Park women鈥檚 soccer team鈥檚 offense surges in upset victory over No. 18 MidAmerica Nazarene
PARKVILLE, Mo. — The Park University women鈥檚 soccer program began marched to No. 18 MidAmerica Nazarene University and delivered an outstanding victory over the Pioneers on Talk Like a Pirate Day, 4-3.
For Park, this is the first time defeating a ranked opponent since beating No. 13 Columbia College in American Midwest Conference play on Sept. 28, 2016.
This brings both teams to 1-1 in Heart of America Athletic Conference play and Park is now 4-1-1 on the year, while the Pioneers are at 3-3-1.
The last time Park defeated MidAmerica Nazarene was during the 2011 campaign, but this time four first half goals by Park drummed up a victory. The last time the Pirates scored at least four goals in a first half was in a 7-0 victory over Lyon College in 2019 where Park had five first half goals.
Cecilie Esbak Pedersen started off the scoring with an unassisted goal after intercepting a Pioneer pass. MidAmerica Nazarene鈥檚 goalie got the save on the first attempt, but after an immediate rebound Esbak darted the ball through the posts for the game鈥檚 first goal at 10:10.
Esbak was involved in the second score on the assist to Annalena Penshorn as a cross from the far side of the box found Penshorn perfectly at the near post for a well-executed goal at 13:36.
Chaos ensued on the pitch as MidAmerica Nazarene tied it up with goals at 15:00 and 16:03 on the clock. The momentary relief for the Pioneers was dashed immediately as 17 seconds later Patrycia Kozak scored the go-ahead goal. She managed to put a move on one defender and in the open field there was no denying Kozak who left no doubt with cannon fire to the left side of the net for the third goal.
That was five goals in the span of six minutes and 10 seconds.
In the 41st minute, Lotta Paetzold gave the Pirates the extra insurance goal off the assist from Kozak. As it turned out, this would be the game winning goal after MidAmerica Nazarene made the score 4-3 in the 73rd minute.
The shots for the Pioneers were more than double that of Park, 28 to 11, but Park would have eight shots on goal in the match. Park鈥檚 keeper Felicitas Mueller and the backline fended off the Pioneers with nine saves in the game.
The Pirates next have a 1pm match against Grand View University at Julian Field on Saturday, September 23.
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