Contact: Ashleigh Jones, Sports Information Graduate Assistant
 
Oct. 28, 2017- Emotions were high as the North Central College men's soccer team recognized five graduating seniors before the start of the Cardinals  home matchup against Illinois Wesleyan University, in its 2-1 overtime loss.
 
The competition between the Cardinals and the Titans spilled off the field and into the stands as a large, loud crowd of proud North Central families tried to outshout the boisterous parents of Illinois Wesleyan University.
 
With this game, North Central had the chance to clinch home-field advantage for the semi-final game for the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) tournament next week.
 
However, with this loss, the Cardinals placed its future play in the hands of the winner of the Carthage and Augustana matchup.
 
The Titans came out of the gates quickly advancing to North Central's goal the Cardinals hastily adjusted, resulting in an early corner kick by Illinois Wesleyan.
 
Within less than a minute of each other two corner kicks were awarded to the Titans; however each time Gavin Sanchez was in the right place at the right time and by the second attempted cleared it out emphatically.
 
The clear by Sanchez was settled by teammate Brett Johnson and passed along to Alexis Flores, and after speeding through the middle of the pitch, Flores took a shot on goal.
 
Over the course of the first 30 minutes of the half, the game seemed to be spent mostly in the air. With each team utilizing their heads just as much as their feet to advance the ball past the midfield.
 
Thankfully with the impressive accuracy of Jon Borzick's headers and the height of Karl Bappert, the play in the air was usually settled by North Central.
 
The Titans came to win, and its aggressive pressure on the ball as well as quick passing proved to keep the Cardinals on its heels. Fortunately, the backline sacrificed their bodies with well-timed sliding tackles by Sean Sweeney and Andy Kristiansson.
 
One tackle in particular by Clint Rader led to a clear by Jared Collier out to a waiting Flores. Seeing just two defenders to beat, in the 31st minute, Flores took on the remaining Titan defensive line looking to score.
 
At the last second Flores was stripped up when his last defender to beat repossessed the ball and sent hurdling towards the midfield.
 
After multiple substitutions by both teams, fresh legs proved to be the necessary piece of Illinois Wesleyan's energy. For at the 34th-minute mark the Titans Logan Alexander took advantage of a congested goalie box and poked a goal across the line; leaving the Cardinals stunned and confused.
 
Not able to answer Illinois Wesleyan's goal before the half, North Central changed the lineup to rest some of the starters resulting in a dynamic bunch off the bench ready to prove their talent on the field.
 
Much like the Titans did, the Cardinals opened the second half quickly. Thanks to the speed of senior forward Ryan O'Deen North Central put up the first shot of the half, followed by a corner kick a minute later.
 
Not willing to give up a tying goal Illinois Wesleyan for the next nine minutes held possession of the ball, which forced North Central's backline to step up and stop the blitz on goal.
 
Within those nine minutes, four shots on goal and four corner kicks came up empty thanks to the teamwork of Spencer Wiese, Sean Sweeney, Jared Collier, and Clint Rader. By communicating and moving to the open man Connor O'Neill only had to make two high intensity saves in the span of those nine minutes.
 
To answer such an onslaught of goals, the Cardinals brought in fresh legs. At the 66th minute, a tremendous three-person pattern up the left side of the field between Joe Trocki, Sean Woodford, and Steven Abalos almost led to a tying goal for North Central.
 
As the Cardinals subbed in clusters at a time the Titans went with a whole line change, which North Central took full advantage of after just two minutes of the substitutions entering.
 
With a hard foul by Illinois Wesleyan's Chris Johnson on the Cardinals' Abalos, North Central was awarded a free kick about 30 yards from the goal line.
 
Taking the free kick, Wiese eyed his options in the goal box and with clear determination sent the ball towards a cluster of Cardinals. The ball was then settled and rocketed in by Alex Perales resulting in the game-tying goal and his first goal of the season.
 
Tied at 1-1 with over 15 minutes to play it was any teams game and North Central seemed to shift to another gear. Suddenly the Cardinals have taken five shots to the Titans two shots to close the half, and Illinois Wesleyan begins to feel the pressure.
 
To relieve some of the pressure the Titans push the ball through the midfield and tally a shot and then two corners. The second corner kick was then promptly cleared by Jack Bullard on to an awaiting O'Deen.
 
With his incredible speed, O'Deen is shoulder to shoulder with the Titans' Michael Juarez when he is intentionally pulled down to the grown thwarting the Cardinals to end the game in regulation.
 
Disheveled and frustrated by not capitalizing on that final possession North Central was all out of sorts and with just 49 seconds passing from the start of overtime the Cardinals lost and forfeited its chance to host the CCIW semi-finals.
 
The North Central men's soccer team will be playing next week in the CCIW tournament. Final date and time will be determined following the Carthage College and Augustana College matchup this evening.