Contact: Sam Fretto, Athletics Communication Graduate Assistant, sjfretto@noctrl.edu
All-CCIW Teams and Specialty Awards
NAPERVILLE, Ill. (Oct. 31, 2025)- The College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) released the All-CCIW First and Second Teams along with the player of the year awards after a coaches' vote on Friday morning. North Central came away with five spots on the All-CCIW First and Second Teams, along with
Joseph Sargent being named both First-Year Student-Athlete of the Year and Offensive Player of the Year, a feat that has not been done since the conference began awarding defensive and offensive players of the year individually in 2018.
The awards and all-conference selections are based on each student-athlete's performances against conference opponents.
Sargent, who was named the CCIW Offensive Player of the Year as well as First-Year Student-Athlete of the Year, scored seven goals in conference, which ties him for most in conference. His 14 points are also tied for the most in the CCIW. Sargent's Offensive Player of the Year award is North Central's first since 2022, while his First-Year Student-Athlete of the Year is North Central's first since 2023.
North Central had two players selected to the All-CCIW First Team, with Sargent being one of the selections and Aleks Duncevic being the other Cardinal to join the conference's first team. Duncevic is in the top 10 in points scored against conference opponents with nine. He scored two goals against CCIW opponents, including one against Millikin to put the game out of reach in the 73rd minute. Duncevic also assisted on five goals this season in conference, which placed him second in the CCIW.
On the All-CCIW Second Team, the Cardinals found three of their players with the honors going to Griffin French, Joris Rijnja, and Marco Costabile. French scored four goals against a CCIW foe and added two assists, which gave him 10 points, ranking him fourth in the conference. Rijnja anchored North Central's defense late in the season against top CCIW offenses and held them to very few shots on goal. Rijnja's signature moment came in the North Park match, where he scored the game-winning goal on a penalty kick to give the Cardinals the 2-1 advantage. Costabile was a reliable option to set North Central's attackers up, assisting on six Cardinals' goals in conference action, including two coming against Millikin in a 3-2 victory. That mark put Costabile on top in the CCIW in the assist category.
North Central's five All-CCIW Team selections are the most the program has gotten since 2022, when they had eight All-CCIW Team selections.
North Central's RESPECT Award winner went to Gege Nikiema. RESPECT Award recipients have distinguished themselves as an integral member of the team, their institution and community by upholding the values of Responsibility, Enthusiasm, Service, Pride, Excellence, Collaboration and Trust. The RESPECT Award recognizes the intangible traits a student-athlete possesses that exemplify great character and encourages inclusiveness and a positive culture.
The No. 3 seeded Cardinals host the CCIW Tournament quarterfinal round as the No. 6 seeded Carthage College comes to town on Saturday, Nov. 1, for a 2 p.m. kickoff inside Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium.
