OTTAWA, Kan. - After sliding three spots in the NAIA Men's Soccer Poll despite maintaining a 10-match unbeaten streak, no. 12 Ottawa decided a statement win was in order on Sunday, as the Braves set a new program record for goals in a match during a 17-0 win over Bethany. OU had five multi-goal scorers in the match, led by
Simon Kindt and
Cale Scott who each had four. The record dated back to Sept. 25, 1968, when the Braves defeated Wentworth Military Academy 16-0.
The Braves pressed from the opening whistle, nearly finding the opening goal in the second minute as
Antonio Natalucci's shot was blocked out for a corner kick. Unfortunately, on the ensuing inswinger,
Leo Mautret was whistled for contact in the box.
It wasn't long, however, before the Braves opened the scoring, as Natalucci struck in the fourth minute for Ottawa in the first of three straight goals assisted by Scott. A 10th-minute corner for the Braves put Mautret on the scoresheet for certain, as he was able to tower over the crowd and head Scott's inswinger just under the crossbar.
And before the crowd at the Dick Peters Sports Complex could catch its breath, Ottawa struck again, earning another corner. Another inswinger was served up by Scott, this time finding the foot of Kindt for his first of the match. A mere 32 seconds separated Ottawa's second and third goals, but that mark was also not long for the contest.
Kindt and Scott notched OU's fifth and sixth goals of the match just 31 seconds apart on the clock, with Kindt's strike deserving of highlight reel status as the Berliner completed his hat trick with a two-touch bicycle kick off of service from
Mateo Trigo.
The 25th-minute pairing was erased in the 38th minute, this time by
Jevan Purcell-Jackson's first of the match and Scott's second. Not content with that pace, Scott decided to drop the separation to 14 seconds between goals, scoring in the 42nd and 43rd minute for the Braves to send Ottawa to the half leading 11-0.
As the second half got underway, Ottawa sensed the record within reach and pressed the Swedes, earning a corner kick in the opening minute and forcing Nikolas Chitaia into a handful of early saves. Natalucci punched in the 12th of the match for Ottawa, equaling the modern-era record in the 59th minute, then almost collected his hat trick on a pair of occasions in the 60th and 65th minute, as he saw shots cleared off the line by Bethany.
Kindt pushed Ottawa past the dozen mark in the 67th minute, finishing a pass from
Sam Hatswell to pick up his fourth goal of the contest, in the 67th minute. He was then involved in a creative play just 44 seconds later, as he found
Juan Lopez-Arteaga on the wing for a cross to the foot of Purcell-Jackson in the six-yard box.
Natalucci finally collected his hat trick in the 81st minute, matching Ottawa's previous goal-scoring high water mark of 16, before
Matias Mazieres claimed the record-breaking goal in the 84th minute.
With the win, Ottawa joins Oklahoma Wesleyan and Friends as having clinched spots in the KCAC postseason tournament. The Braves host Southwestern College on Wednesday, with kickoff from the Dick Peters Sports Complex set for 3:30 p.m.
