Titans Win Hard-Fought Match Over Vikings

Javier Simon converted a late penalty kick that proved to be the game-winning goal in a 2-1 victory for the UW-Oshkosh men's soccer team over host North Park University on Friday (Sept. 25) in Chicago, Ill.

Michael Dugan gave UW-Oshkosh (7-1-1) a 1-0 halftime lead by scoring in the 29th minute (28:52) of play. Dugan tallied his first goal of the season after collecting a rebound of a shot that fell favorably to his feet.

The Titans held their one-goal advantage until Simon finished home a penalty kick to the lower left corner of the net in the 81st minute (80:30). The goal, which came after a foul to Dugan in the penalty box, was Simon's third of the year.

North Park University (7-2) was able to get one goal back when Pedram Tahmi-Masoleh scored his 12th goal of the season off a pass from Michal Walaszek in the 86th minute (85:35). The score was the first allowed by the Titans in nearly 749 minutes (748:48).

UW-Oshkosh, which attempted the first seven shots of the game, posted advantages of 18-11 in shots and 9-4 in shots on goal. The Vikings had a 2-1 edge in corner kicks.

The Titans were led by the four shots from Dugan and the three from Jonathan Stanley. Tahmi-Masoleh paced the Vikings with three shots.

Sam Gabrilska guarded the UW-Oshkosh goal and saved three shots, all in the second half. North Park University's Chris Tomuta stopped seven shots, including five first-half blocks.

UW-Oshkosh, which is 7-0-1 in its last eight matches, defeated a North Park University team that appeared in the 2014 NCAA Division III Championship. The Vikings had won their last two games against the Titans.

UW-Oshkosh hosts North Central College (Ill.) on Sunday (Sept. 27) at J. J. Keller Field at Titan Stadium.