CCIW

[thePietist]

Game update, anyone?

[GarbageGoals33]

0-0 with 15 to play.

[thePietist]

I see from GA's website that they beat NP 1-0 in 2 OT.  That faulty video feed sure was frustrating.  It worked just enough to make me keep trying.  Looking forward to hearing about the game.

[Gotberg]

I see from GA's website that they beat NP 1-0 in 2 OT.  That faulty video feed sure was frustrating.  It worked just enough to make me keep trying.  Looking forward to hearing about the game.

Game statistics show that NPU had 23 shots to GA's 4.  I think that shots and shots on goal statistics in soccer can be very misleading, but that is a large disparity.  According to the NP story, it was an own-goal that did NP in....

[gustiefan04]

Was at the GAC @ NPU game last night. While I don't think NPU really had 24 shot ( what is considered a shot is quite subjective), they definitely had the better of the run of play and had probably 8 to 10 very dangerous scoring chances. North Park was big and fast and Swedish...very Swedish! 9 of the starting 11. Quite the hostile environment for visiting teams as well. Solid fanbase at NPU.

I wouldn't consider the goal an own goal either. Lilly struck it well and it took a nasty deflection off The center back and carried into the goal. overall a surprising but very good result for Gustavus.

GAC has a very young team, mostly freshman and sophomores on the field last night. NPU players all looked like they were in the 20's and far more developed physically.

I also thought the officiating was below average tonight. He made several calls or no calls in both directions that didn't make sense.

Definitely a tough break for NPU. Soccer is a cruel game sometimes. But GAC was opportunistic and did a nice job considering the 6+ hour drive to Chicago.

[Gregory Sager]

NPU has certainly had an agonizing start to the season. Following a perfunctory 3-1 win over weak Concordia (IL), the Vikings lost two double-overtime contests to quality sides that everyone connected to NPU soccer felt should have been wins: A loss at Dominican with 24 seconds left in the second OT after the Vikes had clearly controlled play, and then a loss to Gustavus on an own-goal that bounced off of NPU's most experienced defender when there wasn't a Gustie within fifteen feet of him. All because the Vikings were suffering a catastrophic drought on offense. I had described the team to someone this weekend as being like unpainted furniture: Looks great, no finish.

That's why yesterday's 2-0 win over a fairly decent Carroll team brought about such a huge exhale of relief. The Vikings are continuing to have their way in the midfield and spend most of the game possessing the ball, but they're finally finding the back of the net. Tomorrow afternoon's contest at Concordia (WI) is another opportunity for the Vikings to continue refining their synchronization in the front third.

[keeker]

NPU has certainly had an agonizing start to the season. Following a perfunctory 3-1 win over weak Concordia (IL), the Vikings lost two double-overtime contests to quality sides that everyone connected to NPU soccer felt should have been wins: A loss at Dominican with 24 seconds left in the second OT after the Vikes had clearly controlled play, and then a loss to Gustavus on an own-goal that bounced off of NPU's most experienced defender when there wasn't a Gustie within fifteen feet of him. All because the Vikings were suffering a catastrophic drought on offense. I had described the team to someone this weekend as being like unpainted furniture: Looks great, no finish.

That's why yesterday's 2-0 win over a fairly decent Carroll team brought about such a huge exhale of relief. The Vikings are continuing to have their way in the midfield and spend most of the game possessing the ball, but they're finally finding the back of the net. Tomorrow afternoon's contest at Concordia (WI) is another opportunity for the Vikings to continue refining their synchronization in the front third.

Decent Carroll lost to lowly elmhurst 2-0 (that coach still screams every 5 seconds like he used to when coaching little kids at downers grove. calm down dude), and lost to Dubuque 5-0. I think npu needs september to get its starters to gel together and will show how good they can be in oct and nov. Jonas is still an a** though.

[Gregory Sager]

NPU has certainly had an agonizing start to the season. Following a perfunctory 3-1 win over weak Concordia (IL), the Vikings lost two double-overtime contests to quality sides that everyone connected to NPU soccer felt should have been wins: A loss at Dominican with 24 seconds left in the second OT after the Vikes had clearly controlled play, and then a loss to Gustavus on an own-goal that bounced off of NPU's most experienced defender when there wasn't a Gustie within fifteen feet of him. All because the Vikings were suffering a catastrophic drought on offense. I had described the team to someone this weekend as being like unpainted furniture: Looks great, no finish.

That's why yesterday's 2-0 win over a fairly decent Carroll team brought about such a huge exhale of relief. The Vikings are continuing to have their way in the midfield and spend most of the game possessing the ball, but they're finally finding the back of the net. Tomorrow afternoon's contest at Concordia (WI) is another opportunity for the Vikings to continue refining their synchronization in the front third.

Decent Carroll lost to lowly elmhurst 2-0 (that coach still screams every 5 seconds like he used to when coaching little kids at downers grove. calm down dude), and lost to Dubuque 5-0. I think npu needs september to get its starters to gel together and will show how good they can be in oct and nov. Jonas is still an a** though.

Well, that's what I get for not checking Carroll's results to date and for simply assuming that having made the D3 tourney the past two seasons and four out of the last five was an imprimatur of the Pioneers' competence. My apologies.

[thePietist]

Wheaton downs Calvin and Carthage knocks off Hope.  Wow.  Big night for CCIW.
Anyone see either game?  I simply saw scores and haven't looked at stats yet.

[d3fan1]

Wheaton is FAST!!!! They are very quick and very organized. The way they played last night it would take a VERY good team to beat them. Calvin is a good side and has some weapons of their own, but they couldn't content with the team quickness and speed of Wheaton.

[Gregory Sager]

Not to pooh-pooh Wheaton's win or anything, but it came right on the heels (by 48 hours) of this grand debacle suffered by Calvin at the hands of Olivet. Makes you wonder if the Knights (2-3) were suffering from some sort of an emotional hangover after what must've been an absolute catastrophe of a defeat.

[thePietist]

ahem...
Sorry to break the vow of silence here.  Any predictions for the always exciting NP-Wheaton matchup tonight?  Not sure that home field advantage means anything for NP--they seem to get up for games @ Joe Bean.  I wish I could predict an offensive outpouring for the Vikings--nothing would make me happier--but I'm not holding my breath on that.  They don't seem to be able to put more than one in the net per half, especially against a good side like Wheaton. 

In fine NP fashion, I'm wagering the contest will be decided in overtime.  But this time the Swedes take home the win 3-2. 
On another note, what's up with Olivet?  I know this is the wrong board for that but has anyone seen them play?  Are they for real?

[tjcummingsfan]

I'm guessing 1-0 NP.

I was wondering the same thing about Olivet, seems bizarre.

[tjcummingsfan]

Wow was I off.  3-3 in 2OT

[Saldner F.F.]

North Park - Wheaton was a game that I will never forget! It was an emotional roller coaster with all the ingredients you can expect to see in a game like this. Jonas scores with 30 seconds left and the Fosters Finest in the stands goes crazy - definitely one of the better moments I have experienced at North Park. It was great to see NP score three goals and come back to tie the game twice. The 2-2 game against, University of Chicago was a moral victory (playing with 10 men for a long time), but tonight NP really showed great fighting spirit and that they will never give up. Wheaton played also played well, even though their first goal was a little controversial.

The North Park student section (Foster's Finest) was amazing tonight, don't think you will find such committed soccer supporters elsewhere in d3 soccer. I hope that NP and Wheaton will play again in the playoffs!