Ottawa University

OLATHE, Kan. - For the better part of 90 minutes, it looked as if no. 16 Ottawa University and no. 3 MidAmerica Nazarene were going to battle to a 0-0 draw, but a world-class free kick from Cale Scott in the 89th minute gave the Braves a 1-0 win over the Pioneers on Thursday.

The teams spent much of the opening 10 minutes feeling each other out, with the first real chance not coming until the 14th minute as Ottawa gave up a free kick 35 yards out from goal. The ball was played in and headed toward goal by a pair of Pioneer attackers, but Alex Neri dove to his left to smother the danger.

After a flurry by MNU in the 20th minute, Ottawa found a blazing counter down the left side. After cutting toward the center, Antonio Natalucci found Scott open in the middle, who unlaced a shot that rattled the crossbar before falling back to Natalucci. Natalucci's volley attempt was blocked and sent the Pioneers on a counter that proved to be fruitless as the cross was headed harmlessly over the bar. 

Ottawa earned a free kick 35 yards out from goal in the 25th minute, with Scott foreshadowing his late-game heroics with a curling effort up and over the wall that put Lennart Fischer in flight.

Over the middle half-hour of the match, the teams settled into a back-and-forth rhythm neither team seriously threatening until the 67th minute. Simon Kindt knifed through traffic for Ottawa, forcing Fischer into a diving save to the right.

Moments later, Jordan Gaona dribbled to the middle of the pitch, then hit a low shot hoping to elude Neri through traffic, but the senior netminder was equal to the task. 

MidAmerican Nazarene nearly found net with an exclamation point in the 89th minute, as a free kick from the left side sailed over the crowd but was sent back into a dangerous spot for Pedro Vian. Vian juggled the ball twice to size up a bicycle kick and was flawless on the execution, but Alex Neri calmly looked the effort into his grasp.

After settling to the ground on the save to avoid coughing up a turnover, Neri popped up and hurled the ball to his left to spring a Braves counter attack. A long ball from Martin Basso over the midfield fell in stride with Slobodan Novicevic, but before he could turn toward goal MNU's Fischer came well off his line and made a dangerous clearance attempt that caught Arteaga in the chest.

An immediate whistle sounded as both players went to ground, with the referee reaching into his back pocket to produce a red card for Fischer. After both players were cleared by the athletic training staff and MNU completed its substitution, Scott and Natalucci lined up on the ball. After a dummy run by Natalucci, Scott took three strides and laced a shot around the wall and inside the far post before sprinting to the opposite corner flag in celebration.

Ottawa was able to force the Pioneers to play the ball out for a throw-in on the right side and wind down the clock to preserve the win.

The Braves continue their non-conference road swing on Saturday, taking on Benedictine in an afternoon doubleheader. Kickoff for the match is set for 4 p.m.