After scoring at a swift and stellar pace in 2014, Minnesota United FC forward Christian Ramirez has gone through a striking slog this season.

Ramirez, who won the North American Soccer League’s scoring title with 20 goals last season, had one goal in the first 11 games but has now netted goals in consecutive weeks. His goal and assist Wednesday helped Minnesota tally the most goals in a game this season during a 4-0 win before a club-record crowd of 9,412 fans at the National Sports Center in Blaine.

United scored three second-half goals against Jacksonville, which played with 10 players after forward Alhassane Keita was sent off with a straight red card during stoppage time in the first half.

Ramirez assisted on the game’s second goal in the 50th minute and scored the third goal in the 60th.

“It feels good,” Ramirez said.

United took a 1-0 lead in the 14th minute when Juliano Vicentini tucked a shot just under the crossbar from about 25 yards out.

During first-half stoppage time, United goalie Sammy Ndjock took a nasty cleat to the face on an attempted scoring chance by Keita. Ndjock was sprawled in the grass, kicking in pain, before trainers wrapped his head. At halftime, he got stitches in his lip but stayed in the game.

“Will to win,” Ramirez said of Ndjock. “Putting himself in situations where sometimes he’s going to come on the end of bad collisions and risk his body for the team.”

After Ndjock got on his feet, referee Tyler Ploeger gave Keita a red card.

United extended the lead to 2-0 in the 50th minute when Daniel Mendes scored off an assist from Ramirez.

Ndjock made a diving save later that minute to keep it 2-0. It was United’s first clean sheet since May 9, and the shutout gave the Loons (4-3-6) their first win of the fall season after a 3-1 loss to Carolina on July 4 and a 1-1 draw with Ottawa on July 11. Before the three points Wednesday, United was in the 10th spot in the 11-team NASL.

“That (Ndjock staying in the game) is part of the grittiness and tenacity we need right now as a team,” said United coach Manny Lagos. “The quality of soccer hasn’t been in question. I think it’s the tenacity of game managing and the phases of the game that are important.”

Ramirez made it 3-0 when he capitalized on a loose ball from outside the 18-yard box and struck it past goalie David Sierra.

“(Ramirez) really had great energy,” Lagos said. “He held up the ball well and brought guys into the game and set up guys. Just a very solid night for him on both sides of the ball.”

After a seven-game scoreless drought, Ramirez scored his first goal of the season during match action last weekend against Ottawa. His other goal came on a penalty kick in the spring season’s third game April 25.

Ramirez has split time on the United attack this season with Pablo Campos, who leads United with four goals in 12 games. Including Wednesday, Ramirez had played about 622 minutes to Campos’ 785.

“This is the life of forwards,” Lagos said. “Hopefully he continues to use all of these moments to catalog how he can get better as a forward for many years to come. There is going to be much more adversity in the future than the past for Christian, and I think he will respond great just like he has for us.”

Team captain Aaron Pitchkolan has been telling Ramirez from Day 1 to stay the course.

“I have been,” Ramirez said, “and I’m being rewarded for it, so it’s nice.”

IBARRA AND LEON ON SATURDAY

Mexico’s Club Leon and former United midfielder Miguel Ibarra will play United in an international friendly Saturday at the National Sports Center.

Ibarra, who was a routine call-up to the U.S. men’s national team during his time with United, will play the first half with the Loons and the second half with Leon, which has won Liga MX, Mexico’s top league, seven times.

Follow Andy Greder at twitter.com/andygreder