Minneapolis, MN – North Central University (NCU) Women's Soccer continued Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) play on Saturday afternoon at Elliot Park Field, taking on the Bethany Lutheran College (BLC) Vikings. The Rams were eager to build on lessons from last season's meetings, when BLC came away with both results. This time around, the visitors controlled much of the match and handed NCU a 7-0 setback. Despite the scoreline, the Rams saw a standout effort from goalkeeper Erma Ramirez, who recorded 15 saves in the contest. 

The opening 45 minutes set the tone as North Central was forced into a defensive battle. From the opening whistle, BLC pressed heavily into the attacking third, generating corner kicks and testing the Rams' back line. Erma Ramirez was immediately called into action, recording multiple early saves to keep the game scoreless. The visitors eventually broke through in the 15th minute and added two more tallies before halftime. While the scoreboard leaned one-sided, NCU's defense anchored by veterans like Tayler Boudreaux, Chloe Bjorlin, and Joyce Horton absorbed wave after wave of pressure. Offensively, the Rams managed one look at goal when forward Olivia Beach pushed a shot just wide. At the break, the Rams trailed 3-0 but had already forced nine saves from Ramirez, showcasing her resilience between the posts.

In the second half, the Rams continued to face a relentless attack. Ramirez and the defensive line were consistently tested, featuring steady minutes from players like Anna Deichert, Ramiyah Words, and Ellison Powell. The Vikings would add four more goals in the final 45 minutes, though not without several highlight-reel saves from Ramirez. One of NCU's best chances came in the 65th minute when Tayler Boudreaux broke forward and sent a shot on target, forcing a save from the BLC goalkeeper. By the final whistle, the disparity in key statistics told the story: NCU was outshot 41-2 and trailed 22-1 in shots on goal. Corner kicks were also lopsided at 12-0. North Central would eventually fall 7-0. 

Looking Ahead:

Up next, North Central will continue UMAC play at home, set to face Crown College on Wednesday, October 1st at 4:30 PM.

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.