Contact: Ashleigh Jones, Sports Information Graduate Assistant
 
Sept. 19, 2017- The North Central College men's soccer team held its ground in a heated, double-overtime match against the Knox College Prairie Fire, resulting in a scoreless tie.
 
With the Cardinals coming into the game with a season record of 3-3 versus an opponent with five wins under its belt, it was evident from the start that the Cardinals were ready to put up a fight. Thanks to aggressive play and strategic spacing in the backfield, North Central contained Knox's offensive line.
 
Though Knox seemed to hold possession of the ball more throughout the first half, the Cardinals remained in-sync defensively. Specifically, in the 17th minute of the game Knox was deep in North Central's goalie box, and as a team, the Cardinals deflected each attack and rebound put on by the Prairie Fire.
 
For the remainder of the first half, North Central out-shot and maneuvered the Fire Prairie in the midfield, yet missed crucial opportunities as the time wound down to end the half.
 
Frustration between the two teams' inability to score became apparent throughout the second half, as the physicality of play increased. North Centrals' forwards had a couple of strategically placed passes to them in the backfield, yet Knox's physical play hindered any shot attempt.
 
When the Cardinals finally found themselves in scoring position off a corner kick by Jack Bullard, Gavin Sanchez attempted a header to the opposite corner of Knox's net. Unfortunately, his hopes for pulling North Central ahead were dashed by a leaping save from the Prairie Fire's goalkeeper, Justin Dunn.
 
With just 22 minutes left in the game, tensions were inflamed, and each win of possession seemed to carry a message of dominance to the opposing team.
 
Though the second half was filled with multiple stoppages due to fouls, the Cardinals remained relatively calm and continued to play aggressively until the end of regulation; resulting in two back to back shot attempts by Jon Borzick on one end and a fantastically grabbed save by goalkeeper Connor O'Neill on the defensive end.
 
At the start of the first overtime, the Cardinals sought to put pressure on the Prairie Fire in hopes that someone would eventually get burned.
 
In the eighth minute of the first overtime, Knox once again established itself in the Cardinals' goal box and sought to end the game with a cross and header to the back of North Centrals' net. The Prairie Fire's shot attempt, however, was tangled up quickly and eventually saved by O'Neill.
 
In that scramble to clear the ball, tempers rose, and both Knox and North Central found themselves racing the clock to end the game before altercations dictated the game.
 
Despite the Cardinals' active defensive play led by O'Neill and Andreas Kristiansson, North Central just did not connect on essential opportunities throughout the match, resulting in an exciting yet scoreless double overtime draw.
 
The Cardinals play again at home Saturday, September 23, at 6 PM against University of Wisconsin-Platteville. The men's game will follow the women's soccer team who play at 3:30 PM against University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. Live stats for both games can be found HERE.