Contact: Sam Fretto, Athletics Communication Graduate Assistant, sjfretto@noctrl.edu

NAPERVILLE, Ill. (Oct. 1, 2025)- Hosting the Trine University Thunder for a midweek non-conference matchup, the North Central College men's soccer team handed a 1-0 shutout to a shorthanded Thunder team after an early red card Wednesday night at Bendetti-Wehrli Stadium.

Seven minutes into the matchup, the Cardinals had a scoring chance wiped away after Trine goalkeeper Brandon Walker was assessed with a red card for a denial of an obvious goal-scoring opportunity. 

The Cardinals went on the attack with the 11 to 10 player advantage the remainder of the game as Will Mayer unloaded four shots, including two on goal in the 13th minute, both saved by Trine's new goalkeeper Dillon Lambert. 

The Thunder defense denied the Cardinals entry into the offensive zone until the 35th minute of the first half, when Aleks Duncevic fired from the top of the 18-yard box and met the left goalpost and rebounded out to Yael Chihuahua, who misfired. A minute later Duncevic tried again to no avail before Gege Nikiema tried his luck and came up empty. 

Trine's only shot of the game came with three minutes remaining in the first half from Salvatore Oralndi and was saved by Daniel Szalai. 

The lone goal of the match came off the foot of Joseph Sargent in the 54th minute. The Cardinals played the ball upfield after a turnover by the Thunder as Lucas Laird received the ball outside of the 18-yard box. Laird found Sargent and served in a pass. Sargent received the ball with one touch, and he went to the bottom left of the net for his sixth goal of the season. Laird, who was given the assist, has two this year. 

In the second half, the Cardinals shot the ball 19 times, including attempts from Joris Rijnja, Jay Umana, and Jack Bonavia, all of which were saved by Trine. 

North Central dominated Trine in time of possession and had multiple offensive threats come up short. For the game, the Cardinals outshot the Thunder 31-1, with eight shots on goal to one. North Central had 10 corner kicks to Trine's none. Four cards were assessed in the match, including the red card given to Trine seven minutes in. 

The Cardinals (4-1-4) play their last non-conference match of the regular season as they travel to River Forest, Ill., for a match against Dominican University (4-4-2). Kickoff from West Campus Field is set for Saturday, Oct. 4, at noon.