Contact:
Rachel Balinao, Athletic Communications Graduate Assistant,
rabalinao@noctrl.edu
NAPERVILLE, Ill. (Sept. 13, 2026) - The North Central College men's soccer team delivered a Senior Day performance to remember Sunday afternoon. The Cardinals controlled the match from the opening whistle, earning a 3-0 shutout victory over Nebraska Wesleyan University while celebrating their seniors.
The
program honored seniors
Will Mayer,
Hector Huerta and
Lorenzo Giordo before the match. The three seniors were recognized for their four years in a red and white uniform.
North
Central came out of the kickoff looking to win the ball back.
Trey Zakeri had the first shot of the match, but it was blocked.
Sam Teeuwen followed with an attempt that sailed just high. At the 16-minute mark, the Cardinals found their first goal.
Marco Costabile played the ball across the box to
Joseph Sargent, who dove toward the front post. Sargent redirected the ball into the net with his thigh.
Nebraska Wesleyan recorded its only shot of the half shortly after, but the attempt sailed high. The Cardinals were awarded a goal kick. Later in the half,
Julian Nino sent a corner kick into the box. The ball bounced past the Prairie Wolves defenders as they missed the clearance.
Lorenzo Monticelli collected it and took a touch across his body to his left. He then slotted the ball into the low corner to give North Central a 2-0 lead.
In the final moments of the half, Nebraska Wesleyan attacked up the flank. The Prairie Wolves crossed the ball into the box, but the Cardinal defenders blocked the scoring opportunity.
Vincent Stanislao then ran the ball down on the opposite side of the box to end the possession.
North Central took a 2-0 lead into halftime. The Cardinals recorded eight shots to Nebraska Wesleyan's one and put four shots on goal. Prairie Wolves goalkeeper Christian Lindseth made two saves in the half. North Central also recorded four corner kicks and scored on one of its set pieces.
The Cardinals continued their pressure in the opening six minutes of the second half. North Central won the ball in its defending third and found
Joseph Sargent. Sargent dribbled from midfield into the attacking third before finding an opportunity to cross the ball into the box.
Eltayeb Mahmoud ran across the box and beat his defender to the ball. He finished with a one-touch shot into the back of the net to give the Cardinals a 3-0 lead.
North Central continued to battle in a physical matchup as the clock ticked down keeping the Prairie Wolves scoreless for the remainder of the match.
Yael Chihuahua recorded three shots, with one saved by Lindseth before the final whistle closing the win at 3-0 for the Cardinals.
North Central recorded seven shots in the second half to Nebraska Wesleyan's five. The Cardinals put three shots on goal, while the Prairie Wolves had two. North Central also recorded five corner kicks in the second half to finish with nine for the match. Lindseth finished with four saves, while Stanislao recorded two. Stanislao and Giordo combined for the shutout.
The Cardinals will hit the road for a three-game stretch, beginning with a matchup against Calvin University on Sept. 16. The Knights are receiving votes in the national rankings, setting up a competitive matchup for North Central. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. ET.
