The Dominican University men’s soccer team opened the 2010 campaign on Monday with a 3-0 shutout victory over the North Park University Vikings. The Stars and Vikings were meeting for the fourth time in the last four seasons, with the first three matches decided by one goal or less.
“It was nice to put the second and third goals on the board,” commented Seth Mason, an assistant coach for the Stars. “They have been a thorn in our side with a lot of tight matches the last few years and we didn’t want to allow their confidence to build and let them hang around.”
Sophomore Andy Lynch (Hawthorn Woods, Ill.) tallied the game-winner in the 38th minute of play, as the Stars took advantage of a restart in the offensive third. Senior Michael Kapusta (Bartlett, Ill.) played a ball to the head of 6’1 sophomore Dylan Osadjan (Green Bay, Wis.) who flicked the ball towards the back post where Lynch placed a header inside the near post.
The score remained 1-0 into the 55th minute when Dominican scored on another set piece. This time freshman Trent Miller (Rockford, Ill.) found Lynch’s head on a corner kick. After Tim Ahlberg, the North Park goalkeeper, made the initial save, Kapusta gathered the rebound and put the ball in the back of the net for his first goal of the season.
Twelve minutes later, freshman Ariel Godinez (Cobden, Ill.) added an insurance goal for the Stars, one-timing a ball past Ahlberg with juniors Edwin Lagunas (Waukegan, Ill.) and Lio Tovar (Cicero, Ill.) picking up assists on the play.
Junior goalkeeper Maxwell Gutbrod (Slinger, Wis.) picked up the shutout win for the Stars, logging one save on the afternoon as Dominican outshot the Vikings 12-4.
The Stars will return to action on Saturday, entertaining the Alma College Scots for a 5:00 p.m. kickoff on Dominican’s West Campus Field.
