ELMHURST, Ill. - Brett Stiffler blasted home a 20-yard strike less than a minute into the second half to lead the Elmhurst men's soccer team past North Central College 1-0.
 

Elmhurst improved to 7-3-3 with the win and upped its CCIW record to 1-1-1. North Central fell to 8-5-1 overall and 1-2 in league play.

After a scoreless first half, Stiffler and the Bluejays broke through in the 46th minute. Michael Delong carried the ball down the far sideline and attempted to send a cross through the box. The crossing attempt deflected off a Cardinals' defender and bounced to an open spot at the top of the box. Stiffler had a head of steam to the loose ball and buried a line drive shot into the upper corner of the net.

Both squads had scoring chances in the opening half but failed to crack the scoreboard. North Central's best chance came in the seventh minute of action. Elmhurst keeper John Reglin made a diving save of Matt Koth's shot. The Cardinals' Matt Brindle collected the rebound but pushed his shot wide to the right of the net. 

Cardinals' keeper Sebastian Garcia kept the game scoreless in the 35th minute, leaping high and punching a Michael Delong shot just over the top of the net.

Elmhurst's defense came up big twice to help preserve the shutout. On two occasions, Reglin was screened by North Central players and Elmhurst defenders swept the ball off the goal line to keep the Cardinals scoreless.

Reglin finished with two saves in net to earn the shutout while Garcia stopped four shots for North Central.

North Central outshot Elmhurst 14-12 in the contest but Elmhurst had a 7-4 edge in corner kick attempts.