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

Oct. 12, 2022 - Hosting a top-25 showdown and a battle for the top spot in the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW), the North Central College men's soccer team drew a 2-2 tie against the fifth-ranked North Park University Vikings on Wednesday night inside Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium. 

The Cardinals (10-0-4, 3-0-1 CCIW) looked to gain control of the top spot in the CCIW with their matchup against the high-powered Vikings (10-1-1, 3-0-1 CCIW) on Wednesday night. The Cardinals offense made quick work of the Vikings defense as Jaziel Enriquez made a move past a defender and sent a left footed strike past Alfred Sward to give the Cardinals a 1-0 lead just four minutes into the game. North Park came into tonight's contest out-scoring CCIW opponents 9-1 and in the 20th minute Huge Neborg sent a strike on net but Sid Marquardt was there to make the save to keep the Cardinals lead intact. The Cardinals offense kept finding opportunities as De Collibus seemed to net the Cardinals second goal but his shot hit off the right post, eliminating the Cardinals scoring attempt. North Park sent three more shots on net but all were handled by Marquardt, sending the Cardinals into the break with a 1-0 lead. 

The Cardinals were looking to add some insurance in the second half and in the 50th minute, Enriquez sprinted past a defender down the sideline and sent a strike on net but his shot hit the left post and went out of play. After a foul on the Cardinals, Vidar Rydell put the Vikings on the board as he buried a free kick from 20 yards out to tie the game at one. The Cardinals were not phased at all as Aidan Westerberg finished off a Jack Fairwood cross to put the Cardinals up one with 15 minutes remaining in the game. The game was at a standstill until the 84th minute when Tobias Lunde buried a Neborg cross to tie the game up once again. The Vikings were looking to secure a win against the Cardinals and with seconds left on the clock, Christain Vaaland was wide open in front of the net but Marqaurdt made an acrobatic save to force a 2-2 draw with one of the nation's best. 

Marquardt tallied a season high eight saves as his record stands at 9-0-3 on the season while Sward recorded three saves for the Vikings. The Cardinals and Vikings are now tied for first place in the CCIW with a 3-0-1 record in conference play. 

The Cardinals are back in action Saturday as they host Carroll University (Wis.) for a CCIW matchup at 7:30 pm inside Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium. 

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