NAPERVILLE, Ill. -- After coming within one goal of a conference tournament championship in 2025, the North Park University men's soccer team has been selected third in the 2026 College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) Preseason Coaches' Poll, announced on Wednesday afternoon.

The Vikings earned 54 points and two first-place votes, finishing just three points behind co-favorites Wheaton College and North Central College, who tied atop the poll with 57 points and three first-place votes each. The Vikings were the only conference team to beat Wheaton last season, enjoying a 2-1 road win at Joe Bean Stadium in the CCIW Semifinal match. Under eighth-year head coach Kris Grahn, the Vikings advanced to the CCIW Tournament championship match by upsetting regular-season champion Wheaton in the semifinals before falling in a tightly contested 1-0 championship match against Illinois Wesleyan.

North Park returns an experienced core from last year's squad, including eight players with significant minutes and two All-CCIW selections, positioning the Vikings as one of the conference's top contenders once again.

Leading the way is Bastian Eikeland, a two-time First Team All-CCIW and two-time All-Region midfielder. Eikeland paced the Vikings offensively in 2025, leading the team in points (12), goals (6), and shots on goal (17) while establishing himself as one of the conference's premier midfielders.

The Vikings also welcome back Eduardo Cirilo, a 2024 All-Region selection who played a key role in one of the league's strongest defensive units. Cirilo started in nine shutouts during the 2024 season, helping North Park consistently rank among the CCIW's most difficult teams to break down defensively.

The Vikings have finished among the top four teams in the CCIW in each of the past nine seasons, capturing four conference championships since 2017.

Illinois Wesleyan, the defending CCIW Tournament champion, was picked fourth with 44 points and one first-place vote, followed by Carroll (33), Carthage (32), Augustana (19), Millikin (16), and Elmhurst (12).

2026 CCIW Men's Soccer Preseason Coaches' Poll

1T. Wheaton – 57 points (3 first-place votes)
1T. North Central – 57 points (3)
3. North Park – 54 points (2)
4. Illinois Wesleyan – 44 points (1)
5. Carroll – 33 points
6. Carthage – 32 points
7. Augustana – 19 points
8. Millikin – 16 points
9. Elmhurst – 12 points