SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - In a match that saw sparing good chances for either team, Ottawa was unable to convert on any of its three shots on goal, falling 2-0 at Evangel.
Evangel opened the scoring in the 39th minute after earning a free kick just inside the midfield stripe. Faith Joe sent a high long ball into a crowd in the six-yard box. With Evangel's field running due north-south, the setting sun played havoc with
Makena Tapia's read of the ball and it fell to the turf where Dekeria Carter was able to poke it home.
Cennet Donahue nearly equalized for the Braves in the 40th minute, but her low effort was stopped by Evangel's goalkeeper.
The Braves put together another chance in the 42nd minute on a brisk counterattack that forced Evangel to play the ball out for a corner kick. On the ensuing service from
Emma Stillings, Donahue's volley went just over the crossbar.
Ottawa stepped up the pressure to open the second half, with
Reece Young nearly finding an equalizer in the 46th minute. Donahue found Young sprinting and fed a pass in stride through the Evangel back line, but Young's shot to the far post went just a bit wide, hitting off the post and out for a goal kick.
Lily Martin and
Charlotte Gatehouse each had tantalizing chances in the 51st, as the Braves earned a throw in deep in Evangel territory. Martin's shot on the right post was blocked by a Valor defender, but Ottawa maintained possession and recycled the attack, eventually finding the foot of Gatehouse. Gatehouse sent a rocket toward the left post that looked to be out of reach of second-half substitute Paige Estes, but it hit the post and went out.
Tapia had a big stop for the Braves in the 58th minute, settling in and covering McKenzie Calhoun's 1-on-1 effort, but Evangel would find a second goal in the 63rd minute. After breaking free on the left side, Carter sent in a cross that was laid to the feet of Makayla Myers for the finish.
Ellie Fitzpatrick tried to claw one back for Ottawa in the 66th minute, but her ambitious effort from 30 yards out was handled by Estes.
Emma Stillings tested Estes as well in the 78th minute from close to the same spot as Fitzpatrick's earlier shot, this time going near post with more pace, but the Evangel netminder was able to make the stop.
Laura Quijada had a pair of late efforts turned away by Evangel defenders as Ottawa fell to 2-5 in conference action.
The Braves head to Salina on Saturday to take on Kansas Wesleyan University. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.
