MINNEAPOLIS-- Men's Soccer stretched their unbeaten streak to four games on Saturday with a 1-0 win over Martin Luther College on Saturday. A goal in the opening 20 minutes and a shutout defensive effort earned North Central an Upper Midwest Athletic Conference victory in front of their home crowd.

North Central (3-7-2, 2-4-1 UMAC) got the game's only score off a great combination play from freshman Gabe Dawson (San Juan, Puerto Rico/Battlefield) and sophomore Ian Brekhus (Prior Lake, Minn./Prior Lake). Brekhus took the ball down the right side of the penalty area and crossed it on the ground perfectly for Dawson who drove it home at the left post.

The Knights would have several opportunities to equalize but every time the Rams defense and junior goalkeeper Andrew Eliason (Milan, Mich./Milan) answered every call. Eliason turned in three saves on the only shots he faced.

In an evenly played match the Rams posted a narrow, 8-7 shot advantage with five going on frame. It was North Central's first clean sheet victory of the year and just their second overall shutout.

The Rams will play a critical pair of UMAC road games next week. NCU take on Crown College (St. Bonifacius, Minn.) on Tuesday at 7:15 p.m. Saturday the Rams travel to Northland College (Ashland, Wis.) for 3:15 p.m. kickoff with the Lumberjacks.