Contact: Anna Fox, Sports Information Graduate Assistant, amfox@noctrl.edu
 
October 5, 2023 - In a nail-biting game on Wednesday night, the North Central College men's soccer game ended in a stalemate with Wheaton College, 2-2.
 
The Cardinals offense took advantage of the fast-paced game early on. In the fourth minute of the game, Jared Urueta took a shot on goal down the middle of the net but Thunder goalkeeper Mason Escalante was able to make the stop.
 
Two minutes later, Jack Fairwood had the ball on the left side of the net where he found enough space to pass the ball to Daniel Navarro who was in front of the net. Even through the scramble of players from both teams, Navarro was able to find the pass and fired one into the back of the net giving the Cardinals the lead. With the Cardinals and Thunder defense working hard both teams kept each other from taking any shots on goal for the rest of the half.
 
The second half of the game was much more physical and action packed. One minute into the half Grant Roney capitalized off the pass of Timmy Jones, sending the ball into the bottom left of the net and out of Riley Johnson's reach.
 
The Thunder received a free kick off of a foul from the Cardinals. Wheaton passed the ball down to the left of the goal and switched it to the right side. With bodies crowding around Johnson in front of the net, he did not have enough room to stop Pryse Anderson's shot on goal. 
 
While Wheaton led the game 2-1, the physical aspect of the game was turned up by both teams. It began with Fairwood receiving a yellow card and then Urueta receiving a card seven minutes later. Wheaton's Mason Louth received a yellow card during a play in the game and continued to express his frustration, resulting in him receiving a red card.
 
Play continued to be physical and with the Cardinals up a player, the Thunder began to become more exasperated. Wheaton's Head Coach Steve McCrath received a yellow card after disagreeing with another call by the referees.
 
The Cardinals offense took four more shots before Fairwood found the back of the net off a pass from Aidan Westerberg. With only seconds remaining in the game Fairwood took one more shot on goal but Escalante made the stop as time ticked down.
 
North Central is back home again on Saturday afternoon when they host Carthage College at 1 p.m.
 
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