Contact: Ava Yurchison, Sports Information Graduate Assistant, 630-637-5302

Box Score

RIVER FOREST, Ill. (Feb. 22, 2017)- RIVER FOREST, Ill. (Feb. 22, 2017)- The North Central College men's lacrosse team opened its inaugural campaign with a show-stopping 25-1 victory, putting the Cardinals just shy of the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) all-time record over non-conference foe Concordia University Chicago  Wednesday afternoon.
 
The Cardinals' 25-point win put them just four goals behind Illinois Wesleyan University, the current CCIW team record holders for most goals in one single game.
 
North Central was swift on the attack from the start of the game with freshman Nick Pardo securing the first face-off of the contest followed by a shot wide of the top pipe less than one minute later from freshman Danny Boyle. A turnover from the Cougars set the Cardinals up for four straight shots on net. The first goal of the game was captured with nine minutes and 30 seconds left in the first half by sophomore Tanner James from Boyle.
 
The Cardinals would control the next face off and within 15 seconds fire off a shot from Boyle's stick. Less than one minute later, the Cardinal's found their second goal of the game at the hands of freshman Brock Haake from freshman Noah Parrill.
 
North Central remained dominate throughout the rest of the quarter closing it out 10-0 with goals from seven different players.
 
The Cardinals remained consistent on offense in the second quarter opening with the same electricity as the first. After a having a shot that hit the crossbar and another shot wide within a minute of one another, freshman Steven Faux found an opportunity and scored his first goal of the season. Fifty seconds later, freshman Jared Weaver fed the ball to freshman Tommy Huizinga and he scored his second goal of the day bringing the score to 12-0 with 11:38 left on the game clock.
 
After a penalty for North Central and a timeout, the Cougars found their own short spark and scored their only goal of the game. Though, offensively the Cardinals could not be stopped and went on to lead the half 18-1.
 
In the first half North Central took 40 shots, and recorded 18 ground balls with seven successful clears.
 
The Cardinals' attack remained dominate in the last two quarters. Boyle went on to score three more goals and earned himself a team high of five goals.Tied for the second highest number of goals (4) were Faux, Huizinga and Weaver.
 
Overall, the Cardinals improved to a record of 1-0 due to all 11 of their clear attempts being completed, 54 shots on goal, 28 ground balls and two saves from freshman goalie Ross Hixson.
 
The Cardinal's host the Milwaukee School of Engineering Raiders for their first home contest ever on Wednesday Mar. 8 at 6 p.m. at Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium.