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

Nov. 13, 2022 - Playing in the second round of the NCAA Division III Men's Soccer Championships for the first time in program history, the North Central College men's soccer team found themselves on the wrong side of a tightly contested match inside Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium. 

The tenth-ranked Cardinals advanced to the Round of 32 for the first time in program history after a 89th minute comeback on Saturday where they scored two goals in the final minute to defeat the UW-Superior Yellowjackets, 3-2. North Central was looking to knock off a strong St. Olaf team and advance to the Sweet Sixteen.

The Oles offense pressured the Cardinals defense early in the first half as Aidan Hillis found an opportunity to score but his shot was blocked by a Cardinal defender and cleared. The Cardinals fired off two shots a few minutes later but were both saved, shutting down the Cardinal attack. After a foul by the Oles, Matteo Innocenti headed a Jacopo De Collibus free kick to the far post which found the foot of Jack Fairwood to put the Cardinals up 1-0 in the 16th minute. Just minutes later, De Collibus had an opportunity to strike again as he slipped past the Oles defense and sent a strike to the top of the net but goalkeeper Peter Forseth was there to shut down the attack. Both offenses would stall until the 43rd minute when Shea Bechtel sent a strike to the top left corner but Sid Marquardt was there to shut down the attempt and send the Cardinals into the break with a one goal lead. 

St. Olaf came out of the break with a chip on their shoulder and in the 53rd minute, Bechtel would net the equalizer off a pass from Victor Gaulmin. St. Olaf looked to strike again as Hakeem Morgan sent a shot to the top of the net but Marquardt was there to shut down the attack. The Cardinals had an opportunity in the 73rd minute as Aidan Westerberg found an opening and sent a shot on net but Forseth was there to make yet another save. Both defenses shut down all offensive attacks but in the 85th minute, Westerberg made a defender miss and seemed to bury the game winner for the Cardinals but his shot slipped just outside the post, sending the game to overtime.  

The Cardinals and Oles were set to play two ten minute overtime periods and in the 95th minute, Jaziel Enriquez had a chance to put the Cardinals in front but his shot to the bottom right corner was saved by Forseth. Just a minute later, the Oles would strike as Morgan found himself all alone with just Marquardt to beat and he buried his shot into the back of the net to put the Oles up 2-1. The two teams would stall and head into the finals ten minutes of play with the Oles leading by one. The Cardinals were looking for another miracle to send the game to penalty kicks and in the 103rd minute, Innocenti had the opportunity to tie the game up but his shot soared above the net, eliminating the scoring attempt. The Oles dominated possession in the final five minutes of the games and would hold off the Cardinals comeback to secure a 2-1 victory. 

The Oles held a 27-14 advantage in shots while both teams each had ten shots on net. Marquardt tallied a season-high eight saves in the contest as he capped off yet another impressive season with a 16-1-3 record.  

Head Coach Enzo Fuschino has led the Cardinals to back to back NCAA Tournament appearances while advancing to the second round of the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history. The Cardinals finished their season with a 17-1-4 record, claiming their first College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) regular season title since 1994 and their second consecutive CCIW Tournament title. 

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