PICTURED: Gianfranco DeCarne
2016 Men's Soccer Preseason Photo Gallery

Led by a pair of assists and a goal from sophomore Gianfranco DeCarne, North Park opened up the 2016 soccer season with a hard-fought 4-2 victory over host Aurora University Thursday afternoon.

DeCarne assisted Emil Eriksson on what was the decisive goal in the 75th minute. He later tallied his first goal of the season five minutes later on a pass from Nikolay Ianev to seal the win for the visitors.

Although the Vikings seized control in the 26th minute via a tally from Gustav Leander – his first collegiate goal – off an Ianev feed, Aurora fought its way back and used the momentum from its crowd to capture a 2-1 lead on back-to-back goals within a minute apart early in the second half.

But just as they did all season and continue to do, the Vikings kept their poise and methodically turned the momentum back in their favor. DeCarne's first assist came off another Leander offering in the 70th minute which tied the game at 2-2, and Eriksson put the Vikes over the top five minutes later.

In all, North Park fired 18 shots to Aurora's 8, including 11 in the second half as their defense stifled AU's attack into five total shots on goal. Marrion Alvaro led NP with five total shots and Eriksson added four. In his first game back after suffering an injury last season, keeper Wesley Woodley made three saves in a complete-game effort.

North Park (1-0) resumes action Sunday when it hosts St. Mary's of Minnesota for an 11 am matinee non-conference matchup.