Contact: Anna Fox, Sports Information Graduate Assistant, amfox@noctrl.edu

ERIE, Pa. (Sept. 1, 2023) - The North Central men's soccer team took a running start on their 2023 season Friday night in Erie, Pennsylvania, as they defeated the Baldwin Wallace University Yellow Jackets 3-1. 

The Cardinals started the game strong with Edoardo Bonifacio scoring the first goal of the game in the second minute with an assistant from Matteo Innocenti. The Yellow Jackets looked to try and tie up the game a couple of minutes later, but goalkeeper Riley Johnson kept the Cardinals' momentum and blocked Julian Kieres' shot on goal. Innocenti continued to show dominance on the offensive end with a penalty kick goal in the 11th minute. 

The second half of the game was at a stalemate until Baldwin Wallace drew a yellow card in the 82nd minute where Aidan Westerberg scored on a penalty kick, increasing the Cardinals' lead to 3-0. The Yellow Jackets would respond only minutes later with a penalty kick from Julian Kieres. The North Central defense held strong and would not allow another shot from Baldwin Wallace for the rest of the game. 

Johnson picked up his second colligate win and tallied three saves on the night. 

The Cardinals are back in action tomorrow as they take on Penn State-Behrend at 6:30 pm to finish off their business trip in Erie, Pennsylvania. 

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