BARTLESVILLE, Okla. - In the 30th meeting between the schools, a series that has been comprehensively dominated by the Eagles, no. 16 Ottawa found inspiration from an early defensive stop and the fourth game-winning goal of the season for reigning KCAC Offensive Player of the Week
Cale Scott to run roughshod over no. 1 Oklahoma Wesleyan, picking up a 3-0 win on Wednesday night.
Leo Mautret and
Slobodan Novicevic added goals for the Black-and-Gold, with
Alex Neri recording four saves on the night to pick up his fourth shutout of the season.
A turnover in the first minute nearly proved disastrous for Ottawa, as Oklahoma Wesleyan was able to step between a pass on a Braves throw in and race downfield. After a cross from Ronardo Burgher was laid back, Chafik El Idrissi hit a low driving shot through traffic but Neri was well up to the challenge, diving to his right for the near post save.
Neri was again called upon in the ninth minute, as OKWU earned a free kick that was headed over the bar for a corner kick. On the inswinging ball from Nasreddine Benbella, Ottawa's netminder was able to elevate through the crowd and punch the ball clear of danger.
Ottawa earned its first solid chance of the match in the 12th minute, as
Simon Kindt was brought to ground near the right touchline 35 yards from goal. Scott swung a dangerous ball just short of the six-yard box, and after bouncing around it fell to the feet of Novicevic who blasted it at Marko Rodic. Rodic flailed to make the first stop, but the rebound bounced in traffic eventually falling safely into his hands.
Oklahoma Wesleyan was immediately up on the counterattack, but the commanding presence of Neri kept the Eagles off the scoresheet yet again. A well-timed long ball split Ottawa's back line and found Burgher in stride, but Neri sized up the situation perfectly and charged the Eagles attacker, forcing the shot just enough off target to hit the left post and drop for an easy clearance.
The Braves struck first in the 20th minute, as Oklahoma Wesleyan was whistled for a foul in the box following a great combination between
Tadeo Nunez and Natalucci. Nunez's cross was just over the head of Natalucci, but the returning All-American had drawn two OKWU defenders and Rodic to challenge him, with the ball falling to Scott in a dangerous spot. Left with no choice, Colon Valeriano tried to poke the ball away but clattered Scott to the ground.
Scott drilled it top shelf to put the Braves up 1-0, but didn't look to be content with just the one goal in the 20th minute as he broke free to collect a long pass and force Rodic into a diving parry.
Ottawa was able to withstand pressure from the Eagles and take a 1-0 lead into halftime and hold on through the opening minutes of the second half. Neri again came up huge with presence in the 65th minute, as a ball fell dangerously to Eguzki Hashimoto just in front of the six-yard box. Before Hashimoto could get the ball out from under his feet, Neri charged two steps, slid and wrapped the ball up confidently.
After earning a 68th-minute free kick 30-plus yards from goal on the left side of the field, Ottawa was able to find a way to double its lead through an anxious Eagles defense. Scott stepped up for the free kick, but as his outswinging effort appeared to be heading through danger an Oklahoma Wesleyan defender headed the ball over the endline for a corner.
Scott's first effort on the corner was headed right back to his feet, but his second attempt sailed over the crowd to the back post, eventually falling to the feet of Mautret for a well-earned finish.
Novicevic almost put the Braves up 3-0 in the 73rd minute, but his header was just over the crossbar for an Eagles goal kick.
He would make absolutely no mistake in the 87th minute, however, as the Braves capitalized on Oklahoma Wesleyan throwing numbers forward in desperation. After a foul in midfield, Rodic came well off his line to provide support, but his entry pass was cut out by Ottawa's back line to the feet of
Simon Kindt.
Kindt spotted Scott calling for the ball on the right and sent a long ball to the redshirt junior. Novicevic was in an offside position on the initial pass from Kindt, drawing no attention from OKWU's defense until it was too late. Scott dropped the ball back to Novicevic, whose shot rolled tauntingly into the goal despite Rodic getting a hand to it.
The Braves move to 3-0 in KCAC play for the first time since 2022, and will wrap up their three-match road swing on Saturday. Kickoff against Tabor is set for 7 p.m.
