SUPERIOR, WISCONSIN — Tuesday, the North Central University (NCU) men's soccer team traveled to SCCU Stadium for a UMAC matchup against the University of Wisconsin-Superior. Coming off back-to-back conference victories, the Rams faced a difficult test against the conference-leading Yellowjackets, ultimately falling 6-1. Goalkeeper Alex Gianikas highlighted NCU's defensive effort with an impressive 15 saves, while Israel Tomlin found the back of the net in the closing minutes.
FIRST HALF
North Central faced pressure early as UW-Superior controlled much of the opening possession. The Rams worked to stay organized defensively, with Gianikas making several important stops throughout the half.
After falling behind in the 19th minute, NCU faced additional adversity when Santiago Grams received a red card in the 22nd minute, forcing the Rams to play a man down for the remainder of the contest.
Despite the disadvantage, North Central continued battling defensively. Gianikas recorded five first-half saves as the Rams entered halftime trailing 2-0.
SECOND HALF
The Rams continued to compete after halftime despite playing with 10 men. NCU earned a corner kick in the 57th minute but struggled to generate consistent offensive opportunities against the conference leaders.
UW-Superior extended its advantage in the 66th minute before adding three goals in the closing stages of the contest.
North Central continued fighting until the final whistle, and that persistence paid off in the 89th minute when Israel Tomlin found the back of the net for the Rams' lone goal of the afternoon, producing the 6-1 final.
The Yellowjackets finished with a 37-1 advantage in shots and a 12-1 edge in corner kicks. Despite the significant disparity, Gianikas delivered a strong individual performance in net, playing all 90 minutes and recording 15 saves, including 10 in the second half.
UP NEXT
North Central moves to 4-5 in UMAC play following Tuesday's contest. The Rams will look to regroup as they Bethany Lutheran on Saturday, October 24th. That game will be begin at 5:00 PM at Parade Park Field.
As always, fans are encouraged to follow the official Rams Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter (X) pages for updates on men's soccer and all things NCU Athletics.
