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

Sep. 8, 2026 - In the first release of the 2026 College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) Student-Athlete of the Week awards, Joseph Sargent of the North Central College men's soccer team earned Offensive Student-Athlete of the Week honors. 

The weekly honor is North Central's first of the season and the third of Sargent's career. He previously earned the award twice as a freshman, on Oct. 7 and Oct. 14, 2025. 

Sargent currently leads the Cardinals with three goals through the team's first two wins of the season. In North Central's season opener against the Illinois Institute of Technology on Sep. 1, Sargent helped set up the Cardinals' first goal after being taken down in the box, earning a penalty kick. Later in the match, he tracked down a ball played over the back line by Aleks Duncevic and scored his first goal of the season. Sargent struck again late in the match, collecting the rebound from his initial shot and finishing into the back of the net to seal North Central's 3-1 victory. 

Three days later on Sep. 5, Sargent continued his strong start to the season on the road against the Milwaukee School of Engineering. After the Cardinals were awarded a penalty kick, Sargent stepped up and converted the opportunity for the lone goal of the match, securing North Central's second victory of the season.

North Central will open its home schedule at Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium on Sep. 9 when the Cardinals host Beloit College at 7 p.m.