Contact: Anna Fox, Sports Information Graduate Assistant, amfox@noctrl.edu
 
Kalamazoo, Mich. (Sept. 30, 2023) - The North Central College men's soccer team enjoyed a nice visit up north, taking advantage of the fall weather as they defeated Kalamazoo College on Saturday evening.

The Cardinals lead the game early in the first half when Davis Nelson passed the ball up the field to Jack Fairwood. Fairwood shot the ball out of reach for the Hornets goalkeeper, Gavin Houtkooper.

North Central continued with the momentum and only four minutes later capitalized again. In the 14th minute of the game, Aidan Westerberg passed the ball to Edoardo Bonifacio, who was in front of the Hornet net. Bonifacio took the pass from Westerberg and put the ball into the back of the net.

Jared Urueta had a shot on the net in the 18th minute, but Houtkooper was able to track the ball and keep it from going in. Next was Matteo Innocenti, who found himself room and took a shot, but Houtkooper found the ball once again.

The Cardinals were able to keep the ball on the Hornets' side of the field. Aidan Westerberg traveled down the field close to the Hornets net, where he fired a shot past Houtkooper, giving the Cardinals a 3-0 lead.

In the 36th minute, the Hornets got the ball down the field where Yonehara Shun took a shot on the Cardinal net, but Riley Johnson scooped up the ball with ease.

The second half opened with the Hornets receiving a yellow card just four minutes in. Jacopo De Collibus took the penalty kick for the Cardinals and sent the ball passed Houtkooper.

Less than a minute later the Hornets found some luck with Yonehara traveling up the field, finding a pass to Paul Kearis. With traffic in front of the Cardinal net blocking Johnson's view, the Hornets got their first goal of the night.

North Central took the momentum right back and in the 54th minute the Cardinals received a penalty kick. This time it was Eloi Nyibizi who found the back of the Hornets net, his first goal this season.

With the Cardinals up 5-1, plays were going back and forth in both directions. The Hornets received a penalty kick with five minutes left of the game. Jordon Larco took the kick for Kalamazoo and put the ball out of Johnson's reach, into the back of the net.

Time was ticking down and the Hornets could do nothing to close the score gap. The Cardinals are now 10-1 on the season and are looking to continue their success in conference play the rest of the season.

North Central is on home turf next Wednesday as they take on the college's rival, Wheaton College, at 7:30 p.m. inside Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium.

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