MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – North Central University men's soccer went shot-for-shot with Faith Baptist Bible College Tuesday at Parade Park Field, out-shooting the visitors 12-11 and leading in shots on goal (7-5) and corner kicks (7-4), but a few missed opportunities proved costly in a 2-0 home-opener loss. Giovanni Rech Santos led the attack with three shots on frame, and goalkeeper Alex Gianikas came up with two big saves to keep the Rams in it.
NCU came out pushing, with early shots from Rodrigo Burgos and Rech Santos testing the FBBC keeper. Faith Baptist Bible struck in the 11th minute to go up 1-0, but the Rams answered with continued pressure, including a saved chance from Rodrigo Rocha. NCU's best look came on a 40th-minute penalty kick, but Samuel Tivane Jr.'s attempt went off target, and FBBC took the 1-0 edge into the break.
The Rams controlled the second half, winning corner kicks 5-1 and generating chance after chance. FBBC added a penalty-kick goal in the 60th minute to go up 2-0, but NCU kept firing. Rech Santos, Israel Tomlin, and Emmanuel Benitez all forced saves, and a second NCU penalty kick in the 76th minute was denied. Late in the match, goalkeeper Alex Gianikas came up with a huge penalty-kick save to preserve the final margin, finishing with two saves on the day.
UP NEXT
North Central hosts the University of Wisconsin-River Falls Saturday, September 5, at Parade Park Field. Kickoff is set for 3:30 PM.
