Currently sitting alone atop the KCAC standings with nine points and a 3-0 record, Ottawa men's soccer looks to extend its win streak to six as they finish a three-match road swing on Saturday at Tabor College. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. following a recent time change.

The Matchup

Ottawa has been solid in the all-time series against Tabor, winning 35 of the previous 47 matches with four draws. The Braves are currently on a four-match winning streak against the Bluejays and winners of seven of the last eight contests. Ottawa has been able to find net consistently during the current stretch, scoring 15 goals over four matches while allowing just four, including a 5-0 shutout win in 2024. The last consecutive wins for Tabor in the series date back to the 2012 season, when the Bluejays won both the regular-season and KCAC Tournament meeting between the teams, and the last extended stretch dates to the late 1990s.

Last Time Out

After opening the KCAC slate with a 2-0 record and facing Oklahoma Wesleyan as a national no. 1 for the first time since 2016 - a 3-0 loss - Ottawa earned a statement win on Wednesday night against the Eagles, as Cale Scott scored a goal and added two assists for a 3-0 road result.

Scott opened the scoring in the 20th minute, sending a penalty kick top shelf with authority to put Oklahoma Wesleyan on its heels, nearly adding a second barely 40 seconds later.

He created Ottawa's second goal in the 68th minute, with a seemingly harmless free kick that was headed out for a corner. As the ensuing kick was headed back to him, the redshirt junior found Antonio Natalucci on the back post for a quick touch pass to Leo Mautret for the finish.

Scott broke free to put the final nail in the coffin for the Eagles in the 87th minute, dribbling right after a long ball over midfield before crossing back to Slobodan Novicevic.

About Tabor College

Tabor is winless coming into Saturday's match, with an 0-4-2 overall record and an 0-2-1 record in league play. The Bluejays appear to be trying to turn the corner, earning a 2-2 road draw at Bethel on Wednesday after shutout losses to McPherson (4-0) and University of Saint Mary (2-0) to open the league slate.

Gael Zapeda, Noah van Walsum and Sebastian Kopper are the lone goalscorers for Tabor on the season. Ignacio Fabeiro has played all six matches on the season for the Bluejays, recording a 2.04 goals-against average across 528:14, accounting for a weather-shortened contest against USM. Fabeiro has a solid save percentage of .769 on the year.

In The Polls

Following an outstanding finish to the 2025 season, Ottawa debuted at no. 16 in the NAIA Men's Soccer Preseason Top 25 for 2026. The Braves were one of two KCAC squads in the top 25, joining no. 9-ranked Oklahoma Wesleyan. Despite a 1-0 upset over no. 3 MidAmerica Nazarene, Ottawa slid two spots in the first regular-season edition of the poll, landing tied for 18th. The Braves were joined in the no. 18 spot by free-falling LSU-Shreveport, which dropped 6 spots despite a 2-1 record then followed it up with a 4-4 draw against Oklahoma Wesleyan. Back-to-back wins returned Ottawa to the no. 16 spot this week. 

2026 STADIONIC NAIA Men's Soccer Coaches' Poll
Preseason - No. 16
Week 1 - No. 18-tie
Week 2 - No. 16
 

NAIA Defensive Player of the Week

For the first time since 2022, Ottawa saw a familiar name among the cascade of Tuesday emails from the national office, as Alex Neri was recognized as the NAIA Defensive Player of the Week for week 1. Neri was rock solid for the Black and Gold in Ottawa's 1-0 upset over no. 3 MidAmerica Nazarene, securing five saves including a game-changer in the 89th minute.

2026 NAIA Players of the Week
Week 1 - Alex Neri (Defensive)
 

KCAC Players of the Week

After seeing honors on the defensive side in the first week of action, Ottawa picked up a historic first last week as Cale Scott was named KCAC Men's Soccer Offensive Player of the Week for the second straight week. This is the first time for a Braves player to earn this honor in the past decade, and although our historical records are incomplete it is believed to be the first time in program history. Through seven games on the year, the Lawrence, Kan., product has scored eight goals (three gamewinners) which is better than half his career-high of 13 goals as a sophomore. And with four points (1 g, 2 a) against Oklahoma Wesleyan, he's making a strong case to make it three in a row.

2026 KCAC Players of the Week
Week 1 - Alex Neri (Defensive)
Week 3 - Cale Scott (Offensive)
Week 4 - Cale Scott (Offensive)

Send It Like Scott

Through the early part of the season, Ottawa has found solid offensive production throughout the front line, averaging better than two goals per game. And although much of the production has been through the run of play, Cale Scott has proven to be exceptionally dangerous on the free kick.

Twice this season, the redshirt freshman has drawn game-winning blood from free kicks in dangerous positions. Against then no. 3 MidAmerica Nazarene, Ottawa earned a free kick 20 yards from goal on the left corner of the 18-yard box. Scott delivered an inch-perfect curling ball inside the far post and out of the reach of MNU's goalkeeper.

Then against (RV) Baker, the Black-and-Gold earned a free kick on the right side of the 18-yard box, just inside 25 yards out. Scott was again inch-perfect, this time dialing top corner up and around a five-man wall for the Wildcats.

Welcome (Back) Home

After playing the past several seasons at AdventHealth Field, Ottawa returns to the Dick Peters Sports Complex for the 2026 season.

"We are excited to be returning home to Dick Peters Sports Complex," said head coach James Cottage. "Playing on a soccer specific field, a field that is longer and wider, it will really match what we're trying to achieve. We want to play with fast wingers that can get into one on one opportunities, but this field will help defenders as well."

In addition to the benefits for the team, the fan experience is also expected to be improved with the move to Peters.

"With the move, fans can be closer to the field and really get up close and be that extra bit of support for our team," added Cottage. "I want to make it feel like a home, a place where teams look at it and go 'Oh, we've got to go to Ottawa. We have to play on that big field and it's going to be a mess.' That's what we're looking for."