ASHLAND, Wis. – The Northland College Men's Soccer team enters the second half of Upper Midwest Athletic Conference play this week with home and away games. The Jacks look to try to build off their momentum as they start the week on Wednesday at North Central University at 3:30 p.m. and then return to Ponzio Stadium on Saturday to host the University of Minnesota, Morris at 3:30 p.m.
 
Last week, the Jacks (5-7-2, 4-2-2 UMAC) got back in the win column after not getting the result they wanted in the previous five matches. The Jacks started the week dropping their first game 3-0 on the road to the University of Northwestern on Tuesday. After that, Northland bounced back topping Martin Luther College 2-0 on Saturday. Victor Vancauteren and Quinn Beiber scored the goals for NC, with Vancauteren scoring the winning goal in the 14^th minute.
 
Halfway through the season, the Rams are 4-6-1 overall and 1-6-1 in UMAC competition. Last week, NCU dropped both their games, first 0-1 to Martin Luther College then 0-6 to Bethany Lutheran College. The sole conference win came against the University of Minnesota, Morris, on Sept. 27^th winning 2-0. Sophomore Alex Chacich is the Rams leading point scorer with 10 points, coming from five goals. Graduate student Jared Buse has been in goal in each game for NCU. Buse has totaled 94 saves in his 11 games played.
 
In the first meeting this season, the Rams got an early goal from Rodrigo Burgos in the 15^th minute. Vancauteren found the equalizer in the 32^nd minute then Harrison Tibbetts went on a tear scoring a hat trick of a 4-1 LumberJacks' win. Northland leads the all-time series 14-9, winning six of the last seven games.
 
The Cougars are 1-9-2 at the halfway mark and 1-5-2 in conference play. UMM dropped its last four games, only scoring once. Last week Minnesota Morris was shut out twice by Bethany Lutheran and the University of Wisconsin-Superior 0-4 and 0-6, respectively. The Cougars have scored eight goals this season, with senior Carter Watkinson and junior Cooper Jones leading UMM at two goals apiece.
 
 Earlier this season, the Jacks and Cougars drew 2-2 in Morris, Minn. After a slow start for Northland it found itself down 0-1 at half and were outshot 1-4. Julian Swensen scored the first NC goal and Harrison Tibbets was right behind him to give the Jacks the lead. UMM tied the game up in the 84^th minute, scoring off a corner. The series favors the Cougars 16-4-2, but Northland is undefeated in the last six matchups with four wins.
 
Through 13 games, Tibbets is the Jacks and UMAC leading scorer with 12 goals. Bieber is second on the team in goals and points, netting three shots and assisting in two goals scored. Sophomore Nolan Melek and freshman Sorel Richardson are the assist leaders with three. Senior goalie Jamie Colvill has a record of 5-5-2 this season. He has a save percentage of .714 with 65 saves.
 
Northland College is an NCAA Division III institution located in Ashland, WI. The LumberJacks and LumberJills sponsor 14 varsity sports and compete in the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference, Midwest Lacrosse Conference, and the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.