Contact: Sam Fretto, Athletic Communications Graduate Assistant, sjfretto@noctrl.edu
NAPERVILLE, Ill. (Sept. 14, 2025)- Hosting the No. 23-ranked Illinois Institute of Technology Scarlet Hawks for senior day, the North Central College men's soccer team came away with their second victory of the season on Sunday afternoon. Behind a brace from freshman defender
Griffin French, the Cardinals (2-0-3) shut out the Scarlet Hawks (3-2-0) by a score of 2-0 from Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium.
The first 10 minutes of the match was a feeling-out period for the two teams, as neither team could break through with an attack. Joseph Sargent fired the first shot in the 13th minute, which was saved by IIT goalkeeper David Rodriguez. Marco Costabile received the rebound but missed wide right, ending the threat. North Central kept the pressure on in the 23rd minute with a shot from Will Mayer getting blocked and Eltayeb Mahmoud looking to score, getting a shot on goal saved by Rodriguez.
Dominating possession for much of the first half, the Cardinals earned another chance to take the lead on the ranked Scarlet Hawks in the 31st minute. Set up with a free kick just outside the 18-yard box, Hector Huerta fired in a pass that found the head of French as he directed the ball past Rodriguez for the 1-0 lead. Huerta was credited with the assist on the play.
The lead would be extended to 2-0 in the 36th minute after the Cardinals set their offense up on a corner kick taken by Huerta. The ball was deflected out to Caden Arguelles as he touched the ball to French, who turned the defender and scored his second of the game, firing to the top of the net.
The Cardinals' defense prevented scoring opportunities for the Scarlet Hawks in the first half, with just one shot attempt coming from IIT as North Central's offense earned nine shots.
The Scarlet Hawks couldn't find an offensive groove in the second half, despite playing more aggressively than in the first half. In the 49th minute, a yellow card was given to IIT's Dominik Kroupa. The Cardinals followed with Lorenzo Monticelli and French picking up yellow cards. The only shot on goal from the Scarlet Hawks came in the 61st minute, which was saved by Lucas Visser. IIT received three more yellow cards in the half, one in the 63rd minute, 69th minute, and 85th minute, for a total of six second-half yellow cards.
French scored his second and third goals of the season, with Huerta and Arguelles recording their first assists. Visser saved the only shot on goal he saw on senior day while the Cardinals' defense prevented many scoring chances in the shutout.
The Cardinals take a weekend trip to Iowa when they face Wartburg College at Salzwedel Field Friday, Sept. 19, and Coe College at the Clark Racquet Center Sunday, Sept. 21. Kickoff against Wartburg is set for 7:30 p.m.
