Had it not been for Roberts’ performance coming off the bench, the 19th-ranked Vikings certainly would have fallen out of the nation’s Top 20. He had a career week, scoring all of the team’s four goals against conference competitors Millikin and Augustana. North Park beat both by the identical score of 2-1.
Known for his tremendous work effort, Roberts (accompanying photo) came off the bench in both games to give the Vikings the spark they needed. The situation looked bleak against Millikin as the Vikings were down 1-0 with just 14 minutes remaining in the game. Roberts followed up a free kick by Issac Lee and slotted it past the Millikin goalkeeper to tie the game. The game remained knotted the next 13 minutes, and overtime appeared to be a foregone conclusion until Roberts took a pass from P.J. Eriksson and beat the keeper with 30 seconds remaining to secure the dramatic comeback victory.
Roberts worked the same athletic magic days later against Augustana. Jordan Gyuricza took a through ball and with the goalkeeper out, slipped a shot around him for what appeared to be the first goal of the game. However, an Augustana defender caught up to it and initially saved it from going in; a scramble in front of the goal ensued and Roberts found a way to poke it home for the first goal just before half-time. Minutes into the second half, Roberts located a failed clear from the Augie defender and slammed home a 10-yard shot.
In describing Roberts’s performance, Head Coach John Born said, “Kurt does all we ask of him and more – there are times throughout the season when the team’s effort or intensity isn’t quite where it needs to be. Whenever Kurt comes in, he goes 100 percent, and he always gives us that needed lift.”
Roberts is the fourth Viking soccer player to earn CCIW Player of the Week recognition this season. He joins goalkeeper senior Austin Person, junior forward Eriksson, and junior forward Gyuricza in accepting the honors. The North Park men are dominating this award with just two regular season games remaining before CCIW tournament play.
The Vikings take on long-time rival Wheaton College at home at 7 p.m. on Friday, October 20. North Park has won the last two CCIW titles, with Wheaton winning the previous nine championships.
