New Ulm, MN – The North Central University (NCU) Men's Soccer team continued its Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) schedule on the road Saturday against the Martin Luther College (MLC) Knights. After dropping both matchups a season ago, the Rams answered with authority this time around, using a clinical second half to secure a 3-0 shutout victory. Freshman forward Christian Longo-Schumer, sophomore forward Kefeyen Tita, and junior midfielder Santiago Grams each tallied goals, while freshman goalkeeper Derick Stevens recorded a stellar six-save clean sheet.

From the opening whistle, NCU dictated the rhythm of play. The Rams kept the ball moving through the midfield, with Ricardo Vera Martinez and Rodrigo Burgos setting up early opportunities. In the 15th minute, Steven Griffith tested the keeper with a shot on frame, followed shortly after by efforts from Rody Cuate Torres and Longo-Schumer. Despite 10 first-half shots and four corner kicks, the Rams couldn't break through. On the defensive end, Stevens was sharp between the posts, turning aside four quality looks to preserve the scoreless deadlock at halftime. His composure in net and the organized back line anchored by Anthony Lopez Romero and Diego Zavala Varela ensured the Knights were kept at bay.

The Rams came out of the break with renewed urgency, and it didn't take long for the breakthrough. In the 56th minute, Ricardo Vera Martinez connected with Christian Longo-Schumer, who put away his second goal of the season to take the lead at 1-0. Just three minutes later, Kefeyen Tita slipped behind the defense and calmly slotted home the Rams' second goal. This scoring play was once again assisted by captain midfielder Ricardo Vera Martinez. As the game wore on, the pressure continued. Santiago Grams added the exclamation point in the 82nd minute with a composed finish that pushed the lead to 3-0. The attacking trio of Longo-Schumer, Tita, and Grams proved too much for the Knights to handle, as the Rams' depth and substitutions kept the energy high until the final whistle. Derick Stevens capped off his afternoon with two more key saves in the second half, bringing his total to six and locking down his second collegiate shutout. His effort, paired with an offense that finished with 24 shots, 12 on goal, and 6 corners, highlighted the Rams' dominance across all phases of the game.

Looking Ahead

Up next, North Central will play a tune-up non-conference match versus Saint Mary's University (MN) on Wednesday, September 24th. The game will kick off at 4:30 PM at Ochrymowycz Field in Winona, MN.

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.