Men's Soccer 9/27/2022 7:37:00 PM Sebastian Burke - Sports Information Graduate Assistant

Braves Host Tabor on Wednesday

OTTAWA, Kan. – The KCAC leading Ottawa Braves soccer team returns to AdventHealth Field on Wednesday following a two-game road stretch, hosting the Tabor Blue Jays at 5 p.m.

Ottawa is coming off a successful two-game road trip that featured a 2-1 win over Sterling and a 6-3 win against Saint Mary. The Braves attempt to win four straight games for the first time since 2012, and their 6-2-1 start is also the best season start since the 2012 season. The 2012 team finished with 12-7-1 record.

Ottawa is led on offense by Bence Molnar, the KCAC's leading goal scorer (10) and leader in points (24). Slobodan Novicevic has benefit playing alongside Molnar up front, ranking fourth in the KCAC in goals (6), tied-fifth in assists (4) and third in points (13). Alonso Basauri has also racked up four assists to rank tied-fifth with Novicevic in the KCAC, sending quality services in on set pieces.

With the depth and quality on offense, fifth year senior Jonathan Rawayo comes in frequently as a super sub. The combination of Patrick Wyatt and Filippo Della Pasqua at center back has been solid, and Wyatt presents a vertical challenge for opposing defenses with two header goals off set pieces. Outside back Owain Parker has shown his willingness to join the attack with two assists so far this season. Zac Wilson is solid defensive presence in the midfield who can also play center back when needed. Captain Jack Hatswell does his thing at central midfield, dictating much of the play for the Braves. Gage Powers has been strong as the Braves last line of defense, leading the KCAC with 46 saves and is fifth with a 71% save percentage.

This Tabor squad brings back plenty of talent from last year's team that finished the season strong and surprised everyone with a run to the KCAC Tournament Final and a berth to NAIA Nationals They have had a difficult 1-2 start to KCAC play this season with losses to McPherson and Oklahoma Wesleyan, and a 1-0 win against Kansas Wesleyan. The Braves will need to keep an eye on the Bluejays sophomore leading goal scorer, Sam Butler.

The series history between these two teams is deadlocked at 8-8-3. No team has one more than three games straight, with Ottawa doing so from 2018-20. The Bluejays took last year's matchup, in a 1-0 win over the Braves with the winning goal coming from Butler.