CHICAGO, Ill. – North Park (5-2, 1-1 CCIW) responded with authority Wednesday night, shaking off last weekend's loss to Augustana with a commanding 5-1 win over Millikin (4-4-1, 0-1) at the Holmgren Athletic Complex.
The Vikings wasted no time seizing control. Just 30 seconds into the match, sophomore midfielder Alexander Gahm was fouled inside the box and calmly buried the ensuing penalty kick to put North Park ahead 1-0. Gahm continued to orchestrate the attack, setting up fellow sophomore Bastian Eikeland for goals in the 6th and 26th minutes, stretching the lead to 3-0 before the Big Blue could find their footing.
Millikin briefly pushed back with a 15-minute stretch of possession, generating three shots but managing just one on target - a comfortable save for junior goalkeeper Ludvig Almborg. The Vikings then struck again in the closing seconds of the first half, when junior defender Nico Chavez recorded his first collegiate assist by finding sophomore Oliver Marchetti Gaardman for his second goal of 2025.
The late strike sent North Park into halftime with a commanding 4-0 advantage.
Millikin got on the board after the break, but any thoughts of a rally were quickly dashed. In the 65th minute, junior midfielder Mathis Soerum powered home the Vikings' fifth goal of the evening, putting the result beyond doubt.
The Vikings peppered Millikin throughout the night, finishing with a season-high 24 shots, 12 of them on target. The efficiency and relentless pressure capped a complete performance as North Park evened its CCIW record at 1-1.
What's Next?
North Park returns to action on Saturday, October 4, hosting Wheaton College in its Homecoming match under the Holmgren Athletic Complex lights. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ct.
