NAPERVILLE, Ill. – Carroll University men's soccer opened conference play on the road Saturday but fell 6-0 to North Central at Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium.

The Pioneers (3-5-0, 0-1 CCIW) battled through a competitive first half, limiting the Cardinals to one goal despite heavy pressure. North Central (3-1-4, 1-0 CCIW) broke through in the 21st minute when Joseph Sargent finished a cross from Marco Costabile for a 1-0 lead. Carroll goalkeeper Uriel Garcia kept the deficit manageable with three first-half saves, including stops on shots from Sargent and Aleks Duncevic.

Carroll generated a few chances before halftime, with Remy Manetsch and Andy Sanchez each testing the keeper, but the Pioneers trailed 1-0 at the break.

The second half saw the Cardinals take control. Sargent struck again in the 48th minute, and Griffin French added a header in the 60th to make it 3-0. North Central continued to press, scoring three more times in the final 20 minutes, including two goals from Jack Bonavia and one from Eltayeb Mahmoud.

Carroll finished with eight shots, four on target, and earned seven second-half corner kicks but couldn't find the back of the net. Garcia recorded five saves in 90 minutes of action. Thomas Rodriguez, Marti Solanelles, and Iskander Sharipov each forced saves from the Cardinals' keeper during a strong stretch early in the second half.

North Central outshot Carroll 22-8 and held a 13-7 edge in corner kicks. The Pioneers were whistled for eight fouls and received two yellow cards in the physical matchup.

Carroll returns home Tuesday for a non-conference contest against UW-Stevens Point at 7pm before resuming CCIW play next weekend.