CHICAGO, Ill. – The Carthage College Firebirds stepped on to the turf of the Holmgren Athletic Complex on Wednesday night as the nation's 16^th-ranked team. However, the only real heat radiated off North Park's Peder Olsen, whose hat trick led the Viking men's soccer team to a decisive 4-0 win.

North Park wasted no time in tacking a "1" on the scoreboard as keeper Alfred Sward sent a goal kick towards Jesse Anamoo, who would head the ball forward to Tobias Lunde. Lunde flicked the ball over the heads of the Carthage back line before a powerful strike from Olsen put the Vikings ahead early with an eighth-minute goal.

On the flip side, the Viking defense prevented the Firebirds from contributing any offensive stats in the first half of play – Carthage was blanked in both corner kicks and total shots through the first 45.

North Park expanded its lead when Olsen took advantage of a penalty kick goal in the 32^nd minute of the game, finding the upper-left corner of the net for a 2-0 NPU lead at halftime.

Carthage showed signs of life in the early minutes of the second half, contributing a Danny Eloyza corner kick and a blocked shot off the foot of Mickey Reilly.  

Any momentum the Firebirds were building was lost when Anamoo possessed the ball and charged into the box before being upended, resulting in a red card for Carthage and a penalty kick opportunity for Olsen in the 54^th minute.

Carthage keeper Christian Lekki made an impressive, left side block on the penalty kick, but it was deemed that he had moved off of the goal line, resulting in another opportunity for Olsen. Olsen capitalized on this redo, skipping a shot into the lower right side of the net for his third goal of the game and a 3-0 NPU lead.

Only minutes later, the Vikings would contribute their fourth goal of the match. Beginning at midfield, Angel Barriga bolted along the left sideline before passing to Tobias Lunde. Lunde chased the lead pass before left-footing the ball to Erik Lundeen right in front of the goal. Lundeen connected on the pass perfectly, sending a one-touch shot into the left side of the net for his first goal of the season.

Through the rest of the half, the NPU defense allowed only three shots and one corner kick as they vaulted over the 16^th-ranked Firebirds, 4-0.

FINAL: North Park 4, #16 Carthage 0

Quick Hits:

• Carthage without any shots or corner kicks in the first half
• Olsen secures a hat trick, becoming the first player in Viking history with three in his career
• Two assists for Lunde, one each for Anamoo and Barriga
• Lundeen with a quality, one-touch goal
• 26 shots, 14 on frame, for the Vikings

What's Next?

North Park (7-3, 2-0 CCIW) hits the road for the first time since September 14 when they take on the Elmhurst University Bluejays this coming Saturday, October 2. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m.