OTTAWA, Kan. - Goals on either side of the halftime break delivered a 2-0 win for Ottawa over Southwestern on Wednesday afternoon, keeping the Braves in playoff contention.
Laura Quijada picked up her third of the season in the first half and
Ella Stillings struck for her first career goal with an inch-perfect free kick in the 53rd minute.
Ottawa had the bulk of the possession early, nearly finding the net twice in the 19th and 20th minute. After earning a free kick on the left side roughly 30 yards from goal,
Emma Stillings took a swing but Djoy Zwiesereijn was able to settle under it and make the save. Moments later, after a forced turnover,
Cennet Donahue found herself with the ball at the top left corner of the 18-yard box and her left-footed effort tested Zwiesereijn more but not enough.
Southwestern found its first chance of the match in the 24th minute, earning a free kick on the opposite left wing. Millie Hazzard stepped into the shot, but
Makena Tapia easily handled the save at the near post.
Tapia's distribution sparked Ottawa's first goal, as her punt was won by the Braves on the right wing. The ball eventually found the foot of Donahue, whose pass into the center ping-ponged around before being settled by Quijada. Quijada nudged the ball into space and curled her shot to the far post past the outstretched arms of Zwiesereijn.
The Moundbuilders earned another free kick opportunity in the 28th minute, but Tapia was again well up to the challenge, diving to her left to collect the shot attempt from Hazzard.
Ottawa nearly doubled its lead in the 40th minute on a breakaway, as Donahue sent a pass up and over the Southwestern back line to find
Charlotte Gatehouse. Zwiesereijn had initially raced off her line hoping to get to the ball first, but was forced to check up at the top of the 18-yard box and barely managed to get her left hand on Gatehouse's effort.
The Braves were able to finally double their lead with a wonder goal by
Ella Stillings. Ottawa earned a free kick on the right wing, 25 yards from the end line. After looking at the three-player wall in front of her and the defenders marking her teammates, Stillings set her eye on the top right corner of goal and stepped into her shot. Her effort sailed beyond the outstretched hands of Southwestern's goalkeeper and into the side netting.
Southwestern was close to cutting the deficit in half in the 76th minute, but Tapia was able to dive and cut out the dangerous cross from the right corner to preserve the shutout.
Ottawa is on the road for its next two matches, beginning with a Saturday visit to York University. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.
