ATCHISON, Kan. - Fresh off an upset of no. 3 MidAmerica Nazarene, Ottawa found itself pressed by a pair of goals against the run of play at Benedictine. A second-half goal by
Antonio Natalucci was unfortunately not enough for the Braves to equalize in a 2-1 loss.
Ottawa pressed from the opening kickoff, with
Cale Scott nearly opening the scoring in the fourth minute. After buildup from the back line, he found himself open from 35 yards out and tested Noah Reuscher low and to the right, but the Benedictine keeper was able to make the stop.
After keeping the Ravens pinned in their own end, Ottawa found themselves down 1-0 in the ninth minute as the Ravens broke on a counter. Kody Argaez took a shot that was deflected but not cleared cleanly, and Ahoy Victore was able to volley it past
Luca Fofonka.
The Braves nearly found an equalizer in the 11th as
Jevan Purcell-Jackson sent a cross in from the right side, but
Sam Hatswell wasn't able to turn through traffic and mishit his shot attempt, sending the ball skyward, although the whistle had sounded for offside.
Fofonka kept the Ravens from doubling their lead in the 15th minute, diving low and to his right to cut off a cross and fire an immediate Ottawa counter, but unfortunately the Brave weren't able to connect on the final pass.
The Black and Gold had a pair of big chances in the 21st minute, as a long ball found Natalucci in stride, but Reuscher was able to make the low diving stop. Ottawa forced a quick turnover, with
Reece Fahey finding Scott open on the right, but Scott's effort went just wide of the left post.
Deja vu struck in the 23rd minute for Ottawa, as Natalucci was cut down in nearly the same spot as
Slobodan Novicevic was on Thursday at MidAmerica Nazarene, with Eddie Roth earning a caution for the foul. Having seen Thursday's preview, Benedictine was able to set an alignment that forced Scott into a more difficult shot that curled up but not down in time.
Ottawa had the better of the momentum through the rest of the half, but Benedictine was able to double its lead against the run of play in the 45th minute. After a foul deep in the Benedictine end, Reuscher sent a long, searching ball over the midfield. Argaez was able to touch it around Fofonka, but it was cleared off the goal line by
Leo Mautret. Unfortunately, the Ravens scored on teh ensuing corner as Braden Yows sent a shot low and to the left of Fofonka.
The Braves nearly pulled one back in the 60th minute, but a great reflex save by Reuscher kept Lamola's shot through traffic out of the net.
Ottawa left no chances in the 66th minute, however, forcing a turnover then finishing off a seven-pass build up with
Alvaro Soriano Borras sending Kindt past his marker to the endline, where his cross was emphatically headed home by Natalucci.
In the 72nd minute, deja vu hit for a second time as Yows cut down
Mateo Trigo just outside the box, and picked up a caution, but again Scott was unable to get his shot to curl below the bar.
Amazingly, Ottawa got a third bite at the apple in the 74th minute, as Evan Ediger hammered Natalucci in the same spot. Juan Lopez Arteaga took the honors this time, but his left-footed cross was headed clear.Â
The Braves continued to press but were unable to capitalize on three late chances, with the Ravens holding on for the 2-1 win.
Ottawa wraps up its four-match road swing next Saturday with a trip to no. 21 Baker University. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m.
