OTTAWA, Kan. –
Francisco Arrua's game-winning goal in the 77
th minute led the Ottawa University men's soccer team to a 2-1 win over the Bethany Swedes on Friday night at AdventHealth Field.
Arrua's game winning goal all started with
Jonathan Rawayo passing to
Martin Basso on an overlapping run down the left flank. Basso then sent in a low driven ball right to Arrua, who made a clinical finish. Arrua could have easily blasted the shot over the crossbar, instead letting the pace of Basso's pass do the work and directing the ball into the net for the very impressive and technical finish.
The Brave's had another huge moment late in the game, when
Zac Wilson backed up Braves' goalkeeper
Gage Powers and made a defensive goal line save with just two seconds remaining. With about 15 seconds left the Swedes mounted their last second desperation attempt, pushing up all their players up and sending a long ball into the box. After bouncing around in the box, Swedes' Benito Ausley had a shot that appeared to get past OU's keeper Powers only to be cleared off the line by the center back Wilson.
The Braves pretty much controlled most of the match despite the close scoreline. The Swedes snuck one in to tie the game in the 70
th minute with a goal from Abraham Arrieta, but it didn't last long with Arrua's eventual game-winner for Ottawa just seven minutes later.
Slobodan Novicevic scored his 12
th goal of the season in the 10
th minute to put the Braves up early to start the game.
The fact that both teams have played three games in the last five days was visible, as both teams frequently substituted with fatigued and banged up players. The Braves have had some clutch moments and showed their fight in tight games this season, with this being their fourth win that was decided by just one goal.
Up Next: The Braves head to North Newton, Kan. on Wednesday, Oct. 12
th for a 7:30 pm kickoff against the Bethel Threshers. Ottawa head coach
James Cottage faces his former team for the first time, coaching the Threshers from 2017-2021.
