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

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. (Oct. 23, 2024) - After a scoreless first 45 minutes, the North Central College men's soccer team produced two goals in the second half to win, 2-1, against Illinois Wesleyan University Wednesday night at Neis Field.
 
After nine combined shots in the first half, the Cardinals and the Titans were tied at 0-0 at halftime.
 
The action started to pick up in the 60th minute. Ghettryam Nikiema passed the ball to the front of the Titan's net, where Will Mayer headed the ball right out of goalkeeper Sam Kedzior's reach.
 
With North Central up 1-0, Illinois Wesleyan increased its pressure on the Cardinals' defense. In the 85th minute, the Titans created traffic in front of the net. The Cardinals' goalkeeper, Daniel Szalai, was able to track the ball despite the traffic and make the stop. Unfortunately, a minute later, the Titans tied the game when Logan Tierney fired the ball away from Szalai to the left side of the net.
 
Tension between the two teams increased as the clock ticked down. In the final minute, North Central was awarded a throw-in in the offensive zone. Once the ball was in play, a Cardinal player fired the ball towards the front of the net. In the process of the ball flying through the air, the ball hit a defender's head and sailed right into the back of the Titan goal.
 
The Titans did not have enough time to avenge their own goal. North Central won the contest with a final score of 2-1 and handed Illinois Wesleyan their second loss of the season.
 
North Central is back at Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium Saturday, Oct. 26, to take on No. 8 North Park University at 2 p.m.
 
Download the free North Central Cardinals app, available for iOS and Android devices, to receive up-to-the-minute news, scores and updates on your favorite North Central teams. Click HERE for more information.