St. Bonifacius, MN -- Saturday, the North Central University (NCU) men's soccer team hit the road for their final regular season contest, traveling to Old National Bank Stadium to take on the Crown College (CC) Polars in Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) play. Earlier this year, the Rams narrowly fell 2-1 in Minneapolis, and this time they looked to flip the result. Despite a strong defensive effort and multiple scoring chances, NCU came up just short in a 1-0 decision.
North Central came out focused and organized defensively, matching the Polars' early tempo while gradually building rhythm through the midfield. Junior midfielder Francisco Ramirez and first-year midfielder Samuel Tivane Jr. led the charge, each testing the opposing keeper with quality shots in the opening 25 minutes. Tivane forced two back-to-back saves midway through the half, showcasing NCU's growing pressure. The Rams continued to generate opportunities through creative combinations from senior midfielder Ricardo Vera Martinez and junior midfielder Rodrigo Burgos, while first-year forward Steven Griffith worked tirelessly to stretch the defensive line. Defensively, junior Gerald Nolasco anchored the backline with composure alongside sophomore Anthony Lopez Romero, who set a physical tone early. Despite North Central's competitiveness, Crown found a breakthrough in the 39th minute, capitalizing on a rebound shot after a free kick attempt just outside the box to take a 1-0 lead. The Rams immediately responded with more urgency before halftime, earning a late corner and pushing numbers forward, but went into the break trailing by one.
Out of halftime, North Central continued to battle for the equalizer. Tivane remained active in the attack, producing another dangerous shot on frame in the 72nd minute that was turned aside. Fresh legs from sophomore forward Elmer Polio Silva and first-year forward Darius Knox added spark, with Knox delivering a late shot opportunity off a corner that narrowly missed the target. The Rams' resilience shone in the final 20 minutes, maintaining possession and drawing multiple fouls as they searched for an opening. Defensively, freshman goalkeeper Derick Stevens was a steady presence throughout, recording four saves, including two crucial stops early in the second half, to keep NCU within striking distance. Statistically, North Central held the edge in corner kicks (5-3) and matched the Polars in shots on goal (4-4), demonstrating a balanced performance despite the result.
Looking Ahead:
Up next, men's soccer will turn its attention to postseason play at the 2025 NCCAA DII Men's Soccer North Regional in Des Moines, Iowa. NCU is set to face #2-seeded Crown College once again in the regional semifinal on Tuesday, November 11th, at the Mid-American Energy Company Rec Plex Indoor Field, with kickoff scheduled for 4:15 PM.
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.
