OTTAWA, Kan. – Slobodan Novicevic's first career hat-trick fueled the Ottawa University men's soccer team to a 4-1 win over the Avila Eagles on Sunday afternoon.

It was the Eagles that would strike first, catching the Braves off guard with a goal AJ Rankin in the 11^th minute. The Eagles' lead wouldn't last long, when Novicevic answered with his first goal of the day. Zac Wilson played a long ball to Bence Molnar on the flank, who then found Novicevic in the middle for a tap-in goal to make the score 1-1.Novicevic would double up just before halftime to put the Braves ahead 2-1, off a quick counterattack started by a Bence Molnar longball.

The Braves kept up the pressure in the second half, outshooting the Eagles 7-5. Billy Rice-Hanlon nearly scored a head from a corner in the 57^th minute, then redeemed himself by scoring his first career goal at OU just two minutes later to put the Braves up 3-1.

Novicevic's found his hat-trick in the 83^rd minute, essentially sealing the 4-1 win for Ottawa. The final goal pretty much summed up the type of game it was for the Eagles, taking advantage of a miscue by Eagles goalkeeper Naguib Nassir and burying it into an empty net.

The Braves have jumped out to a 5-0 start to conference play for the first time since 2012. The Braves have a 1-2 punch atop of the KCAC goal scoring leaderboards, with Bence Molnar leading the way with 12 goals on the season, and Novicevic with 10 goals. It's the first time Ottawa has had two double-digit goalscorers since the 2018 season (Aaron Kavanaugh  & Lewis Verdouw).

Up Next: Braves return to AdventHealth Field for two straight home games, hosting York on Oct. 5th and Bethany on Oct. 7th.