Contact: Anna Fox, Sports Information Graduate Assistant, amfox@noctrl.edu
 
Sept. 25, 2023 - Battling with every possession and sticking strong to their defense, the North Central College men's soccer team came back in the second half of the game to defeat Aurora University 2-1.
 
The first half of the game was a deadlock between the two institutions. Jacopo De Collibus took the first shot of the game down the center, but the Spartans goalkeeper Jalen Depenbrock was able to scoop up the ball before it entered the net.
 
A few moments later the Spartans got a chance on goal. Spartans' midfielder Gio Villegas found room to fire the ball to the Cardinal net, but Riley Johnson was there to stop the ball from finding the net. Matteo Innocenti made the final shot on goal for the half, but Depenbrock was able to tip the ball away.
 
The second half of the game was brutal with both teams desperate to score. Four minutes into the half, Spartans midfielder Jaziel Enriquez was fouled on his way to the Cardinals net and received a penalty shot. With no one in his way Enriquez fired a shot to the right side of the goal out of Johnson's reach.
 
The Cardinals responded to the Spartan goal seven minutes later. Aidan Westerberg brought the ball down the sideline and passed to middle of the field to Jared Urueta. Urueta fired the ball down the middle and through the scramble of defenders, Depenbrock could not see the ball and it landed in the back of the net.
 
With the game tied, tensions rose and both teams started to endure yellow cards. The Spartans received a yellow card, and the Cardinals took advantage. Matteo Innocenti found himself room on the left side of the field to take a shot on goal, but Depenbrock was able to make the catch.
 
The Cardinals and the Spartans each received three yellow cards because of plays that resulted in clashes between the two teams.
 
With four minutes left on the clock, the Cardinals brought the ball down the field. Eloi Nyibizi drew in the Spartan defenders and passed the ball to Pepijn Hakstege who was all alone above the top of the penalty arc. Hakstege took no hesitation bringing the ball to his left foot and firing the ball to the top left corner out of Depenbrock's reach. The Cardinals played smart, not allowing any shots on goals or free kicks the rest of the game.
 
The Cardinals will take a business trip up to Kalamazoo, Michigan on Saturday, Sept. 30th to take on Kalamazoo College at 6 p.m.
 
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