St. Paul, MN – Tuesday, the North Central University (NCU) women's soccer team made the quick trip across the Twin Cities for an evening showdown with the University of Northwestern (UNW) Eagles. The Rams entered today's matchup looking to make a statement against a familiar conference rival in UNW. Tonight, NCU would face a barrage of offensive firepower from UNW, resulting in a 6-0 road loss. 

The opening minutes were a battle of pace and composure, as North Central's back line was quickly tested by an aggressive attack. Junior Ramiyah Words and sophomore Joyce Horton anchored the Rams' defense, working tirelessly to slow down the opponent's buildup play. Captain Anna Deichert and sophomore Abbey Korpi fought hard in the midfield, trying to regain possession and transition forward. Despite the Rams' best efforts, the first half saw the hosts capitalize on a series of quick combinations inside the box, scoring multiple goals in the opening 35 minutes. The Rams continued to stand tall behind goalkeeper Erma Ramirez, who made several diving stops to keep the scoreline from growing further. By halftime, NCU had weathered a relentless first-half surge while trailing 6-0, with Ramirez already posting six saves.

The Rams regrouped after the break, showing improved organization and control in the second 45 minutes. NCU's defense tightened, holding the opposition scoreless in the half while forcing several long-distance attempts that Ramirez handled cleanly. Offensively, the Rams began creating chances of their own, with junior forward Paula Capili pushing forward and firing two shots, including one just wide of the post late in the match. Horton added NCU's lone shot on goal, forcing the Eagles' keeper into her only save of the night. The second half showcased the Rams' grit and defensive discipline, limiting the opponent to fewer quality looks despite being outshot 40-3 overall. Ramirez totaled 13 saves and turned away all 7 shots on goal in the second half, but the Rams would fall 6-0 to the Eagles. 

Looking Ahead:

Up next, women's soccer will square off with the University of Northwestern once more on Wednesday, October 15th. That game will kick off at 1:00 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 women's soccer and all things NCU Athletics.