Contact:
Rachel Balinao, Athletic Communications Graduate Assistant,
rabalinao@noctrl.edu
DECATUR, Ill. (Oct. 7, 2026) - Under the lights Wednesday night, the North Central College men's soccer team defeated Millikin University, 2-0, in a College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin match for its second consecutive conference victory.
Ivan Hooshmand recorded the first shot of the match, but it was blocked by a Millikin defender. The Cardinals continued to pressure the Big Blue's defensive line over the next 10 minutes, with Aleks Duncevic's shot sailing just high and shots from Tim Chai and Javi Landin blocked.
Eltayeb Mahmoud entered the match and immediately created North Central's best scoring opportunity of the half, sending a right-footed shot narrowly high into the crossbar.
The
Cardinals broke through in the 38th minute when
Joseph Sargent collected the ball off a throw-in, controlled it down with his chest and took a touch around his defender before hitting a side volley. The shot deflected off a Millikin defender and found the right side of the net to give North Central a 1-0 lead.
In the final two minutes before halftime,
Sebastian Herrera made a big save inside the box to keep the Big Blue off the scoreboard. It was Millikin's only shot on goal of the half.
Trey Zakeri opened the second half with a low shot that forced Millikin goalkeeper Joshua Garrett to make a save. Shortly after, Hooshmand ripped a shot from outside the 18-yard box that struck the crossbar once more.
Millikin
attempted to answer on the other end with a bicycle kick that trickled into Herrera's hands, ending the Big Blue attack.
The teams battled for possession throughout the final 15 minutes. Landin led the aggressive play up front, picking Millikin's center back's pocket and creating a one-on-one opportunity that was cleared away by the Big Blue defense.
Vincent Stanislao entered in goal and contributed right away with a high save in the center to preserve the shutout.
With
three minutes remaining, Mahmoud played a ball forward to Hooshmand, who took a touch and placed his shot into the corner for his first career goal, sealing the 2-0 victory and three points for the Cardinals.
North
Central finished with 16 shots, including five on goal. The Cardinals' backline of
Tim Chai,
Griffin French,
Jonas Mund, and
Daniel Magallon limited Millikin to 10 shots, four on goal. Herrera and Stanislao combined for the shutout, making two saves apiece.
The Cardinals
return to Naperville, Illinois for a Homecoming CCIW match against Carroll University on Oct. 10. Kickoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. at Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium.
