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

LISLE, Ill. (Oct. 2, 2022) - Finishing off their non-conference schedule with a trip down Chicago/Maple Avenue, the North Central College men's soccer team had three different Cardinals score as they took down crosstown rival Benedictine University 3-0 Sunday afternoon. 

The Cardinals (8-0-3, 1-0-0 CCIW) showed the Eagles why their offense is dangerous just three minutes into the match as Matteo Innocenti found a gap in the Eagles defense to put the Cardinals up 1-0. The Cardinals kept the pressure on as Jack Bonavia fired a shot on net but his shot was saved by goalkeeper Arjun Dhillon to shut down the scoring attempt. The Cardinals would fire off four more shots before Edoardo Bonifacio would send a strike past Dhillon to extend the Cardinal lead to two. Just three minutes later, Jacopo De Collibus would find the back of the net to send the Cardinals into halftime with a 3-0 lead. 

North Central looked to add some insurance in the second half and in the 52nd minute, Eloi Nyibizi had an opportunity to extend their lead to four but his shot was saved by Mateo Reyes. Two minutes later, Jaziel Enriquez slipped past defenders and sent a strike on net but his shot was handled by Reyes, shutting down the Cardinals attack. Both defenses held strong in the final 35 minutes, allowing no shots on net and the Cardinals would head home with a 3-0 shutout win. 

The Cardinal defense only allowed one shot on goal which was handled by goalkeeper Riley Johnson who improved his record to 1-0-1 on the season. The Cardinals outshot the Eagles 13-1 with nine of their 13 shots going on net. 

The Cardinals resume College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) play on Wednesday as they travel to Wheaton, Ill. to take on the Wheaton College Thunder at 7 pm inside Joe Bean Stadium. 

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