North Central College Cardinals

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

 (Sept. 16, 2026) - The North Central College men's soccer team saw its four-game undefeated stretch come to an end Wednesday, falling 3-0 to Calvin University in Grand Rapids, Michigan. 

North Central created an early opportunity when Marco Costabile put a shot on goal, forcing Calvin goalkeeper John Hargett to make a low save. At the six-minute mark, the Cardinals were tested defensively when Calvin earned a free kick just outside the North Central 18-yard box. Vincent Stanislao dove to his left and made the save beneath the Cardinal wall to keep the match scoreless. 

Costabile had another opportunity 14 minutes later but missed just wide right. At the 24-minute mark, Calvin earned a free kick near the corner of its attacking third, forcing Stanislao to make a high save near the crossbar to keep the Knights off the scoreboard. 

With three minutes remaining in the first half, Calvin found the back of the net directly from a corner kick to take a 1-0 lead. 

North Central nearly answered in the final five seconds of the half. Aleks Duncevic found Joseph Sargent over the top of Calvin's backline, but Sargent was unable to get around the ball and his attempt went just wide into the side netting. 

The physical first half featured 17 total fouls, with North Central conceding 11 free kicks while earning seven of its own. The Cardinals recorded five shots, including two on goal, while Calvin registered 10 shots, with three on goal.

North Central continued to battle defensively in the second half. Will Mayer blocked a Calvin opportunity directly in front of the Cardinal goal to keep the deficit at one. 

Stanislao made another save as Calvin continued to pressure the Cardinal defense, but a late Calvin runner received the ball and converted the opportunity to extend the Knights' lead to 2-0.

The Cardinals looked to respond with a ball switched over to Eltayeb Mahmoud and a cross toward French, unfortunately French was unable to convert the opportunity. 

After Calvin earned its third corner of the half, the Knights found a runner at the back post, who finished the opportunity to give Calvin a 3-0 lead.

In the final minutes, Emerson Loyo-Reynaga entered in goal for the Cardinals and immediately made a save on a close-range shot inside the box.

North Central finished the match with seven shots, including two on goal, while Calvin recorded nine shots, with three on goal. Stanislao and Loyo-Reynaga combined for five saves, while Hargett recorded four.

North Central will return to Michigan this weekend, traveling to Kalamazoo College on Sept. 19 and Albion College on Sept. 20 with both matches scheduled for 12 p.m. ET.