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

Sept. 30, 2009 -- Holding an early lead, the North Central College men's soccer team looked poised to pull off its second upset of a ranked opponent this season before ultimately succumbing, 6-2, to 23rd ranked Wheaton College in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin opener for both teams at Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium.

A Nico Galto header off a pass from Ryan Carroll gave the home side the 1-0 edge just 2:22 into the game. Wheaton would tie the game in the 13th minute after a Cardinal defender misplayed the ball over the goalkeeper's head. The goal swung the momentum in favor of the visitors who would score the next three goals, including the go-ahead goal just 96 seconds later. Drew Golz got his head on a ball from Matt Swartz on a corner kick, putting Wheaton on top 2-1 in the 14th minute. Wheaton would maintain its one goal lead heading into the halftime break.

Substitute Kristian Rosenberger would be responsible for the first two goals of the second half, scoring off a Golz assist a mere two minutes into the second stanza before striking again in the 60th minute, scoring after tapping the ball in on a scramble in front of the net. North Central responded in the 62nd minute after passes from Carroll and Galto set up a Pete Zimmerman score, cutting the deficit to just two goals.

Tyler Risma would end any hope of a Cardinal comeback, scoring the game's final two goals after driving home a shot in the 75th minute and capitalizing on a misplayed clearance in the 81st minute.

North Central stumbles to 4-6 overall and 0-1 in CCIW play with the loss while Wheaton rolls to its sixth straight win, improving to 8-2 overall and 1-0 in conference. The Cardinals return to action on Saturday, October 3, hosting Millikin University inside the friendly confines of Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium.