Contact: Clark Teuscher, Sports Information Director, 630-637-5302

DUBUQUE, Iowa (Apr. 12, 2017) - Enjoying a thoroughly successful debut to College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) competition, the North Central College men's lacrosse team led for the final three quarters and pulled away late for an 11-3 victory over the University of Dubuque Wednesday at Oyen Field.

The Cardinals (9-1, 1-0 CCIW) outshot the Spartans, 44-20, and scored the final five goals of the contest as they improved to 5-0 in road games this season.

North Central wasted little time lighting up the scoreboard, as Tanner James scored off an assist from Danny Boyle just 29 seconds after play began. The Spartans (8-6, 0-4) kept the visitors out of the net for the next 13 minutes and took a brief 2-1 lead on a pair of goals by Michael Jango, but the Cardinals scored twice in the final 1:20 of the opening period to regain the lead at 3-2. Tommy Huizinga leveled the score at 2-2 after a pass from Jared Weaver, and James put North Central in front just five seconds before the horn sounded, connecting via an assist from Ethan Hurst after John Fitzgerald caused a turnover to start the attack.

The Cardinals held Dubuque scoreless in the second quarter, getting goals from Huizinga and Weaver to extend their advantage to 5-2 by halftime. James put away the first goal of the second half as well just under a minute after play resumed, and Jango countered with what turned out to be the Spartans' final score 17 seconds later. North Central allowed the hosts just five shots on goal the rest of the way and scored three times in a two-minute stretch early in the fourth period to ensure the evening's outcome.

James scored four goals, giving him a team-high 23 for the season, while Huizinga scored three times and Boyle, Hurst and Weaver each totaled two assists and Fitzgerald finished with seven ground balls and three caused turnovers. Dylan Cost was credited with the win in goal, saving seven shots. 

The Cardinals travel to face conference-leading Carthage College (10-3, 3-0) on Saturday. Action at Art Keller Field is scheduled to get under way at 7:00 p.m.