Contact:
Rachel Balinao, Athletic Communications Graduate Assistant,
rabalinao@noctrl.edu
NAPERVILLE, Ill. (Oct. 10, 2026) - In a homecoming matchup Saturday, the North Central College men's soccer team earned its largest shutout victory of the season, defeating College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin opponent Carroll University 4-0.
The
Cardinals saw their first goal of the game at the 16-minute mark when the ball found
Ivan Hooshmand on the left flank. Hooshmand played a quick low ball into the box for
Joseph Sargent to run onto and put away on a one touch finish for a 1-0 lead.
The
teams continued to battle back and forth to secure possession with
Will Mayer winning the ball to see the next scoring opportunity missing just wide left of the net. It wasn't until the final seven minutes of the half where the Cardinals were able to convert.
After
North Central was rewarded a corner kick, the ball was served into the box where
Jonas Mund put his body on the line where he was fouled in the box to be rewarded a penalty kick.
Aleks Duncevic stepped up to take the kick for the Cardinals and placed it past the keeper to add a tally to the board.
The
Cardinals dominated on both ends of the field in the first half, recording eight shots with two on goal while seeing six corner kicks. The North Central backline did not allow any Pioneer corners while only allowing two shots off.
Sebastian
Herrera saw his first save of the day seven minutes into the next half with a low shot towards the center of the goal.
On
the Cardinal attack, Hooshmand and
Trey Zakeri ripped off two shots with Angel Escamilla making both saves.
For North Central's first corner kick of the half,
Julian Nino stood on the ball to serve it into the box to
Andrew Donato where he got a touch on ball to assist
Jonas Mund burying the ball into the back of the net for a 3-0 score.
Soon
after in the final minutes of the match,
Eltayeb Mahmoud went one-on-one with his defender on the dribble where he was fouled in the box. Duncevic stepped up once more for the penalty kick, sealing the win for the Cardinals 4-0, with his fourth successful penalty attempt.
North
Central closed the game as the leader in shots, recording a total of 17 with nine on goal. Carroll recorded seven shots with three on goal. In goal, Herrera made three saves for his second career shutout while Escamilla made five saves for Carroll.
North
Central returns to Naperville, Illinois to host a mid-week CCIW match on Oct. 14 against North Park University for a 7 p.m. kickoff.
