CHICAGO, Ill. -- Carson Belcher recorded a hat trick and added two assists as North Park rolled to a 6-0 victory over the Carroll University Pioneers on Wednesday night at the Holmgren Athletic Complex. The win secured a share of the 2026 College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin regular-season title for the Vikings, alongside North Central College, and the 2-seed in the conference tournament.
North Park took the lead in the 10th minute when Belcher was breaking away for the go-ahead goal before drawing a foul in the box. He converted on the ensuing penalty kick, giving NPU the early advantage.
The Pioneers responded with three shots over the next three minutes, including blocked attempts from Nathan Patzer and Pablo Segura Larraz, but could not find the target.
Belcher helped double the advantage in the 20th minute, setting up Gustav Finér for his first goal of the night. Belcher maneuvered the far corner of the field before Finér quickly collected the pass and uncorked a left-footed shot for the second score.
Carroll generated three corner kicks and five shots during the opening half, but Nico Chavez, Eduardo Cirilo and Dennis Rinne controlled the North Park back line and kept the Pioneers from putting a shot on goal, chesting down any long passes from the Pios before it crossed into threatening territory.
The Vikings broke the match open shortly after halftime. Belcher scored again in the 51st minute before completing his hat trick just over two minutes later, finishing a buildup assisted by Finér and Rinne to make it 4-0.
Carroll produced its lone shot on goal in the 56th minute when Max Pusic tested Arvid Skoglund, who made the save. Finér added his second goal three minutes later off an assist from Chavez, extending North Park's lead to five. Finér booted a top-left corner shot from 25-yards out to add the fifth goal in emphatic fashion.
Emil Svenander completed the scoring in the 87th minute, finishing a chance created by at midfield by Belcher and Vilmer af Klinteberg. North Park outshot Carroll 19-9 and placed 11 attempts on goal while limiting the Pioneers to one shot on target.
Belcher finished with eight points (a CCIW-leading mark for 2026) on three goals and two assists, while Finér contributed two goals and an assist. Chavez and Rinne each added an assist as North Park's defense prevented Carroll from establishing any sort of offense.
What's Next?
North Park receives a first-round bye in the CCIW Tournament and will host the winner of Illinois Wesleyan and Augustana in the semifinal round. The match is scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 4, at 7 p.m. at the Holmgren Athletic Complex.
