CCIW

[The Sock Heir]

Where are all the NP bloggers??? I am very intrigued to here what is going on behind the scenes since they have dropped their last 2 games. I know Carthage and North Central are having good years, but I would have expected more from a team that is on the verge of making deep run in the tourney.

Some insight would be helpful for those of us who have been keeping up all year. Thx

As it already seems obvious, NP is having an end of year meltdown. They seemingly have played their way out of an at-large bid and will now have to win the conference tourney. They have Wheaton, at home, on Wednesday, but will be with out the services of Petterson, and McNaughton, and possibly Grahn. Hopefully NP can return to form and resurrect, a possibly lost, great season.

Also, Lindmark will be playing, so hopefully he will insert some much needed desire into the team.

[markerickson]

I have not left this msg board.  On Friday I drove and chaperoned my kid to the Opeth concert at The Vic.  I have nothing to report regarding the Viking soccer team.

[Gregory Sager]

The wheels have really come off for NPU. That's the long and short of it. Injuries, a couple of stupid suspensions, and a combination of pressing too hard and a lot of plain ol' bad luck.

NPU will be a seriously depleted side tomorrow night. But if you can't get up for the conference tourney, and you can't get up for Wheaton, then you ought to just hand in your uniform, anyway. Nobody from Wheaton's gonna feel sorry for NPU, nor should they.

We'll see what the Vikings are made out of tomorrow night.

[tjcummingsfan]

Nothing feels quite as good as beating Wheaton twice in a season.  NP 2 Wheaton 1

[Gotberg]

Carthage defeated Elmhurst 4-3 in extra time.  From a selfish standpoint, I am glad since Carthage will have a better webcast than North Park.

[The Sock Heir]

Carthage defeated Elmhurst 4-3 in extra time.  From a selfish standpoint, I am glad since Carthage will have a better webcast than North Park.

...and the fact that NP has the chance to prove that their last loss in Kenosha was a fluke.

[dc930]

Great atmosphere at NP tonight. Announced attendance of over 650 and that sounds about right.

NP controlled the second half, with an effective passing game. Wheaton played 7 or 8 behind the ball, hoping to spring a counter-attack. Park had particular success on the wings, with their speed, passing, and technical ability giving Wheaton defenders fits.

On the other hand, North Park was pretty shaky in defending set pieces. They allowed 2 or 3 free headers in the box and could have been down a goal or two if not for some luck and stellar goaltending by Ahlberg. They need to improve.

The winning goal with 10 minutes remaining was a bit of a defensive breakdown, with Grahn able to control the ball at the top of the 18, cut back and dribble through 3 defenders and slot home from a tight angle. The ball pin-balled between a few Wheaton legs before Grahn eventually found himself 1 on 1 with the keeper.

Too bad the championship game won't be in Chicago, I'd love to see Park fight for the title!

[keeker]

Dude, it's only an hour to kenosha.  It'll be worth it. Show ur support. besides, gas is only 3.19 per gallon up there.

[Gregory Sager]

Defensive breakdown or ball-handling masterpiece by Grahn, DC? Pavlak, Hussey, Jasperse, and Martin aren't too shabby a back line (although I'm less impressed by Wheaton keeper Seager). Grahn went right through those guys like a knife through butter. A lot of NPU fans who were there later confessed that they yelled, "Shoot! Shoot!", when Grahn got the ball from Lindmark at the top of the box. Shows what we know. Even with a torn meniscus, Grahn's simply capable of doing things that you just don't see too often on this level.

I think that the numbers reflect the fact that Wheaton on balance played a better game among the outfielders than did NPU. Wheaton had more shots, and more shots on goal, and while that doesn't always paint an accurate picture, the fact is that the Sonic Atmospheric Disturbance really did have any number of excellent chances -- particularly on corners, as DC pointed out. Fortunately for the royal blue and gold, Tim Ahlberg played like a man possessed and practically stood on his head to keep Wheaton from putting the go-ahead goal in the net. But as the match wore on it was clear that NPU was increasing the pressure and Wheaton was falling back on its heels. That surprised me, given the attrition problems that the Vikings have had as of late; John Born only used two reserves, while Mike Giuliano used five, and NPU has several players who are dealing with leg injuries. But because of the late-game pressure the goal itself didn't surprise me. I was only surprised by how Grahn managed to pull it off.

Foster's Finest was chanting, "Captain Kris! Captain Kris!", and I was sure glad to hear that. Grahn combines D1-level abillity with the heart of a warrior. He will be sorely missed once he sheds the North Park kit for the last time.

(On the other hand, Wheaton's Drew Golz can't graduate soon enough for my liking. That guy has always scared me.)

Sure, Wheaton is only a shadow of what it used to be. But a big part of the fun of beating Wheaton isn't simply the rivalry involved (although there is that, and Foster's Finest has done a better job of sharpening the rivalry to a knife's edge of any North Park student section I've ever seen in my thirty-plus years as a Vikings fan). Celebrating a win over Wheaton means at least implicitly acknowledging their tremendous tradition and the still-surviving skill and moxie with which Wheaton plays. I think that even the NPU players would admit that they get up for Wheaton like they do for nobody else -- I'm almost certain that Wheaton players feel the same way about NPU -- and the Vikings needed every edge that they could get last night.

Edge or no edge, though, I'm just grateful that Pettersson and McNaughton should be back in the lineup on Saturday night in Kenosha.

[tjcummingsfan]

Greg, why did Petterson have to sit out three games?  Or was he injured.  I know at least the Carthage game was because of the red card from Millikin, but why the most recent two?

[The Sock Heir]

Greg, why did Petterson have to sit out three games?  Or was he injured.  I know at least the Carthage game was because of the red card from Millikin, but why the most recent two?

Surpassed the allotted amount of yellow cards a player can receive.

[blue_jays]

No surprise that the CCIW's most disappointing teams (Elmhurst and Wheaton) are done for the season. Both suffered from lack of consistency game to game, and they both went out in poor fashion with late goals allowed. Rooting for Carthage now by default, I guess.
Say what you will about CCIW parity, but not too impressed by the conference this year. North Central and Augie fattened up on their non-conference sked. Millikin's record speaks for itself.
Big question for Wheaton now is who scores next year? Drew Golz was a monster and they ran that offense around him. Rest of the team lacks finishing touch (other than his brother Jordan, who is a great athlete).

[The Sock Heir]

No surprise that the CCIW's most disappointing teams (Elmhurst and Wheaton) are done for the season. Both suffered from lack of consistency game to game, and they both went out in poor fashion with late goals allowed. Rooting for Carthage now by default, I guess.
Say what you will about CCIW parity, but not too impressed by the conference this year. North Central and Augie fattened up on their non-conference sked. Millikin's record speaks for itself.
Big question for Wheaton now is who scores next year? Drew Golz was a monster and they ran that offense around him. Rest of the team lacks finishing touch (other than his brother Jordan, who is a great athlete).

Wheaton and Elmhurst were brought as far as their talent would allow, no disappointment nor shame in that.
And this is pretty normal parity as far as the CCIW is concerned. The 4 teams that were in the semis are perennial staples and the rest of the field, well, just add ambiance to the conference. Fruitless effort to expect anything more from NC and Auggie...and when, occasionally, they do pop their heads in and say "hello," it's nothing more than a nice little story.

Very true about Golz; has the most solid build I've ever seen, personally, on the soccer field.

[petemcb]

Carthage defeated Elmhurst 4-3 in extra time.  From a selfish standpoint, I am glad since Carthage will have a better webcast than North Park.

+k. 

[tjcummingsfan]

Carthage 3 North Park 2 in OT.  I haven't seen enough NP games to really comment on a lot, but boy they had some sloppy passing. 

My big question is if this means NP is out of the tourney...?