Contact: Ashleigh Jones, Sports Information Graduate Assistant

Sept. 26, 2017-  The North Central men's soccer team's efforts to solidify its first win at home fell short in its double-overtime 2-1 loss to the Central College Dutch. With a cool breeze and a setting sun in the background, the atmosphere was calm before the start of the game. However, as soon as the whistle blew the Cardinals played with attentiveness and accuracy, surprising its opponent in the opening minutes.

Throughout the first half seniors, Jon Borzick and Ryan O'Deen helped orchestrate exciting offensive combination plays with junior Alexis Flores and sophomore Gavin Sanchez.

Sanchez played the first ten minutes like he had something to prove and boy did he deliver. After two attempts on goal within just a minute of each other Sanchez finally got what he had been looking for, his first goal of the season.

With the help of a perfectly curved corner kick by O'Deen, Sanchez positioned himself strategically in the thick of the Dutch defense and guided the ball off his head right to the back of Central College's net. Up 1-0 the Dutch were stunned by the Cardinals tenacity to score.

Though North Central took a commanding lead, Central College would not go away. With 17 minutes left in the first half and some fresh legs on the field, the Cardinals found themselves adjusting to the Dutch's speed and running back on its heels defensively.

Taking advantage of the transition, Central College rushed the defensive line and clogged the goalie box. In seconds the Dutch would overpower the wall of defense and ultimately score tying the match at one apiece.

As the clock ran down the Cardinals brought an onslaught of attacks toward the Dutch's goal. With the wind on its backs and full possession of the ball in the midfield, North Central's Teddy Trifunovski shot a line drive ball towards goal. A final shot attempt for the Cardinals' just before the half only to have it go wide.

Coming back from halftime on paper North Central was on top, outshooting Central College two to one and earning three more corner kick opportunities than its opponents. With this knowledge in the back of its head, the Cardinals started the second half just as they did the first, with tenacity.

By putting pressure on the Dutch's backfield while tactfully spacing the ball within the midfield, North Central patiently waited for moments to cross the ball or poke it ahead to teammates to get the extra step and score a goal.

Despite its efforts to pull away from the Dutch, and even tallying more shots in the second half than its opponents, North Central found itself face to face with its fifth overtime game of the year.

Entering its first period of overtime, the Cardinals were in complete control. Committing no fouls and hindering the Dutch's offensive line from getting any shots on goal, North Central became desperate to end the game in its favor.

Unfortunately, none of the five attempts on goal were enough to finish the game, so North Central and Central College entered the second overtime. Once again during the second overtime, the Cardinals positioned itself to close out the game with a corner kick by O'Deen. After an ill-timed clear by the Dutch O'Deen gained possession and shot again only for it to be blocked and sent down the field.

With the momentum of Central College's saves, the offensive pressure on North Central finally broke through and provided the Dutch's with a corner kick that once again clogged the goal box and snuck in a shot by the back pole.

Falling yet again at home was difficult yet, the play and speed of North Central were of a higher caliber than before. A great indicator of the level of play that will be showcased as the Cardinals enter conference play starting this Saturday.

North Central enters conference play on Saturday, September 30, in Kenosha, Wisconsin against Carthage College at 7:30 PM. Live stats and video can be found HERE.