NEW ULM, Minn.-- After a frustrating stretch of conference matches the Rams got a breakthrough moment on Friday afternoon. Men's Soccer got a goal just before halftime and then kept the homestanding Martin Luther College Knights off the scoreboard for the full 90 minutes to earn their first Upper Midwest Athletic Conference win of the year. 

North Central had lost all 10 of its UMAC games going into Friday's road match at Martin Luther College (New Ulm, Minn.). Last Friday the Rams got up 1-0 on Northland College (Ashland, Wis.) but allowed the Lumberjacks to tie in the second half and the game ended in a 1-1 draw.

It looked like the Knights would continue that stretch of tough luck for NCU and out shot the Rams 16-10 in the first half. But senior Nick Wiese (Bloomington, Ill./Bloomington) got an unassisted goal in the 45th minute just before halftime and that would be all the Rams needed. 

Senior goalkeeper Nathan Kraines (Eden Prairie, Minn./Eden Prairie) made 16 saves to keep a clean sheet and help the Rams hold onto their first three points in UMAC play. The shutout was the second of the year for Kraines. The goal is the second of the year for Wiese who now has six total points on the season. 

North Central will be back in action on Saturday afternoon with a road match at Bethany Lutheran College (Mankato, Minn.). The Rams and Vikings kickoff at 2:15 p.m. in an UMAC match-up.