CHICAGO, Ill. -- With an experienced group of returners and unfinished business from last fall, North Park University men's soccer enters the 2026 season positioned to compete once again for the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) championship.
The Vikings were selected third in the 2026 CCIW Preseason Coaches' Poll, earning 54 points and two first-place votes. North Park finished only three points behind preseason co-favorites Wheaton College and North Central College, which each received 57 points and three first-place votes. Four different programs earned at least one first-place vote, underscoring what is expected to be a closely contested conference race.
North Park enters its eighth season under head coach Kris Grahn after advancing to the CCIW Tournament championship match in 2025. The Vikings earned their spot in the final with a 2-1 semifinal victory at regular-season champion Wheaton, becoming the only conference opponent to defeat the Thunder last season. North Park's postseason run ended with a narrow 1-0 loss to Illinois Wesleyan University in the championship match.
The Vikings finished the 2025 campaign with a 9-7-2 overall record and a 3-4-1 mark in conference play. North Park scored 33 goals while allowing 25, outshot its opponents 281-185 and generated 96 corner kicks to its opponents' 68. The Vikings were especially effective away from home, compiling a 6-4-1 road record that included their CCIW semifinal victory at Wheaton.
Eikeland Leads Returning Attack
At the center of North Park's returning group is midfielder Bastian Eikeland, a two-time First Team All-CCIW selection and two-time All-Region honoree. Despite working through an injury-affected sophomore season, Eikeland led the Vikings in 2025 with six goals and 12 points while placing 17 of his 30 shots on target. He scored twice against Millikin University and also found the net in the CCIW semifinal victory at Wheaton.
Eikeland has established himself as one of the conference's premier attacking midfielders through his first two collegiate seasons. As a freshman in 2024, the native of Stavanger, Norway, was named the CCIW Newcomer of the Year after producing seven goals, six assists and a team-leading 20 points. He has earned First Team All-CCIW recognition in each of his first two seasons.
His return gives the Vikings an experienced centerpiece as the coaching staff develops the next wave of attacking contributors. North Park averaged 1.83 goals and more than 15 shots per match last season, with 17 of the team's 33 goals coming after halftime. Eikeland's ability to create opportunities from midfield and finish chances around the penalty area will remain central to that attack.
Cirilo Anchors Experienced Defensive Group
North Park also returns midfielder Eduardo Cirilo, one of the Vikings' most experienced players and a proven presence in the defensive half. Cirilo appeared in 15 matches and made 15 starts in 2025, logging 942 minutes and contributing an assist in a road victory over the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.
A Second Team All-CCIW and All-Region selection in 2024, Cirilo has been an important part of North Park's defensive structure throughout his career. He started 17 matches in 2024 and was on the field for nine shutouts, including six shutout victories. He also made 16 starts as a freshman in 2023, giving the Vikings a veteran returner with significant experience against conference and regional competition.
With Cirilo helping organize the midfield and disrupt opposing attacks, North Park will look to build on a 2025 defensive performance that limited opponents to 10.28 shots and 1.39 goals per contest. The Vikings allowed just 185 shots across 18 matches and finished the season with three shutouts.
Returning Experience Provides Foundation
In total, North Park welcomes back eight players who received significant minutes during the 2025 season, including two returning All-CCIW selections. That continuity gives the Vikings a strong foundation as the program integrates new contributors into the lineup.
The returning group brings experience from a season in which North Park played six one-goal matches, earned results in seven road contests and demonstrated its postseason potential by eliminating the CCIW regular-season champion on its home field. The Vikings also showed offensive balance in 2025, with 13 different players scoring at least once and 18 players recording at least one point.
North Park's recent history also places the program among the conference's most consistent contenders. The Vikings have finished among the CCIW's top four in nine consecutive seasons and have captured four conference championships since 2017.
Coach Grahn is excited about this 2026 squad, saying: "Everybody has been working hard and we're pretty deep this year. I'm excited about this freshmen class and we capitalized on a lot of chances during our scrimmages."
2026 CCIW Men's Soccer Preseason Coaches' Poll
- Wheaton College, 57 points, three first-place votes
- North Central College, 57 points, three first-place votes
- North Park University, 54 points, two first-place votes
- Illinois Wesleyan University, 44 points, one first-place vote
- Carroll University, 33 points
- Carthage College, 32 points
- Augustana College, 19 points
- Millikin University, 16 points
- Elmhurst University, 12 points
Season Opens Tonight!
North Park opens its season tonight on the road, taking on 20th-ranked U-Chicago at the Maroons' Stagg Field. Kickoff is set for 7:00 PM CT.
Tickets for all North Park home events are now available for purchase online
