CHICAGO, Illinois. — A talented but young team entered the field in 2023, as the Vikings finished third in the CCIW race with a record of 5-2-1. This season, Head Coach Kris Grahn brings back almost all of his regular players and has a few new signings who “will make an immediate contribution”.
Two of the best defensive players in the league, Christian Vaaland And Hugo Neborgare back for 2024. Both were named to the 2023 All-Region team. The duo led an NPU defense that allowed just 18 goals all season while maintaining a 0.99 goals-against average.
A three-time All-CCIW selection, Vaaland is studying for another year with the Vikings. A long-time captain for Coach Grahn, Vaaland brings versatility and size to NPU’s midfield and backcourt. He also scored seven goals and took 16 shots on goal in his NPU career.
Neborg brings intensity and talent as he begins his junior season with the Vikings. Last season, he was named to the All-CCIW first team after assisting on three league goals. Neborg was involved in six shutout victories, including three against CCIW opponents.
The Vikings return with the top scorer from 2023, now in junior age Michal Dejworek.
Dejworek was the only player to start all 18 games and was named to the All-CCIW first team after scoring three goals in CCIW play last season. He led the Vikings with 41 shots (19 on goal) and scored seven total goals in his sophomore season.
Coach Grahn also welcomes regular players in Jostein Blindheim (Gr./F), Teo Helm (Juniors/D), Mathias Soerum (Sun./M), Carl Karlsson (Sun./D) and Eduardo Cirilo (Sun./M).
Blindheim is also enrolled in graduate school and is in his fourth season at NPU. Last year, he started 11 of 16 games and was his team’s third-leading player with five goals scored. Four of those five goals came against CCIW competition.
Helm started and played in 17 of 18 games for the Vikings in 2023, contributing to eight shutouts, including seven wins, and adding two assists and a goal. One of his assists came in the CCIW Tournament against Illinois Wesleyan on October 28.
Soerum was the only Viking to play in all 18 games last season, starting 17 of them. The midfielder from Brumunddal, Norway, has an identical resume to Helm, assisting on two goals, scoring one goal and appearing in eight shutouts, including seven wins.
Karlsson had a solid season as a freshman, appearing in 13 games, including 12 starts. He was one of eight Vikings to play over 1,000 minutes of game time and contributed to six clean sheets. He played full-time in six different games.
Cirilo was a finalist for NPU’s 2023-24 Freshman of the Year after appearing in 17 games with 16 starts for the Vikings. The impactful midfielder had two shots on goal, including a goal against Illinois Wesleyan on Oct. 14. He was also on the field in six shutout victories.
After an injury break in 2023 Dear Brandt returns to the game this fall.
As a freshman in 2022, the Norrköping, Sweden native recorded four assists and two goals in just 11 games. He had two goals and an assist on Sept. 14 against WashU and added an assist on Sept. 4 against Ohio Northern.
Another newcomer with a lot of playing time in 2023 was striker Carson BelcherHe appeared in 15 games and started twice for the Vikings, recording one goal and one assist, the goal coming on October 18 at Carthage.
In a preseason CCIW coaches poll, North Park and North Central were selected as the winners of this season’s league title, with both programs earning 55 points.
North Park opens its season on Friday, August 30th with a home game against DePauw University at 6:00 p.m. before making the short drive to Lisle to kick off against Benedictine at 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, September 1st. After that, the Vikings have two ranked home games against No. 16 UW-Eau Claire on Friday, September 6th and No. 4 WashU on Sunday, September 8th.
