Minneapolis, MN – Wednesday, the North Central University (NCU) men's soccer team returned home to Elliot Park Field for a rematch with their cross-town rivals, the University of Northwestern (UNW) Eagles. The Rams entered the contest looking to bounce back and build on the lessons learned from their narrow 2-1 loss last Tuesday in St. Paul. In a spirited battle that saw both teams trade chances until the final whistle, NCU came up just short in a 3-2 defeat despite a strong second-half push and commanding play in set-piece situations.

The visiting side jumped ahead early with a fourth-minute penalty kick, followed by another quick strike in the 13th minute to take a 2-0 lead. Despite the early deficit, the Rams regrouped and began to control the pace of play through composed possession and confident build-up from the back. In the 31st minute, NCU broke through when senior midfielder Ricardo Vera Martinez delivered a pinpoint corner kick assist into the box that found senior defender Diego Zavala Varela, who calmly headed it in to make it 2-1. The Rams' goal energized the home crowd and set the tone for a much stronger remainder of the half. North Central pressed forward with energy, earning six first-half corner kicks while keeping their opponent without one. NCU trailed 2-1 after the first 45 minutes.

Out of the break, NCU continued to press, generating several strong chances. Senior forward Ulrich Mvogo nearly equalized in the 48th minute with a driven shot that forced a save, while freshman forward Steven Griffith applied steady pressure in the attacking third, creating space and setting up teammates for chances. Despite controlling the majority of second-half possession, the Rams were undone by another penalty kick in the 80th minute that extended the deficit to 3-1. Just three minutes later, North Central answered again, this time off a header from Ricardo Vera Martinez, who found the back of the net after an excellent setup from sophomore forward Kefeyen Tita and Steven Griffith. The late goal brought the Rams within one, and NCU continued to threaten through the final minutes, earning another pair of corners and a late look on frame before time expired. The Rams finished with 12 corner kicks to their opponent's 1, a testament to their attacking persistence. Freshman goalkeeper Derick Stevens stood tall in net, recording five saves and keeping NCU within reach for the duration of the match. Ultimately, North Central ran out of time, falling short 3-2 at Elliot Park.

Looking Ahead:

Up next, men's soccer will host Martin Luther College this Saturday, October 18th. That game will kickoff at 3:30 PM from Elliot Park 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.