MINNEAPOLIS, Minn.-- For the second straight match North Central University Men's Soccer needed extra time to find a game winner. On Friday afternoon they found the touch just in time to earn a 1-0 overtime win over Martin Luther College.

Both teams had good spells of possession that resulted in solid scoring opportunities throughout the first half but neither team could net a score. With each team team coming close several times in the first 45 minutes it seemed the first team to get a goal might earn the full three points in the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) standings.

The second half saw longer stretches of possession for NCU early on but the Rams could not get the go-ahead tally they needed. Martin Luther would get several good opportunities late but also could not get a ball in the net so the teams stood scorless through 90 minutes of regulation.

There was more of the same back and forth action in the first 10 minute overtime period with each team peppering the woodwork and forcing big saves out of the opponent net minders. It looked certain that a second 10 minutes of overtime would be in the works but with less than 20 seconds remaing the Rams drew a corner.

Sophomore forward Christian Stepaniak (Woodbury, Minn./Maranatha Christian) did a great job of hurrying just to get a ball in play before the final whistle and the Rams finally seized a scoring chance with just a few seconds remaining in the match. Junior Kaleb Graham (Bismarck, N.D./Bismarck) was able to use his forward momentum to chest a bouncing ball into the Knights net with less than five seconds remaining in the overtime period and seal the golden goal victory.

The Rams overtime win gives them their second extra time UMAC victory in as many matches.

The tally was Graham's first goal of the season and could not have come at a more important time. The victory gives the improving Rams Men's Soccer Program their highest win total in over 10 yearns.

North Central will be back in action at home on Saturday with a Noon kickoff verses Bethany Lutheran College (Mankato, Minn.).