FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Mark Albanese, Assistant Sports Information Director, 630-637-5324

Box Score

Sept. 18, 2011-- Utilizing a second half scoring surge, the North Central College men's soccer team captured its 11th Sal Vaccaro Tournament Championship on Sunday afternoon, besting the weather and the Grinnell College (Iowa) Pioneers by a 5-0 count inside Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium.

Tyler Lundquist opened the scoring for the Cardinals (6-1), tallying a header goal in the 25th minute off a feed from Jake Muszczynski. The score would remain 1-0 at the halftime break despite the Cardinals holding a commanding 6-1 edge in shots.

Ryan Carroll pushed the Cardinal buffer to two goals in the 51st minute off a Ryan Johnson assist, touching off a 25-minute scoring avalanche for the squad, tallying four goals in the span. Kevin Okamoto found Paul Box in the 58th minute for the game's third score while Michael Lenzi threaded the ball to Charlie Stanke in the 63rd minute for the fourth goal of the afternoon. A T.J. Simmons goal in the 76th minute capped off the scoring for North Central, finishing the tournament by outscoring foes by a 7-0 margin.

Goalkeepers Phillip Klipp, Mike McEvoy and John McWard combined for the shutout, as the defense allowed just two shots on target all game for the Pioneers (2-4). Grinnell's Greg Fox made five saves in net in the losing effort.

North Central has now won 11 of the 24 Sal Vaccaro Tournaments contested, including three of the past four.

The Cardinals, currently riding a six-game win streak, return to the pitch on Saturday, Sept. 24, traveling to Mequon, Wis. to face Concordia University Wisconsin at 1 p.m.