MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. -- After a spurt of conference games, Finlandia University (FU) traveled to North Central University (NCU) men's soccer home turf in a nonconference matchup. A scoreless first half for both teams turned into a 4-2 win for the Lions despite the Rams' best efforts. 

Game Vitals 

• All six goals were scored in the second half.
• There were a total of 13 corner kicks throughout the 90 minutes, seven for the Lions and six for the Rams.

Game Recap

The Rams had a short rest from their game the previous Saturday, but started the game fast-paced and strong regardless. NCU pushed the ball against the Lion's backline quite frequently in the first half, generating ten shots in the first 45 minutes. This amazing offensive effort was rewarded early in the second half with a goal from forward Jerad Buse (Kearney, NE, Kearney High School). After two goals by FU, Elliott Lebsack (Kearney, NE, Kearney High School) tied the game up at 2-2 with a goal in the 59th minute. This is Lebsack's eighth consecutive game with a goal scored. He also had seven shots and five on goal. The Ram's goalkeeper, Sam Thurston (Crystal, MN, Robbinsdale Cooper), had six saves for the match and provided great vocal leadership to the backline. NCU played a very respectful game with lots of combination play, creating advantage situations. Players Weston Buckley (Budapest, HU, International Christian School of Budapest), Anthony Medina (Elk River, MN), and Adam Vang (Green Bay, WI, Green Bay Southwest High School) controlled the ball well and were able to make smart runs to get on the attack quickly or maintain possession. The Ram's effort was consistent throughout the whole game and they look forward to getting back on the pitch.

Looking Ahead

NCU heads back into Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) play this Friday at 1 pm against Northland College at home. All fans are encouraged to tune into official Rams Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter pages for updates on the men's soccer team and other important information.