MANKATO, Minn.-- Men's Soccer showed progress but it was not enough in a 2-0 road loss to Bethany Lutheran College on Saturday afternoon. After gaining their first win in Upper Midwest Athletic Conference play on Friday and a relatively bright start in the first half against the Vikings on Saturday North Central was not able gain any points in the league standings.

North Central got a win over Martin Luther College (New Ulm, Minn.) on Friday night to split their season series with the Knights and gain their first three points in UMAC play this season. That momentum allowed them to play much closer with Bethany Lutheran College on Saturday and improve on the 6-1 scoreline from their first match up in September in the league opener for each team. None the less a 2-0 loss was a tough consolation for NCU as the season winds down.

North Central was down 1-0 at the half after BLC got a goal in the 34th minute that would stand as the eventual game winner. The Vikings out shot NCU 8-3 in the first 45 mintues.

NCU was able to keep the match competitive in the second 45 minutes but the Vikings got a clinching goal in the 75th minute to complete the 2-0 final scoreline. Bethany won the second half shot advantage 10-6.

North Central was without All-UMAC performer junior Christian Stepaniak (Woodbury, Minn./Maranatha Acdemy) who missed the game due to accumulation of yellow cards in UMAC play.

Senior goalkeeper Nathan Kraines (Eden Prairie, Minn./Eden Prairie) stopped five of seven Vikings shots on net.

The Rams return to action in their final UMAC double header weekend of the year on Friday and Saturday. Friday the Rams take on The University of Minnesota-Morris (Morris, Minn.) on the road before hosting Crown College (St. Bonifacius, Minn.) at home on Saturday. Friday's match in Morris begins at 3:15 p.m. while Saturday's battle with the Storm is slated for a 2:15 p.m. kickoff.