Contact: Anna Fox, Sports Information Graduate Assistant, amfox@noctrl.edu
 
Naperville, Ill. (Nov. 1, 2023) - The North Central College men's soccer team took on Carthage College in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) Semifinal matchup. In a heartbreaking finish, the Cardinals fell to the Firebirds 4-3 in overtime at Benedetti Wehrli Stadium.
 
The Cardinals struck early in the game when midfielder Aidan Westerberg fired a shot from the left side of the goal and struck the back of the net.
 
In the 23rd minute, Carthage had a chance to tie the game from a shot by Jethro Yumage but Cardinal goalkeeper Sid Marquardt was able to make a routine stop and keep the Cardinals lead. 
 
Four minutes later Westerberg worked to find room from his defender. He sent the ball to the Firebirds goal, but the ball hit the left woodwork and stayed out of the back of the net.
 
The Cardinals received a penalty kick in the 39th minute as a result of a Firebird foul. Westerberg took the kick for the Cardinals, blasting the ball past the Carthage goalkeeper, Thomas Howard VI. The half ended with North Central leading the game 2-0.
 
In the 56th minute Carthage was able to cut the Cardinals lead in half. Forward Mickey Reilly shot the ball just out of reach of Marquardt, giving the Firebirds their first goal of the night.
 
North Central put two shots on goal but both were stopped by Howard VI, and it was Carthage who capitalized next. Aidan Crowder slipped the ball past Marquardt and the Cardinal defenders, tying the game up 2-2. Time ticked down and, with neither team scoring again, sent the game into overtime.
 
Carthage carried their momentum into overtime and in the 94th minute the Firebirds capitalized on a goal from Joe Balas. As a result, North Central upped their intensity. Jack Bonavia fired a shot to the top of the goal but Howard VI made the catch. Fairwood tallied two more chances for the Cardinals, but was ultimately not able to put the ball in the back of the net. The horn sounded and the Firebirds went into the second overtime up 3-2.
 
Two minutes into the second overtime, Carthage forward Mickey Reilly and defender Jack Georgi found themselves on a breakaway to the Cardinal net. Georgi connected with Reilly, who fired the ball into the back of the net.
 
Never letting down, the Cardinals continued to fight. On the far left side of the Firebirds goal, Arthur Glinkin sent a strike to the right side of the net past Howard VI. Fairwood took one more shot for the Cardinals in the 129th minute. With time running out the Cardinals were unable to tie up the game.
 
North Central out-shot Carthage 19-15, while Marquardt tallied four saves on the night.
 
The Cardinals will have to wait until Monday, Nov. 6 at 1:30 p.m. to see what the future holds for them during the NCAA Selection Show.
 
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