be rusty after a bye round.

鈥淲hen we scored 40 seconds into the game, there was no doubt in my mind that we were ready to play at a high level,鈥� said Athletic Director Jack Surridge.

The NCAA National committee also announced the Vikings will also host their matchup against Virginia鈥檚 Washington & Lee University at noon Saturday, as well as the other regional semifinal, Minnesota鈥檚 St. Thomas v. Otterbein University of Westerville, Ohio, at 2:30 p.m. Saturday.

Previously, the farthest the Vikings had advanced in the NCAA tournament was to the second round, in 2010, 2011, and 2012. With their latest victory, the Vikings have now won 18 games in a row.

Going forward, Surridge believes the team is in a great position to go all the way.

鈥淲e are a formidable opponent when we play at this high level,鈥� Surridge said.

Saturday鈥檚 games will again be live streamed on 听and on the .