CHICAGO, Ill. -- In their third CCIW contest at the Holmgren Athletic Complex, the North Park University Vikings overpowered the Elmhurst University Bluejays with a resounding 5-1 victory on Wednesday night. The Vikings remain undefeated in conference play, now boasting a 3-0 record.

The action-packed game began with a swift goal from junior midfielder William de Carro in the 10th minute, marking his fourth goal of the season. de Carro was in the right place at the right time, receiving an assist from sophomore forward Michal Dejworek before delivering a shot into the lower left corner of the goal. This early lead set the tone the remainder of the matchup 

The Vikings continued to assert their authority on the field, with de Carro striking again in the 18th minute for his fifth goal of the season. Sophomore defender Teo Helm centered the ball to de Carro, the junior midfielder settled it off his chest, and slotted it into the left side of the net. 

Elmhurst would cut the lead in half with a goal from Roland Dearborn assisted by Brady Lucas at the 40-minute mark in the first period, but the Vikings were just getting started.

After the halftime break, North Park showed no signs of slowing down. Dejworek found the back of the net at 46:20, securing his fifth goal of the season. The assist came from sophomore defender Hugo Neborg, whose 20-yard cross found Dejworek, who headed the ball just inside the right post for the third NPU goal.

The onslaught continued with sophomore Emil Svenander's thunderous strike at 51:55, his second goal of the season. de Carro stayed in the action, assisting Svenander who delivered a blistering 20-yard, skipping shot into the goal, ending the Elmhurst goalkeeper's night after conceding four goals. 

The Vikings' final goal of the match was a memorable one, coming in the 83rd minute from sophomore Johan Bjorck, his first of the season. First-year student Carson Belcher, a late sub in the game, provided a well-timed assist setting up Bjorck for a breakaway goal that sealed North Park's triumphant night. 

Quick Hits:

• The Vikings put on a show with 30 total shots, 14 of which were on target.  
• Most goals scored by NPU since a 5-1 win against Carroll on 10/29/2022.
• Notable moments from the match included the goals of de Carro and Dejworek, each contributing five goals this season, leading the team in that category. Furthermore, 22 different Vikings saw the field, with 11 players contributing to the offensive victory. 
• The Vikings improve to 7-3-1 on the season and lead the conference with a 3-0 record. 

What's Next? 

The Vikings head to Greencastle, Indiana on Saturday, October 7th for a non-conference matchup against the DePauw University Tigers. Game time is set to start at 3:00 p.m. CST.