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

DECATUR, Ill. (Oct. 19, 2022) - A three-goal performance from Matteo Innocenti sent the North Central College men's soccer team home with a win in their final regular season road trip as the Cardinals soared past the Millikin University Big Blue 4-0 inside Frank M. Lindsay Field Wednesday night. 

The Cardinals (12-0-4, 5-0-1 CCIW) looked to remain unbeaten in conference play in hopes of claiming the top spot in the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) and just two minutes into the game, the Cardinals were putting the pressure on the Big Blue defense. Innocenti sent a strike on net but his shot was swallowed up by Felix Malm, eliminating the early scoring attempt. Innocenti had another opportunity in the ninth minute as he slipped away from a defender and put his shot towards the bottom left corner but his shot was saved by Malm once again. Innocenti finally found some success in the 25th minute as he sent a strike past Malm to put the Cardinals 1-0. The Cardinals were looking to add some insurance as Jack Fairwood sent a strike on net but his shot was punched out, shutting down the Cardinal scoring attempt once again. Both teams would stall and the Cardinals would head into the half with a one goal lead. 

North Central looked to tack on a few more goals in the second half and just 19 seconds into the half, Innocenti finished off a Eloi Nyibizi pass to put the Cardinials up 2-0. Just two minutes later, Nyibizi found Innocenti again who put one past Malm to extend the Cardinal lead to three. The Cardinals kept the pressure on the Big Blue defense and in the 54th minute, Nyibizi sent a strike past Malm into the back of the net, to give the Cardinals their largest lead of the season with 35 minutes to play. In the 64th minute, Millikin's Noah Horner received a yellow card, awarding the Cardinals with a penalty kick. Johnny Kraemer looked to put the game away as he lined up for the penalty kick but his shot was saved by Malm, eliminating the Cardinals opportunity. In the final moments of the game, Lukas Munchausen would take one final shot for the Cardinals but Chase Mandra would come up with the save and the Cardinals would leave Decatur with a 4-0 CCIW win. 

Sid Marquardt tallied three saves in the contest as he improved his record to 11-0-3 on the season. Tonight's win marks Marquardt's sixth shutout of the season and 17th career shutout while the Cardinals broke the single season unbeaten record with 16 consecutive matches. 

The Cardinals are back in action Saturday as they host Illinois Wesleyan University at 3 pm inside Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium. 

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