Contact: Matthew Eaker, Sports Information Graduate Assistant, mreaker@noctrl.edu 

Kenosha, Wis. (Oct, 2, 2021) - In their third College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) game, the North Central College men's soccer team upset the #16 Carthage College Firebirds 1-0 to remain unbeaten during their 2021 campaign. 

Just ten minutes into the contest, freshman Dane Richardson netted his fourth goal of the year as he sent a strike past the Firebirds goalkeeper Christain Lekki to put the Cardinals up one. The Cardinals kept the pressure on in the first half shooting five more times in hopes of extending their lead to two. 

In the second half, the Cardinals were looking to add another goal to put the game out of reach and in the 75th minute Pablo Bustamante had an opportunity. Bustamante sent a shot to the top part of the goal but Lekki shut down the Cardinal offense once again. 

Johnny Kraemer, Zach Lass and Davis Nelson shut down the Firebird offense who had outscored their opponents 17-9 coming into tonight's contest. They only allowed one shot on goal which was handled by goalkeeper Sid Marquardt and denied any scoring chances by the Firebirds. 

Marquardt tallied one save and improved his record to 9-0-1. He earned his ninth shutout of the season which puts him in second for most shutouts in a single season. Marquardt also leads the country in save percentage, goal against average and shutouts.

The Cardinals (12-0-1, 2-0-1 CCIW) are back in action Wednesday night as they travel to Rock Island, Ill. to take on the Vikings of Augustana College. The match is set to start at 7:00 pm inside Thorson-Lucken Field. Click HERE for live coverage of Wednesday's night game. 

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