North Park University Athletics

The 2019 season will be the first for coach Ricky Pimentel.

Pimentel, one of the most decorated North Park defenders in program history, capped his career with United Soccer Coaches (USC) Second Team All-American honors in 2018. Additionally, Pimentel earned USC First Team All-Central Region honors, College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) Defensive Player of the Year, and First Team All-CCIW recognition.

A stalwart of the North Park defense, the senior captain guided the Vikings to a CCIW-best 0.89 goals against per game, giving up only 17 on the season. Pimentel finished his senior campaign with two goals and an assist, as well as earning the Vikings back-to-back league titles in 2017 and 2018.

In the historic run to the NCAA Championship game in 2017, Pimentel was a First Team All-CCIW selection and named the league's Defensive Player of the Year. That season, he recorded a goal, three assists, and started in all 24 games as the Vikings' captain and defender.