CHICAGO, IL (August 27, 2007) \u2013 Several North Park University athletic teams might want to consider \u201cin with the new\u201d as the motto for the year. Young players, sophomore and first-year coaches, as well as a new evening event offer promises and challenges for the coming season.<\/p>\n
The Vikings football team will host its first-ever night game as it faces Benedictine University at 7 p.m. on September 8. The event comes just 115 years after the first-ever night game in American football history (September 28, 1892) between Mansfield State College and Wyoming Seminary ended in a 0-0 tie (according to the Tri-Counties Genealogy & History<\/em> by Joyce M. Tice).<\/p>\n Scott Pethtel will again coach one of the youngest teams in the nation. Sophomore Shelby Wood will be the starting quarterback, having distinguished himself last year when he threw for 287 yards and two touchdowns against perennial national powerhouse Wheaton. The performance was the 15th best passing performance in Vikings history. He also threw for 267 yards and two scores during Week Four against North Central.<\/p>\n The women\u2019s soccer team will be guided by head coach Troy Edwards in his first season with the Vikings. Edwards turned around a losing program at LeTourneau University in Longview, Texas, where he led the Lady Jackets to 22 wins in two years.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re going to focus on developing our \u2018killer instinct\u2019 on both the offensive and defensive ends of the field,\u201d Edwards said. \u201cSeveral first-year players will compete for starting positions and bring in greater depth.\u201d<\/p>\n Amanda Wallden, who was named the team\u2019s Offensive MVP (Most Valuable Player)\u00a0 and earned All-Central Region honors by D3Kicks.com, is expected to lead the team. Other key returnees for the Vikings include senior forward Laura Alfredson, sophomore midfielder Stephanie Olson, junior forward Christy Johnson and junior forward Allysa Jacobson.<\/p>\n The Vikings open the 2007 season with a home contest against Carroll College at 7 p.m. Friday.<\/p>\n Second-year head coach Coley Johnsen started her first season with the Vikings volleyball team just weeks before last year\u2019s opener. The team struggled, but now having had the opportunity to recruit, Johnsen believes the Vikings will be far more competitive this year.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have some key newcomers who will be looking to make some noise for us,\u201d Johnsen says.<\/p>\n The Vikings open their season in the Wisconsin Lutheran tournament, where they face host Wisconsin Lutheran in Milwaukee at 3 p.m. Friday.<\/p>\n