ROCK ISLAND, Ill. – Augustana men's soccer (4-5, 0-3) could not capture their first conference win tonight as the high-powered North Central Cardinals (13-0-1, 3-0-1) enjoyed a fast start.
 
The undefeated Cardinals scored early and often against Augie. Just 45 seconds into the match, Pablo Bustamante scored the game's first goal after a Jaziel Enriquez assist. Just a few minutes later, in the fifth, Jesus Meza found the back of the net to go up 2-0. North Central's attack continued to press forward as Brandon Harmsen (36') and Max Marich (38') scored goals later in the half.
 
Augustana finally got on the board when Jarrett Baumgartner capitalized on a penalty kick for his third score of the season.
 
Trailing 4-1 at halftime, Augustana began their climb back into the contest with another penalty kick goal in the 54^th-minute. Sebastian Gabrielson drilled the freebie to narrow the lead to 4-2.
 
North Central finally ended any sense of a remarkable comeback with another goal in the 63^rd-minute when Dane Richardson sealed the final score at 5-2.
 
North Central outshot the Vikings 28-8 overall and 9-3 in shots on goal. The Vikings failed to attempt a corner kick in the game while the Cardinals had six.
 
Baumgartner, Tyler Markell, and Hannes Hemgren led the Augie attack with two shots each while Gabrielson made just one.
 
Augustana featured two goalkeepers in the match, but neither could stifle NCC's furious attack. Frankie Baio started for Augie and recorded one save before exiting due to injury. His replacement, Benjamin Samuelson, saved three shots while allowing three goals.
 
The schedule does not get easier for Augustana as they travel to 16^th-ranked Carthage for their next match. The Vikings will battle Carthage this Saturday, Oct. 9 in Kenosha, Wis.