This evening, Wes Woodley ’11 will stand between the posts for North Park University as they begin their season against Benedictine University. The Vikings return four of their six All-CCIW (College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin) honorees from a season ago, including Woodley who started all 19 games in 2013.

Last year, Woodley distinguished himself as one of the best keepers in the CCIW by being selected to the All-CCIW Second Team, recording 99 saves, and earning the second-highest save percentage in the conference at .861. On October 1 he earned CCIW Defensive Player of the Week honors and on October 26 had his best game of the season, tallying a career-high 14 saves in a 2-1 win vs. North Central College. His nine shutouts, including a stretch of six consecutive clean sheets, were instrumental in helping the Vikings to an 11-5-3 record and a fourth consecutive berth in the postseason. This year, they’re looking for more.

“My goal for our team is to at least win our conference this year and make it to the Elite Eight,” Woodley told us a few weeks ago. The Vikings are ranked second in the pre-season pole, just six points shy of Wheaton College.

Along with Markus Fodstad, juniors Diego Lashlee and Wesley Woodley as well as senior Fredrik Greiff return to a squad that carried an unblemished 7-0-1 record at home last season.

“Those four are very talented players,” first-year associate head coach Kris Grahn said. “They should hopefully produce once again for us this year and we’re excited to have them back.”

~ North Park University Press Release

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