Contact: Ashleigh Jones, Sports Information Graduate Assistant

Decatur, Ill. (Oct. 7, 2017)- The North Central men's soccer team held strong in its 2-1 win over the Millikin University Big Blue. Playing confidently from the opening minutes the Cardinals took command of the first half.

The Cardinals utilized its speed and passing accuracy to get the ball into the Big Blue's back field resulting in outshooting them 9 to 1, however North Central's offense was unable to find the back of the net before the half.

With each team itching to score the first goal of the game to gain momentum, Millikin at the 54^th minute scored an emphatic header into the Cardinals goal. Unfazed by the goal, the Cardinals continued to play its normal pace and continued to outshoot Millikin throughout the second half.

Despite being down for over half of the game the Cardinals Karl Bappert at the 70^th minute received a beautifully finessed pass from Jon Borzick, earning Bappert's first goal of the season.

With the game tied at 1-1 the Cardinals found itself in an all too common scenario, just 20 minutes away from a potential seventh overtime of the season, North Central sought to finish the Big Blue in regulation.

Through its aggressive offense and determination to extend its winning streak to three games in the CCIW Gavin Sanchez stormed the goal and scored in the 78^th minute of the game earning his fifth goal in the season and his fourth game in a row in which he has scored.

Finishing the game strong the Cardinals held Millikin to just three other shots on goal, and sealing a 3-0 record in CCIW play.

North Central is back at home to play Augustana on Wednesday, October 11, 2017 at 7 PM. Come out and cheer on the Cardinals at Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium or follow along live with NCTV as well as live stats HERE.