Des Moines, IA -- Tuesday, the North Central University (NCU) men's soccer team entered postseason play versus the Crown College (CC) Polars at the NCCAA Regional Tournament in Des Moines, IA. After dropping two close matchups during the regular season, the Rams looked to close the gap and extend their postseason run. Despite an early deficit, NCU showed fight on both sides of the pitch, highlighted by a strong first-half response and balanced team effort in the attack.
Crown struck early in the opening minute, putting North Central behind 1-0 just 53 seconds into play. The Rams settled in quickly, regaining composure and building steady possession through midfielders
Ricardo Vera Martinez and
Rodrigo Burgos, who each tested the opposing keeper with shots on target midway through the half. Junior
Santiago Grams added another close look in the 26th minute, forcing a save as the Rams began to dictate pace. Though Crown doubled their lead in the 31st minute, NCU's persistence paid off before halftime. In the 44th minute, senior
Ulrich Mvogo capitalized on a defensive lapse to bury a goal and trim the deficit to 2-1, swinging momentum in favor of the Rams heading into the break. North Central held strong in possession, earning a first-half corner and matching the Polars in physical play, with each side recording seven fouls.
Out of halftime, the Rams continued to press high and threaten in the attacking third. Mvogo nearly equalized just two minutes into the half with a powerful strike that required a diving save. Moments later,
Samuel Tivane Jr. and
Alex Chacich generated additional chances that forced the Polars' defense to stay alert. Crown managed to extend their advantage midway through the period with a pair of goals in the 68th and 84th minutes, bringing the score to 4-1 despite continued offensive efforts from the Rams. Senior midfielder Vera Martinez led a late push with another shot on goal, while Burgos' pair of late corner kicks in the 86th minute kept pressure on the opposition's back line until the final whistle. Statistically, the match remained closer than the scoreline suggested. NCU trailed narrowly in total shots (9-14) and held the edge in corner kicks (4-3), while freshman goalkeeper
Derick Stevens anchored the defense with four crucial saves against a relentless second-half attack.
Looking Ahead:
With the postseason run coming to a close, North Central caps off its 2025 campaign.
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