Wheaton, Ill. - The Wheaton men's soccer team hosted North Park (9-3-0, 4-0-0 CCIW) on Wednesday evening in a key CCIW match. The Vikings rallied with three goals in the second half to defeat the Thunder 3-1 and Wheaton its first conference loss of the 2021 season. Wheaton is now 6-2-1 on the season with a 1-1-1 record in conference play.

A handball was called in the penalty area against North Park in the 29th minute of the match. Thunder senior Silas Galvao converted the penalty kick for the Thunder as he kicked the ball into the lower left segment of the net, past North Park goalkeeper Alfred Sward. Galvao's goal was his seventh of the season and the third time this season that he converted a penalty kick.

Wheaton led the Vikings 1-0 at halftime. North Park out-shot Wheaton 11-2 in the first half, incuding a 3-1 edge in shots on goal.

North Park continued to keep the pressure on Wheaton in the second half and the Vikings scored about 11 minutes after the halftime intermission. Peder Olsen scored for the Vikings in the 57th minute on a double-assist from Angel Barriga and Gustav Ericsson to tie the match at 1-1. Tobias Lunde gave North Park a 2-1 lead when he scored in the 69th minute off the deflection of a William de Carro shot. Less the five minutes later, the Vikings increased the lead to 3-1 on a goal by Gustav Ericsson in the 74th minute.

North Park controlled the pace of play for much of the night as the Vikings held a 21-4 advantage in shots, including an 8-1 edge in shots on goal. North Park was awarded 15 corner kicks tonight, Wheaton had two.

Wheaton goalkeeper Mason Escalante made five saves and allowed three goals in his first collegiate start, playing all 90 minutes in the net. North Park netminder Alfred Sward played 90 minutes, allowing one goal and zero saves.

Wheaton remains home for its next contest as the Thunder host Illinois Wesleyan on Saturday night at 7:00 p.m.