Minneapolis, MN – Tuesday, the North Central University (NCU) men's soccer team continued their home slate with another conference matchup versus the University of Wisconsin Superior (UWS) Yellowjackets. Coming off a dominant 8-0 win over Martin Luther this weekend, the Rams looked to carry that momentum into another conference test. Junior midfielder Santiago Grams found the back of the net for NCU, while first-year goalkeeper Derick Stevens tallied 6 saves in the contest. The Rams would fall 9-1 to a tough Yelllowjacket squad. 

The Rams came out with composure and energy, matching the pace of one of the conference's top offenses through the opening minutes. After falling behind early, NCU quickly responded when junior midfielder Santiago Grams struck in the 9th minute. His goal came off crisp passing from the current UMAC Offensive Player of the Week, Ulrich Mvogo, and junior defender Nyikway Okongo, finishing a well-built attack that drew loud cheers from the home crowd. Despite several organized defensive stands, the Yellowjackets capitalized on their opportunities, scoring multiple times before halftime. The Rams continued to show flashes of sharp ball movement through the midfield, with contributions from sophomores Francisco Ramirez and Rodrigo Burgos helping maintain possession in tight spaces. Defensively, Okongo and junior Gerald Nolasco anchored the back line under constant pressure. By the end of the first half, NCU trailed 5-1 but had made the most of their limited chances, registering 3 shots compared to 16 from the visitors.

North Central opened the second half determined to regroup, tightening its defensive shape and continuing to challenge in transition. Ramirez and freshman Samuel Tivane Jr. generated movement along the wings, each testing the opposing defense with runs that pushed play forward. Ramirez added a pair of shots from distance, including one just over the crossbar in the 70th minute. The Rams held firm in the middle stages, thanks in large part to Stevens' poise between the posts. The freshman goalkeeper faced 15 second-half shots and came up with several athletic saves to keep the scoreline in check, finishing the day with six total stops. NCU also earned valuable minutes from a deep rotation, with first-year contributors like Uziel Vazquez, Darius Knox, and Christian Longo-Schumer continuing to gain experience against elite UMAC competition. The Yellowjackets finished with advantages in total shots (31-6) and corner kicks (11-2), but North Central's resilience and willingness to battle until the final whistle remained evident.

Looking Ahead:

Up next, men's soccer will travel on the road to Mount Vernon, IA to take on Cornell College next Thursday, October 23th. That game will kick off at 3:30 PM from Cornell Soccer 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.