Box Score

ROCK ISLAND, Ill. – Noelia Reyes' goal on a 53-yard free kick was the only scoring of the match Wednesday, as North Central defeated Augustana 1-0 at Thorson-Lucken Field. The Vikings fell to 7-5 on the season and 1-2 in the CCIW, while the Cardinals improved to 4-6-2 overall, but 3-1 in the conference.
 
Reyes' goal came on just the second shot of the game. In the 10th minute, Augustana was called for a foul near midfield. With a strong wind at her back, she lofted her free kick toward the Viking goal. It eluded keeper Bailey Bradford (Deerfield HS, Riverwoods, Ill.) and ended up in the net for a 1-0 Cardinal lead. The goal was Reyes' second of the season.
 
The hosts outshot North Central 8-1 over the final 35 minutes of the half, but couldn't net the equalizer. The teams went to halftime with the Cardinals leading 1-0.
 
Augustana was the aggressor in the second half as well, compiling a 6-1 advantage in shots. In the 86th minute, a goal by junior Sammi Farkos (Homewood-Flossmoor HS, Flossmoor, Ill.) was nullified by an offside call. A minute later, a Grace Iaquinta (Lincoln East HS, Lincoln, Ill.) shot—the Vikings' last—was blocked by a North Central defender to help preserve the win.
 
For the match, the Augustana outshot its guests by a 14-3 margin and enjoyed a 5-4 edge in corners. Iaquinta got off four of the Vikings' shots, putting two on frame. Bradford was credited with one save and her counterpart for the Cardinals, Nicki Seiton, made five.
 
Coach Scott Mejia's team hits the road on Saturday, October 15, traveling to Waukesha, Wisconsin to face Carroll in a 5:00 p.m. match.