MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA— Saturday, the men's soccer team returned to Elliot Park Field for its regular-season finale against Crown College. The afternoon carried special significance as the Rams celebrated Senior Night, recognizing five student-athletes for their dedication and contributions to the program. Despite a hard-fought effort that saw NCU generate 16 shots, the Rams fell 6-0 to the Polars, closing their regular season with a 5-15 overall record and a 4-8 mark in UMAC play.
Before the contest, North Central honored captain Gerald Nolasco, Santiago Grams, Giovanni Rech Santos, Rodrigo Burgos, and Samuel Thom. Each of these five seniors has played a role in shaping the program, and Saturday provided an opportunity to recognize their commitment, leadership, and contributions throughout their time wearing a Rams uniform.
FIRST HALF
North Central came out looking to make the most of its Senior Night opportunity. David Ajayi generated the Rams' first scoring chance in the 15th minute before putting consecutive attempts on goal shortly afterward.
Crown opened the scoring in the 16th minute, but NCU continued pushing forward. Senior Samuel Thom put an attempt on target in the 25th minute, while Rodrigo Rocha followed with another opportunity in the 30th.
The Polars extended their advantage in the 32nd minute, but the Rams remained aggressive offensively. Samuel Tivane Jr. generated two shots on goal late in the half as North Central continued searching for a breakthrough.
Despite entering halftime trailing 2-0, the Rams matched Crown with eight first-half shots, including seven attempts on goal.
SECOND HALF
North Central continued battling after halftime, with Israel Tomlin generating an early opportunity before senior Santiago Grams put a shot on goal in the 51st minute.
The Rams earned two corner kicks during the opening 12 minutes of the half as they looked to cut into the deficit. However, Crown capitalized on its offensive opportunities, adding four second-half goals to extend its advantage.
Despite the scoreline, NCU continued competing until the final whistle. Grams generated two additional shots in the 73rd and 75th minutes, while Ajayi nearly found the back of the net in the 82nd minute when his attempt struck the crossbar.
Rocha followed with two more opportunities late in the contest as the Rams continued pushing for a goal.
North Central finished with 16 total shots and eight shots on goal, compared to 20 shots and 16 on goal for Crown. Both teams earned four corner kicks.
Ajayi led the Rams with five shots, including three on goal, while Grams and Rocha each contributed three attempts. Tivane Jr. added two shots on target.
In goal, Alex Gianikas played the opening 64:15 and recorded five saves, including a penalty-kick stop in the first half. Owen Ellefson handled the final 25:45 and added four saves of his own as the Rams' goalkeepers combined for nine saves.
UP NEXT
With Saturday's contest marking the conclusion of the regular season, North Central finishes UMAC play with a 4-8 conference record. While the Rams faced their share of challenges throughout the fall, the season also featured memorable victories, including a regular-season sweep of Northwestern for the first time since 2016 and a pair of consecutive conference wins late in the year.
For Nolasco, Grams, Rech Santos, Burgos, and Thom, Senior Night served as a celebration of their time with the program and the impact they have made on North Central men's soccer.
The Rams' season is not finished just yet, as NCU will now turn its attention to the NCCAA North Regional Tournament, where the team will have one final opportunity to compete together and extend its postseason run.
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.
