Box Score

NAPERVILLE, Ill. – North Central scored the only goal of the match in the 79th minute Wednesday to defeat Augustana 1-0 at Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium. The setback dropped the Vikings to 1-8-2 on the year and 0-3 in the CCIW, while the Cardinals won their fourth in a row to improve to 7-5-1 overall and 4-0 in the league.
 
With the match scoreless in the 79th minute, Austin Lombardi collected a deflection and scored to put the hosts ahead 1-0. The goal was the first of the season for the freshman midfielder.
 
Augustana got off three shots in the final six minutes of the match. A Jack McKearnan (Warren HS, Gurnee, Ill.) attempt sailed high in the 85th minute and another by the junior back was blocked in the 87th. Senior Victor Velazquez (Larkin HS, Elgin, Ill.) had his shot blocked by a North Central defender in minute 88.
 
The first half was evenly played, with the Vikings getting off four shots to five for the Cardinals. Augustana sophomore keeper Jeremy Klaber (Stevenson HS, Buffalo Grove, Ill.) and his North Central counterpart Connor O'Neill each recorded a pair of saves.
 
Klaber turned away three of 10 Cardinal shots in the first 31 minutes of the second half before Lombardi's goal broke the deadlock.
 
North Central finished with a 20-7 advantage in shots and put seven on frame to two for the Vikings. Augustana took four corners in the match and the hosts two. The Cardinals were called for 11 fouls and the visitors for eight.
 
Klaber finished with six saves and O'Neill two.
 
Coach Mick Regan's squad is back in action at Thorson-Lucken Field on Saturday, October 14, hosting Carroll at 7:30 p.m. as part of Homecoming festivities.