Box Score

North Park earned a crucial victory Saturday night that kept it in the hunt for its first regular season conference title since 2006 as the Vikings upended visiting Carthage College 3-2 in College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin men's soccer action.

The victory put NP at 3-0-2 for third place in the conference with two games left to play, and the Vikings improved to 9-2-4 overall.

Sophomore defender Fredrik Greiff scored what turned out to be the game-winning goal in the 63rd minute on a free kick from 25 yards out. He lifted the ball on the boot just enough to sail over the Carthage defense and past the goalie for his sixth goal of the season and second in the last two games.

Greiff's heroics brought light to what was an otherwise physically played contest as both teams combined for eight yellow cards, 38 fouls and one red card. The Vikings played down a man for the final 36 minutes of the contest, but managed to hold Carthage to only one goal thereafter despite a valiant effort from the visitors in the waning minutes.

Carthage took the initial lead with a goal in the 12th minute, but North Park responded with the equalizer off the foot of Robin Hals in the 32nd minute unassisted. Filip Lindmark then gave the Vikings a 2-1 advantage on a corner kick goal from Mike Herbst and Greiff made it a two-goal lead before Carthage struck for its final tally in the 84th minute on a rebounded shot.

North Park keeper Tim Ahlberg earned the victory between the pipes as he made 11 saves in improving his overall personal record to 8-1-4.

At halftime of the contest, North Park recognized its seven outstanding seniors Ahlberg, Karol Ferdyn, Oskar Joelsson, Oscar Svensson, Max Rosen, Tomislav Medved and Lindmark for the hard work and dedication they've given to the program over the last four year.

North Park returns to action Oct. 24 when it travels to Bloomington for a 7:30 p.m. contest with Illinois Wesleyan University.