Contact: Anna Fox, Sports Information Graduate Assistant, amfox@noctrl.edu
 
Oct. 5, 2024 - After celebrating their seven seniors, the North Central College men's soccer team defeated Kalamazoo College 3-2 for the third consecutive season.
 
The Cardinals (4-2-4) offense was the first to send a strike to the net when Eloi Nyibizi fired the ball to the bottom right corner, but the ball was stopped by the Kalamazoo (3-6-1) goalkeeper Darius Wright III (13:35).
 
As the game continued, Tommaso Polidori found himself with space in front of the net. Polidoiri fired the ball, which bounded off Wright, sending it back to Polidori's feet. This time, Polidori sent the ball flying over Wright's head and into the back of the net (30:16). The first half ended with the Cardinals up 1-0.
 
The second half saw more offensive action. Just four minutes into the half, Will Mayer had a scoring opportunity, but Wright was able to handle the ball (49:57). In the 30th minute, Wright came out of the net to challenge Luis Aviles, but Aviles avoided Wright and another Hornet defender. With the net wide open, Aviles put the ball into the back of the net and increased the Cardinals' lead 2-0.
 
Kalamazoo was awarded a penalty kick in the 76th minute, and Henry Plumstead slipped the ball past Lucas Visser to cut the Cardinal lead in half. The Hornets gained momentum, and four minutes later, a pass from Plumstead connected with Lucas Ruiz, who found the back of the net. About a minute later, there was traffic in front of the Hornet's goal, and with chaos ensuing, a Kalamazoo defender accidentally tipped the ball into their own net (81:27). The Cardinals defeated the Hornets 3-2.
 
The North Central outshot Kalamazoo 20-10, with 11 of the 20 shots on goal. North Central's defense kept Carroll to just 10 shots and only three on goal. Visser recorded his second collegiate win.
 
North Central is back on the field Wednesday, Oct. 16, when the Cardinals take on Augustana College at Thorson-Lucken Field in Rock Island, Ill. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
 
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