FAYETTE, Mo. - Scoring came in bursts during Saturday's season opener at (RV) Central Methodist, as no. 16 Ottawa University was able to earn a 3-3 draw against the Eagles.
Cale Scott had a goal and an assist for the Braves, with
Sam Hatswell and
Slobodan Novicevic also tallying for the Black and Gold.
Ottawa's first two goals were separated by just 21 seconds, as the Braves came out of the gate pressing the attack. After earning a throw-in level with the top of the 18-yard-box,
Martin Basso corralled the CMU clearance and recycled the attack. An attempt by Scott was blocked but found its way to the feet of Hatswell, who took a setup touch before rocketing the ball to the top corner.
The Braves forced a turnover on the kickoff, sending a long ball to
Antonio Natalucci down the left side. Natalucci took the acres of space that CMU was giving, threading a pass from the end line back to Scott who calmly slotted the ball inside the right post.
Natalucci tried to put his name in the goalscorer's column in the 12th minute, but wasn't able to put his full weight behind the shot. He found
Lorenzo Lamola on Ottawa's next possession, with Lamola's shot catching Nicolo Cabras full in the chest.
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An unfortunate misplay early in the second half allowed CMU to pull one back in the 51st minute. A clearance attempt by Neri hit off a leaping Jackson Wilbers and rebounded toward goal. Wilbers was able to out sprint Neri to tap the ball home.
Wilbers brought the game level in the 54th, finding a hole in the Braves defense and redirecting a pass from Milton Olin. Moments later, he gave CMU a chance to put a third on the board, making the most of minuscule contact in the top of the box to earn a penalty kick.
Neri was easily able to cover the distance to the post after reading Robin Vandewalle's stutter-step runup, but the read was unnecessary as the shot sailed yards outside the right post.
CMU was able to find a third goal to take the lead in the 61st minute. Kaedden Sherry chased a desperate long ball and was just able to get a foot to it for a cross. Lamola headed it away from the near post, but it fell opportunistically to the foot of Ilhan Dervisevic.
As the second half wound down, Ottawa was able to rediscover its momentum from the first half, earning a trio of dangerous chances in the final seven minutes of action. In the 83rd minute, Samuel Vyda - playing on a yellow - was fortunate to not be sent off for CMU as he shoved Basso to ground just outside the 18-yard-box on the endline, but nobody in the Braves attack was able to convert on the ensuing free kick.
Novicevic sent a long ball ahead to Scott, who dribbled past his defender and sent a low cross into the box. Cabras dove to make the stop but wasn't able to control his momentum, sliding out for a Braves corner.Â
In the 89th minute, Scott and Novicevic were able to make it count, as Scott collected a long ball and settled before picking out Novicevic across the park. The three-time All-KCAC honoree showed exactly why as he ripped a shot top shelf to pull the Braves level.
Next up for the Braves is a visit to no. 3 MidAmerica Nazarene University. Kickoff is set for 5:30 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 27.
