CHICAGO, Ill. -- North Park Men's Soccer saw four players earn College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) all-conference honors on Friday morning. Sophomore midfielder Bastian Eikeland, senior defender Hugo Neborg, and fifth-year defender Christian Vaaland were first-team honorees while junior midfielder Mathias Soerum garnered second-team accolades. This is the ninth-straight season showcasing four-or-more North Park players on the All-CCIW team.
Eikeland enjoys the second 1st team recognition in as many years after securing the league's Newcomer of the Year nod in his 2024 freshman season. This year, Eikeland led North Park with three conference goals and tied for the team lead with eight shots on frame. The Stavanger, Norway native enjoyed a two-goal game against Millikin and logged at least one shot goal in all but one of the conference games he played in.
Neborg lands on the 1st team for the third time in his Viking career, earning the same recognition in his past two seasons with the Blue & Gold. The 2024 CCIW Defender of the Year and caption once again caused headaches for opposing offenses, not shying away from aggressive play on and away from the ball. The 2024 All-American from Halmstad, Sweden also assisted on the go-ahead goal at Carroll, guiding North Park to a 2-1 victory over the Pioneers.
Vaaland regains 1st team recognition for the first time since his 2021 freshman season, securing his third all-conference honor in a Viking uniform. Another captain in the backfield, the Stavanger, Norway defender was a physical presence for the Viking defense, continually finding the right position to spoil his opponents' set pieces. The two-time All-Region pick (2021, 2023) also had a timely goal for North Park when he rocketed a close free kick strike with just seconds left on the clock at Elmhurst's Langhorst Field to lift the Vikings over the Bluejays.
Soerum lands on the 2nd team after being a Swiss army knife for North Park Soccer in conference play. Soerum tied for the team lead with a pair of assists in conference action and added a goal against Millikin. The midfielder from Brumunddal, Norway was patient on both offense and defense, looking for the open man rather than taking ill-advised shots whenever the Vikings threatened a scoring chance. Soerum was also the cause for plenty of turnovers at midfield, dispossessing his opposing midfielders as the Vikings built their attack.
These four and the rest of their North Park teammates get one more home game for the 2025 season, hosting Carroll University this upcoming Saturday, November 1, for a CCIW Quarterfinals match. Kickoff at Holmgren is set for 5:00 PM CT.
