ANKENY, Iowa - On the heels of their thrilling overtime win against Providence University College in the quarterfinal, the Sabercats fell 1-0 to the Rams of North Central University in a hard-fought 90 minutes of playoff soccer. 

The Basics

• Result: Sabercats 0-1 Rams
• Venue: Pyche Field | Ankeny, Iowa
• Attendance: 100
• Sabercats: finish their season at 5-14

How it Happened

• 1st Half - The Rams came out quickly out of the gate, but two saves from Andrew Taylor kept the favorited Rams at bay. Throughout the opening 45 minutes, the two teams traded chances. Brett Cournoyer and Caleb Walters came close with shots from inside the box, but Gabe Hartwig's sure hands were quick enough to deny the go-ahead Sabercat goal.
• 2nd Half - Wira Wama had the first chance of the second half from the left side of the box, but Hartwig stood tall to keep his clean sheet alive.
• 61' - Just over 15 minutes in, the Rams scored the breakthrough goal which eventually won them the game. At the end of a counter attack, Josue Boutouli scored from Ryan Windauer's cross with an authoritative finish just inside the near post (0-1)
• 75' - From then on, the Sabercats fought the fatigue of the previous day to try to steal a late tying goal. It nearly came 14 minutes later, but Caleb Walters was denied by Hartwig from a free kick.
• 87' - With less than five minutes remaining, the Wama almost produced a scintillating equalizer. After collecting the ball 40 yards out on the right side, Wama used his trademark footwork and speed to shirk six Rams defenders and take a shot from the left hand side of the box. Only the width of the post kept the shot out of the goal, and John Zockoll was denied the rebound by Hartwig's aggressive recovery save.
• As the clock wound down, so to did the Sabercats chances of advancing. Despite creating multiple chances, the Sabercats could not convert the crucial goal, and saw their season end in the way it began - with a loss to the Rams of North Central University.

With this Result...

• The Sabercats conclude 2016 with a 5-14 record, which accounted for a 4-4 record in the NCCAA and a 1-1 record in the postseason.