CHICAGO, Ill. – Back-to-back goals from North Central in a span of less than four minutes early in the second half proved to be enough for the Cardinals in their 2-1 victory over host North Park in the championship match of the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) Men’s Soccer Tournament on Saturday night in Chicago.
 
The result allowed the Cardinals to claim their third CCIW Tournament championship -- all in the last four seasons. North Central also won the 2022 title with a championship win over North Park, a 3-2 decision in Naperville. Saturday's result also marked the second consecutive season a team tied or won three consecutive road matches to win the CCIW Tournament after Illinois Wesleyan did the same a year ago.

Ghettryam Nikiema broke the scoreless deadlock Saturday night first goal of the season at 54:18 on an assist from Peter Kimba. Humberto Jaimes followed at 57:29 -- also his first goal of 2024 -- to give the visitors a 2-0 lead. Cas Selker was credited with an assist on the sequence.

Trailing 2-0 in steady rainfall, North Park responded with pressure. The Vikings logged five shot attempts in a 21-minute window that ensued, including a 66th-minute attempt from Benhur Kidane that hit the post. NPU finally slashed its deficit in half when Michal Dejworek notched his fourth goal of the season on an assist from Hugo Neborg at 81:40. The NCC defense held firm the rest of the way and didn't allow a shot attempt over the final 5:48.

The final shot tally favored North Park, 17-16, but NCC put 12 of its 16 attempts on target. NPU goalkeeper Ludvig Almborg had nine saves -- a new career high.

Prior to the match, North Park junior Jakob Wennerqvist was named the recipient of the CCIW Elite 26 award in men's soccer, presented to a student-athlete who excels academically and athletically at the conference level in each of the CCIW's 26 sponsored sports. 

North Central will be the CCIW's automatic qualifier for the NCAA Tournament. The Cardinals' first-round opponent and location will be revealed during an NCAA.com selection show on Monday, Nov. 11 at 12:30 p.m. CT.