Notre Dame, IN -- Tonight, the North Central University (NCU) women's soccer team headed to Indiana for its third non-conference matchup of the season against the Saint Mary's College (SMC) Belles. This was the first-ever meeting between these two squads. This marked the first-ever meeting between the two programs. Despite a strong effort, the Rams fell 5-1 to the hosts. Senior defender Ramiyah Words provided the lone goal for NCU in the second half, while senior goalkeeper Erma Ramirez turned away an impressive 14 shots on the night.

The Rams got off to a slow start offensively as they faced heavy early pressure from the hosts, who logged 17 shots in the opening 45 minutes. Erma Ramirez was up to the task, making several critical stops to keep the match scoreless for most of the first half. Key saves came in the 2nd, 5th, 15th, 17th, 26th, and 29th minutes, showcasing her composure and shot-stopping ability. Despite the defensive stand, the breakthrough for Saint Mary's came in the 36th minute off a well-placed finish in the bottom corner. North Central did show flashes of attacking intent, earning a corner in the 41st minute and seeing Ashlynn Sherman fire a shot just over the crossbar shortly after. NCU entered halftime trailing 1-0, buoyed by Ramirez's nine first-half saves but needing to generate more offensive rhythm.

The second half opened in dramatic fashion as Saint Mary's was awarded and converted a penalty kick in the 48th minute, quickly followed by a third goal less than 20 seconds later. The Rams struggled to settle in defensively and conceded two more goals in the 59th and 61st minutes, as the Belles continued to press. However, NCU kept fighting. In the final stretch of the match, junior forward Paula Capili tested the opposing back line with a late effort and earned the Rams a corner in the 86th minute. The ensuing play paid off: Ramiyah Words capitalized on a feed from senior defender Tayler Boudreaux to slot home North Central's first and only goal of the night at the 86:09 mark. The Rams' defense held for the remainder of the match as Ramirez added five more saves in the second half, finishing with 14 total, her highest single-game total so far this season. NCU ultimately fell 5-1 on the road. 

Looking Ahead:

The Rams continue their road trip with a visit to Grand Rapids, Michigan, to take on Grace Christian University tomorrow at 12:00 PM CT. 

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