OTTAWA, Kan. -- First year OU head coach James Cottage faces his former team for the first time, as the Braves head to North Newton to take on the Bethel Threshers on Wednesday at 8 p.m.

• OU's men's soccer team has improved significantly in a relatively short time to start Cottage's tenure at OU. The Braves have jumped out to a 9-2-2 record, their best start to any season since 2012. The Braves have also maintained an undefeated 6-0-1 conference record with five games remaining in the season. 

 

• The Braves are coming off a 1-1 draw to York and a 2-1 win against Bethany in their last two matches. The draw against York was OU's first conference game that didn't result in a win, but they got back on track with the win against Bethany thanks to Francisco Arrua's game-winning goal in the 77th minute.

 

• Former Oklahoma Wesleyan player and assistant coach Luka Milicevic takes over the Bethel program following Cottage's departure, with the Threshers starting his first season as head coach with a 5-6-1 record. Coincedently, Bethel's last match was a 6-2 loss to No. 21 OKWU. The Threshers are led of offense by Gabriel Villegas, scoring five goals on the season. 

 

• Ottawa owns a 12-4-2 record in the series history against Bethel, winning 11 games from 2008-2018. Coach Cottage managed to go 2-2 against Ottawa during his time at Bethel, including a 4-2 win for the Threshers in last year's match between these two teams.

 

• Bence Molnar and Slobodan Novicevic lead the Braves' potent attack, both with a team-high 12 goals scored which also ranks second in the KCAC. Molnar is also tied for second in the KCAC with seven assists, with Alonso Basauri not far behind with six assists this season. Braves' keeper Gage Powers has been a solid last line of defense, ranking second in the KCAC with 61 saves on the season. 

Up Next: The Braves return to AdventHealth Field to host the Friends Falcons on Saturday at 1 p.m.