FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Mark Albanese, Assistant Sports Information Director, 630-637-5302
Box Score

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. (Oct. 10, 2009) -- A late Titan goal proved to be the difference-maker as the visiting North Central College men's soccer team fell, 2-1, to Illinois Wesleyan University, Saturday night, in a College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin game at Neis Field. Micah Melendrez accounted for the lone Cardinal goal, his team-leading sixth of the season.

IWU got the scoring started early, with Paulo Michelini scoring off a set piece just three minutes into the game. The host Titans would maintain the one goal advantage heading into the halftime break, holding a razor-thin 6-5 edge in shots.

Melendrez scored the equalizer eight minutes into the second half, converting on a penalty kick. The game would remain deadlocked until the 79th minute when the Titans were awarded a penalty kick. Cardinal keeper Phillip Klipp stopped the initial shot before Kyle Gorgol collected his own rebound and scored to put the home side up 2-1.

Klipp concluded the day with five saves in goal in the losing effort while his counterpart Win Fisher turned away just one shot on the evening to hold on for the victory.

The game was originally scheduled to be played on Friday before torrential rains waterlogged Neis Field, postponing the game one day.

With the loss, North Central stumbles to 5-8 overall and 1-3 in CCIW play while Illinois Wesleyan improves to 4-6-2 and 1-2 in conference action. The Cardinals return to the pitch on Tuesday, October 13, facing Lake Forest College in a non-conference clash at Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium.