Contact: Sam Fretto, Athletics Communication Graduate Assistant, sjfretto@noctrl.edu
NAPERVILLE, Ill. (Nov. 1, 2025)- The North Central College men's soccer team advanced to the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) Tournament Semifinal match after defeating the Carthage Firebirds, 1-0, on Saturday afternoon inside of Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium.
Joseph Sargent's game-winning goal came in the 28th minute to send North Central to Bloomington, Ill., to face the No. 2 seeded Illinois Wesleyan Titans.
The tone of the match was set early on as the first 20 minutes featured six total fouls and a yellow card charged to Tim Chai at 20:46. Vincent Stanislao stood tall in the net facing his first shot of the match at the 24:23 mark. A shot by Carthage was taken off of a free kick, which came into the box. Just feet away from the goal, the Firebirds unloaded as Stanislao dove to his left to knock the ball out for the save, killing the possession.
Sargent's game-winning goal was scored at 26:40 after a failed offensive attack by Carthage. Attempting a through pass, the Cardinals' defense forced a turnover and got the ball to Griffin French in the midfield. Upon receiving the ball, French played the ball ahead to a sprinting Sargent. The pass ultimately led Sargent a bit too far, but Carthage's goalkeeper Aaron The misplayed the pass, left the box, and allowed the ball to get by him. With nobody left to beat, Sargent put the stamp to seal and deliver the game-winning goal.
Stanislao's defensive performance in the net kept Carthage off the board with six minutes remaining in the first period. The Firebirds earned a corner kick and played the ball in front of the net, where a Carthage attacker headed the ball at the net. Stanislao glided to his right and knocked the ball away with his right hand for his second save of the match.
The aggressiveness carried over into the second period, with 11 fouls being recorded in the first 13 minutes of the second half. The Firebirds got a free kick awarded, dead center just outside of the 18-yard box, in the 59th minute and got a shot off at Stanislao, who remained impenetrable, jumping to the top right and saving his third shot of the match.
With 13:08 remaining in the match, Carthage got one final scoring opportunity to keep their season alive. A foul led to a Firebirds free kick on the near side, which was crossed into the box. After a deflection out of the box, Carthage was able to get a shot away, past the North Central defense. Stanislao made the save, diving to his left to secure the shutout of the Firebirds.
The end of the match finished with Caden Arguelles being given a yellow card along with Carthage's bench. Sargent was given a red card at the end of the game after the 1-0 victory was final.
North Central (9-1-8, 4-0-4 CCIW) has made the CCIW Tournament Semifinal, where they will battle the Illinois Wesleyan Titans (11-2-4, 5-1-2 CCIW) on Wednesday, Nov. 5. Kickoff from Neis Field in Bloomington, Ill., is set for 7 p.m.
