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

Sept. 18, 2022 - Playing in their second game in two days, the North Central College men's soccer team found success early which helped them take down the University of Dubuque Spartans 3-1 inside Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium Sunday afternoon. 

The last time the Cardinals (6-0-2) and Spartans (4-3-1) met, the Cardinals shocked the Spartans in overtime 1-0  last season and they were looking to keep that same success going Sunday afternoon. The Cardinals found success early as Eloi Nyibizi sent a strike into the top right corner off an Aidan Westerberg cross to give the Cardinals a one goal lead just seven minutes into the contest. The Spartans would find an opportunity in the 18th minute as Gavin Woldridge sent a shot to the lower left side of the net but Sid Marqaurdt would scoop up his shot to shut down the Spartan attack. Just a minute after coming onto the field, Matteo Innocenti would send a strike past goalkeeper Matt Marchiori to give the Cardinals a two goal lead in the 24th minute. The Cardinal offense kept the pressure on the Spartans as Jacopo De Collibus would send a shot on net but Marchiori would handle it, keeping the Cardinal lead at two goals. Drew Wisdom found an opportunity late in the first half as his shot froze Marquardt but would hit the crossbar, eliminating the Spartan opportunity and the Cardinals would head into the half with a two goal lead. 

The Cardinals wasted no time in the second half as Jack Bonavia finished off a cross from Humberto Jaimes to put the Cardinals up 3-0 in the 49th minute. North Central kept the pressure on the Spartan defense as Nyibizi sent a strike to the top right corner but his shot was swallowed up by Marchiori. Both offenses couldn't find many opportunities in the second half but after a Zach Lass handball inside the penalty area, the Spartans had a chance to get on the board. Drew Wisdom stepped up to the line for the penalty kick and struck one past Marquardt to cut the Cardinals lead to two in the 78th minute. The Spartans kept the pressure on shooting three times in the final three minutes of the game and seemed to net their second goal of the game but Marquardt made a diving save to shut down their attack and secure the 3-1 win over the Spartans. 

Marquardt tallied a season high six saves in the contest while improving his record to 5-0-1 on the season. Despite winning by two goals, the Cardinals were outshot by the Spartans 13-11 while allowing seven shots on goal. 

The Cardinals have a week to prepare for their College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) opener as they travel to Elmhurst College on Saturday Sept. 24 to take on the Bluejays at 7:30 pm. 

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