Minneapolis, MN – Saturday afternoon, the North Central University (NCU) men's soccer team put together one of their most complete performances of the season, rolling to an 8-0 victory over the Martin Luther College (MLC ) Knights at Elliot Park Field. The Rams came into the match looking to build off their earlier win against the Knights, and they did just that, producing their largest scoring output of the year and controlling the match from start to finish. NCU was clinical in front of goal, striking four times in each half and outshooting their opponent 31-9. The Rams also dominated the time of possession battle throughout the 90 minutes of action. Today's match would be highlighted by senior midfielder Ulrich Mvogo's hat trick performance in just his second game in almost six weeks. 

The Rams came out firing and wasted little time setting the tone. Just five minutes into the match, junior captain Gerald Nolasco found fellow junior, midfielder Santiago Grams, who put North Central on the board with a well-placed finish after a strong buildup through the right side of the box. The goal energized the team, and within moments, senior Ricardo Vera Martinez doubled the lead, slotting home a composed header off a setup from junior Rodrigo Burgos. The offensive pressure didn't stop there. In the 8th minute, senior Ulrich Mvogo found the back of the net with a curling shot from just inside the box after combining with Grams, giving the Rams a commanding 3-0 advantage less than ten minutes into the match. North Central kept possession and dictated the pace, moving the ball with patience and purpose while finding space in the attacking third. Their fourth goal came in the 31st minute when freshman forward Steven Griffith broke through the defense and finished a clean pass from Vera Martinez and Christian Longo-Schumer to make it 4-0. The Rams' defense, anchored by junior Gerald Nolasco and graduate student Diego Zavala Varela, kept things organized in the back, allowing just one first-half shot while maintaining constant pressure through set pieces. By halftime, North Central had outshot its opponent 16-1 and held a 4-0 advantage over the Knights.

The momentum carried right into the second half, as the Rams continued to find success through sharp passing and creative attacking movement. In the 53rd minute, Griffith tallied his second goal of the day after connecting with sophomore Wilfredo Chavez and freshman Uziel Vazquez for one of the afternoon's most well-executed team sequences. Mvogo continued to shine in the attack, adding two more goals midway through the half to complete his hat trick, one in the 72nd minute off an assist from junior Tommy Megie, and another goal two minutes later off the feed from Grams. Both finishes showcased Mvogo's composure and precision in front of goal. North Central's eighth and final tally came in the 84th minute when sophomore Francisco Ramirez found the net for the first time this season, finishing off another smooth connection from Megie. From start to finish, the Rams' attack was relentless, with seven different players contributing either a goal or assist. Defensively, North Central stayed organized and sharp. Sophomore goalkeeper Trystin Procyk started the match and made one save before freshman Owen Ellefson took over for the final 28 minutes, turning away six shots to secure the team's second shutout of the season.

Looking Ahead:

Up next, the Rams will continue UMAC play as they host the University of Wisconsin Superior on Tuesday, October 21st. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 PM at 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.