North Central College Cardinals

Contact:  Rachel Balinao, Athletic Communications Graduate Assistant, rabalinao@noctrl.edu 

ELMHURST, Ill. (Oct. 3, 2026) - For their first three points in College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin play, the North Central College men's soccer team defeated Elmhurst University, 1-0, Saturday, behind a goal from Aleks Duncevic.

As soon as the whistle blew, the Cardinals came out aggressively, with Javi Landin ripping the first shot of the match just wide of the goal. Daniel Magallon soon saw another opportunity, forcing Elmhurst goalkeeper Niyen Ruffin to make the save.

In the seventh minute, Marco Costabile dribbled the ball down the right flank and served it into the box, finding Duncevic running onto the ball. Duncevic headed it past the keeper to put the Cardinals on the board and tally his sixth goal of the season.

North Central continued to pressure the Elmhurst backline, with shots from Will Mayer and Javi Landin saved before Costabile's final attempt of the sequence was also stopped by Bluejays goalkeeper Niyen Ruffin.

In the first half, the Cardinals held a 10-3 advantage in shots, with five of North Central's shots on goal. Both teams had two corner kicks, while there were five total fouls in the half.

After the break, North Central continued to push the ball up the field and challenge the Bluejays in their defensive third. Duncevic and Ivan Hooshmand ripped consecutive shots, forcing Ruffin to continue making saves.

One of the Cardinals' best opportunities of the half came from Landin, whose shot from outside the 18-yard box hit the crossbar before deflecting off Ruffin's back and narrowly missing the goal.

Costabile had North Central's final opportunity, receiving the ball on a half-turn in the box before sending his shot over the crossbar.

In the closing minutes, Sebastian Herrera made a diving save to preserve the clean sheet before Elmhurst attacked up the left flank. Herrera made another save, sending the shot over the goal, before collecting a cross to end the threat. 

North Central dominated the shot count, finishing with 17 shots, including nine on goal, compared with Elmhurst's 10 shots and three on goal. Herrera faced 10 shots and made three saves in his first career start, while Ruffin faced 17 shots and made eight saves.

North Central remains on the road for its next CCIW match against Millikin University on Oct. 7 in Decatur, Ill., at 7:30 p.m.