St. Paul, MN – Tuesday afternoon, the North Central University (NCU) men's soccer team made the short trip across the Twin Cities to face off with their cross-town rivals, the University of Northwestern (UNW) Eagles. The Rams entered the rivalry match hoping to carry momentum from recent competitive performances and make a statement against a familiar conference opponent. Last season, the two teams split their meetings, with UNW taking one and the other ending in a draw. This time around, NCU battled from start to finish, clawing back from an early deficit before ultimately falling 2-1 in a spirited contest at Reynolds Field.

North Central came out with energy, moving the ball confidently through the midfield as junior Rodrigo Burgos and senior Rody Cuate Torres controlled early touches and helped set the tone. The Rams earned their first corner just five minutes in, with Burgos sending in a dangerous service that nearly connected inside the box. Shortly after, Burgos ripped a shot from distance that sailed just over the crossbar. Despite the strong start, Northwestern capitalized on a pair of quick opportunities midway through the half, striking twice in the 14th and 18th minutes to grab a 2-0 lead. The goals forced North Central to reset defensively, where sophomores Francisco Ramirez and Anthony Lopez Romero anchored the back line and helped steady the team's structure. That defensive focus paid off when the Rams caught the home side on the counter. In the 24th minute, freshman Christian Longo-Schumer took the misplaced pass from an Eagle and darts down the right flank before whipping the ball across the face of the goal to the awaiting Samuel Tivane Jr., who calmly slotted it home with a right-footed rocket to the nearside post. Tivane Jr.'s second goal of the season cut the deficit in half and swung the momentum back in NCU's favor. The Rams carried that confidence through the remainder of the half, moving the ball well in transition and showing poise under pressure as the game tightened before the break.

After halftime, the Rams came out with renewed focus, dictating much of the early second-half pace. Steven Griffith continued to be active up front, while Longo-Schumer and junior Santiago Grams pressed high to create chances. North Central generated seven shots in the half, matching Northwestern's intensity and forcing their keeper into several key saves. Grams came close twice late in the game, including a shot in the 84th minute that was turned away on a diving stop. The Rams also saw promising moments from substitutes Elmer Polio Silva and Alex Chacich, who injected fresh energy into the attack. Defensively, the Rams tightened up considerably, allowing no goals and contesting every 50–50 ball. In goal, freshman Derick Stevens delivered another strong outing, recording all three of his saves in the second half. His stops in the 76th and 85th minutes kept the Rams within striking distance  By the final whistle, North Central trailed narrowly in total shots (16-9) but showed clear improvement as the game wore on, outshooting the home side 10-7 in the second half and generating more quality looks. The Rams also held a 4-3 advantage in corner kicks after halftime. Unfortunately, their efforts would come up short as Northwestern held on to the 2-1 lead. 

Looking Ahead:

Up next, North Central will host a rematch with the University of Northwestern St. Paul next Wednesday, October 15th, with kickoff set for 1:00 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.