From University of Chicago Athletics

Wednesday night promised to be a dramatic showdown, as the No. 1-ranked University of Chicago men's soccer team hosted No. 5-ranked North Park University under the lights of Stagg Field. Both teams came into the game with perfect 8-0 records and nearly identical defensive stats. The regional foes have also played each other annually since the 2015 season.

By night's end, Ryan Yetishefsky's finishing brilliance was the story of the game as the junior accounted for all three goals in UChicago's 3-0 triumph against the Vikings.

Both sides played fast and decisive from the opening whistle, showing ample technical prowess with slick dribbling and passing. The Vikings consistently looked to play long balls down the left side, hoping to employ their impressive speed to get behind the Maroon defense and make plays. On the other end, UChicago continually made quick short and intermediate passes at speed to make inroads against the pressing NPU defense and midfield.

UChicago had the better looks throughout the first half. The hosts accounted for the first five shots of the game, including a very close call by junior Naz Kabbani off a corner kick in the 33rd minute. North Park fired off its first shot in the 34th minute and both attempts in the half were blocked by Maroon defenders, who did a fine job of keeping themselves in front of the ball at all times.

The teams went into halftime knotted at 0-0. In the opening minutes of the second half, UChicago came achingly close to breaking the deadlock via Yetishefsky. The junior forward turned away from two defenders while receiving a pass and fired a curling bullet from 27 yards out. NPU's goalkeeper got a finger on the attempt which then banged off the right post.

But it was just a matter of time before Yetishefsky hit pay dirt. In the 59th minute, UChicago broke down the NPU defense with a nice through ball from first-year Kai Walsh into the box that drew the goalkeeper out for a challenge. A Viking defender tried to poke the ball out of danger. But instead, he centered the ball into the open for Yetishefsky to run up and deposit into the vacated net.

NPU pushed forward with more urgency from that point on, sending waves up the field looking for the equalizer. That renewed aggression left the defense vulnerable to the counterattack. Less than 80 seconds after the first goal, the Maroons doubled their advantage. Senior defender Richard Gillespie bombed a long ball 60 yards in the air to Yetishefsky, who raced past his defender and scored 1-on-1 against the goalkeeper.

UChicago did not slow its attack despite the 2-0 lead. Sophomore Ryan Shea rattled the post in the 73rd minute with one of his attempts, and the Maroons were consistently looking to play with pace to their forwards. North Park's offense had a couple close calls on loose balls in the box and off corner kicks. However, the UChicago defense kept the threats at bay.

The cherry on top came with 70 seconds remaining in the game. NPU's goal kick was immediately sent back by sophomore Lyndon Hu directly to the feet of Yetishefsky. The forward promptly juked his defender out of the way and primed another right-footed strike from 17 yards that secured the hat trick.

UChicago outshot North Park 16-9 while the Vikings held a slight 7-6 edge in corner kicks. Junior goalkeeper Will Boyes (9-0 record) nailed down his fifth clean sheet of the campaign with one save made.