The Niles soccer team opened its 2012 season Monday night with a convincing 4-1 non-conference win over visiting Bangor.

Due to repairs to the Vikings’ soccer field, the match was played on the varsity football field.

Niles (1-0) was the aggressor right from the start. The Vikings applied pressure around the Bangor net throughout the first half, only allowing the Vikings to cross midfield just a handful of times.

Bangor ended up with just one shot in the opening 20 minutes and two shots for the entire match.

Senior Kaytlyn Miller got Niles on the scoreboard first as she scored an unassisted goal in the 23rd minute.

The Vikings extended their lead to 2-0 in the 35th minute when senior Abigail Butler found the back of the net.

Bangor opened the second half with a score to cut the Vikings’ advantage to 2-1.

Junior Cori Carpio was able to take advantage of a defensive breakdown by Niles and get the ball past Sarah Smith for the Vikings’ only goal and their only shot of on goal in the second half.

Niles responded with a goal 13 minutes later to regain a two-score advantage.

Alexis Arnold got one past the Vikings’ goalkeeper from about 35 yards out in the 59th minute. The ball bounced and skidded under the hands of the Bangor net minder.

Niles capped the scoring in the 70th minute when sophomore Kelsey Medlin blasted one off the hands of the Bangor keeper and into the net to make it 4-1.

The match was delayed for nearly 30 minutes when with 71:22 showing on the clock, Bangor keeper Lorena Sanchez was injured when she took a knee to the side of the face. She was transported to the hospital.

Niles finished the night with a 19-3 advantage in shots on goal. Smith was credited with a pair of saves.

“It was a good game,” Niles coach Jo Schau said. “We were able to get a nice rotation in and see what everyone has to offer. That d really helps the first game of the season. We still need to work on our passing and communication. We have a lot of girls back, but in a lot of different positions.”

Bangor…1

Niles…4

Halftime score

Niles 2, Bangor 0

First half

N – Kaytlyn Miller 23rd minute

N – Abigail Butler 35th minute

Second half

B – Cori Carpio 46th minute

N – Alexis Arnold 59th minute

N – Kelsey Medlin 70th minute

Shots on goal

Bangor  3

Niles 19

Saves

Bangor 14

Niles 2 (Sarah Smith)

Varsity record

Niles 1-0