A late penalty kick resulted in the game-winning goal for the Alma College Men's Soccer team as the Scots defeated North Park University 3-2 in a very exciting afternoon of soccer at Scotland Yard. With the victory, Alma is now 4-0 on the season, while the visiting Vikings fell to 2-2-1 in 2013.

"We finished the non-conference portion of our schedule and achieved some of the objectives we laid out," said Alma Head Coach Josh Oakley. "Now we turn our focus to the MIAA and the tough competition that comes with it."

North Park jumped out to a 1-0 lead at 20:36 of the first half but the Scots responded less than 12 minutes later when So. M Matt Sovis (Williamston, Mich./Williamston) scored at 32:14. Then, at the 40:15 mark, So. F Zach Vandeveer (Elk Rapids, Mich./Elk Rapids) put the home team up 2-1 on a unassisted goal.

The Vikings outshot the Scots by a margin of 13-9 in the first 45 minutes, including seven to five in shots on goal.

In the second half, North Park tied the contest at 2-2 at 69:48. But, the Scots responded with the game-winner, on a penalty kick, by Jr. D/M Joonas Kotka (Tallinn, Estonia/Gustau Adolf Grammar School) at 77:44. Alma then hung on, even as the game got rather chippy towards the end - the teams combined for six yellow cards in the final 22 minutes, four of them by the Vikings.

The shots in the second half saw North Park lead by a margin of 10-8, including 6-4 in shots on goal. Sr. GK Graham Wallace (Grand Rapids, Mich./Forest Hills Eastern) earned the win for the Scots in the net, making 11 saves in the process.

The Scots play next on Tuesday afternoon, when they play at host Trine University in the MIAA opener for both teams.