Contact: Anna Fox, Sports Information Graduate Assistant, amfox@noctrl.edu
Sept. 15, 2023 – The North Central College men's soccer team froze out Ohio Northern University in a 3-1 win as a result of an offensive surge in the second half.
The Cardinals started the game off with many offense opportunities. In the sixth minute of the game, Matteo Innocenti shot the ball to the bottom left of the net but the Polar Bears goalkeeper Lucas Hickey was there to make the stop. Jack Fairwood got a chance seconds later but sent the ball flying just over the top right corner of the net. Fairwood took another shot two minutes later, firing the ball down the center, but Hickey was there to scoop it up.
In the 18th minute of the game, with a scramble in front of the Cardinal net, Polar Bears Cade Winchester took a pass from Brenden Gervers. Winchester sent the ball into the top left corner and right out of reach of Cardinals goalie, Riley Johnson. Two minutes later, Arthur Glinkin fired the ball to the center of the net, but Hickey got a hand on the ball. The first half ended with fouls being given back and forth between both teams.
The Cardinal offense dominated the second half. In the 57th minute of the game, Jared Urueta took a corner kick for the Cardinals and set the ball right to the front of the net where Fairwood was able to kick the ball past Hickey. With the game tied 1-1, the Cardinals capitalized again a couple minutes later. Aidan Westerberg brought the ball down the far side of the field and past his defender. Westerberg established himself in front of the net and fired the ball to the top left corner, out of Hickey's reach.
The Cardinals were not done yet. In the 61st minute of the game there was a scramble in front of the Polar Bears net and Innocenti took a shot on goal. Through the chaos, Daniel Navarro was able to find Innocenti's shot and head the ball into the net, closing the game out for the Cardinals.
The Cardinals travel to Northfield, Minnesota on Sunday, Sept. 17th, where they will take on Carleton College at 2 p.m.
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