USC RANKS NORTH PARK PRESEASON No. 12

CHICAGO, Ill. – The North Park men's soccer team seems to have an embarrassment of riches in 2021 as the Vikings have all the pieces for another special season, not unlike the ones they had in 2017 and 2019. 

Coach Kris Grahn and his staff have added a stellar incoming class to group of returners that have played in (and won) big games throughout their careers at North Park. The trend of geographic diversity also continues for the men's soccer program which currently has six states and ten countries represented on their roster. 

When looking for experience, look no further than the senior captain trio of Ulrik Lund, Peder Olsen, and Gustav Ericsson. The argument could be made that no three players in North Park history have accomplished more at North Park than this Scandinavian trifecta. Lund, from Sandes, Norway, was an all-region selection in 2019 and has started a total of 41 games for the Vikings. Ericsson, from Stockholm, Sweden, was an all-region selection as well in 2019, and was a member of the Final Four All-Tournament team in 2017, when the Vikings made it all the way to the National Championship game. Olsen, out of Larvik, Norway, was an All-American in 2019 as well as being named CCIW offensive player of the year. The three midfielders have a combined 145 points as well as 152 games of experience between them. 

After only getting conference exhibition games in the spring, Coach Grahn has put together a grueling non-conference schedule highlighted with clashes against No. 5 Luther, No. 19 University of Chicago, and No. 22 Christopher Newport. All of those games will be at the Holmgren Athletic Complex. The Vikings open their season on the road however, heading to Lake Forest on Wednesday, September 1, where they take on Lake Forest College at 5 p.m.