Minneapolis, MN – North Central University (NCU) Men's Soccer team continued UMAC play at home today in their match against the Crown College (CC) Polars. Last season, NCU faced Crown twice in conference action, with the Polars claiming both results. This afternoon, the Rams battled with energy and grit but ultimately fell 2-1. Freshman Samuel Tivane Jr. netted NCU's lone goal, while goalkeeper Derick Stevens turned away five shots to keep the Rams within reach.

The Rams looked sharp from the opening whistle, creating early movement through the midfield and finding opportunities around the edge of the box. Junior Santiago Grams and sophomore Kefeyen Tita both tested the defense with shot attempts, while senior Ricardo Vera Martinez worked to connect possession into the final third. North Central earned two corners in the first half but couldn't find the finishing touch. Despite the balanced play, the visitors struck in the 36th minute to take a 1-0 lead. NCU stayed composed, with Derick Stevens delivering a standout half in net, making four saves, including a crucial stop in the 23rd minute that kept the Rams within striking distance. The half closed with North Central trailing by one but showing resilience on both ends of the pitch.

North Central wasted no time after the break. Less than a minute into the second half, freshman Samuel Tivane Jr. buried a composed finish off the beautiful assists from Ricardo Vera Martinez and Steven Griffith to bring the Rams level at 1-1. Junior's first career goal energized the Rams, who went on to generate five corner kicks and four shots in the half. Vera Martinez came close to giving NCU the lead with a low strike in the 66th minute that forced a diving save, while freshman Michael Dagher and senior Rody Cuate Torres added dangerous looks in the closing stages. Despite the surge of momentum, the visitors managed to regain the lead in the 83rd minute. North Central pushed hard to equalize, driving forward in the final minutes with late corners and fresh substitutions, but couldn't find the back of the net again. NCU fell 2-1 to Crown in regulation. 

Looking Ahead:

Up next, North Central will head back on the road to continue UMAC play, where they are set to face the University of Minnesota Morris on Saturday, October 4th at 12:00 PM at Cougar Field.

As always, all fans are encouraged to tune into the official Rams Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter (X) pages for updates on men's soccer and all things NCU Athletics.