Contact: Sam Fretto, Athletic Communications Graduate Assistant, sjfretto@noctrl.edu

NAPERVILLE, Ill. (Sept. 4, 2025)- Hosting the Milwaukee School of Engineering Raiders (2-0-1) for their home opener, the North Central College men's soccer team (1-0-2) drew 1-1 after 90 minutes of play inside Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium on Thursday. 

Defense dominated for both teams early on in the game, taking eight minutes for the first shot to be recorded, as the Raiders' Steven Thomas missed wide left. The Cardinals used the goal kick to push the ball ahead to Joseph Sargent, who received the pass upfield in the 18-yard box, fought through the Raiders' failed clearance, and scored the first goal of the game in the bottom left of the net in the 8th minute. 

The Raiders answered to tie the game in the 28th minute off of a penalty kick set up by a Cardinals' foul. Austin Killen fired the shot past Daniel Szalai at the top of the net to even the score at 1-1. The Cardinals attempted to retake the lead with a Lorenzo Monticelli shot, but Raiders' goalkeeper Asher Harris rejected the shot for his first save of the night. 

The second half saw early action as the Cardinals fired off three shots in a row in the 50th and 52nd minutes. Will Mayer was denied by Asher before Morgan Kurseth took two shots, one off the post and the other saved, ending the offensive attack. The Raiders' offense couldn't hit the mark in the second half, with all eight shots missing the net and only one hitting the left post. 

Sargent scored his second career goal in the 1-1 draw as the Cardinals became the first team to deny the Raiders a win in the 2025 season. The Raiders got the best of the Cardinals in total shots, 11-9, but the Cardinals had more shots on goal, 6-1. 

The Cardinals continue their homestand on Wednesday, Sept. 10, as they host the Benedictine University Eagles (1-2). Kickoff from Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium is set for 7:30 p.m.