HILLSBORO, Kan. - After more than an hour of a tight-fought 0-0 battle, a second-half goal against the run of play proved too much for Ottawa to overcome as the Braves fell 1-0 to Tabor College on Saturday afternoon.
The first half was spent with each team probing, looking for weaknesses to exploit without a lot of success. The only genuine chance of the half came in the 20th minute, as Haley Rogers tested Ottawa's defense with a shot from distance. The curling shot looked as if it might beat a recovering
Makena Tapia, but
Kyndel Adams was able to clear it to safety.
Things were a bit more dynamic after the halftime break, as Ottawa was able to earn a corner kick in the 46th minute followed by a Tabor counterattack that resulted in a weak shot in the 47th.
Ottawa continued with the better of the chances, earning a free kick 35 yards from goal in the 50th minute.
Ella Stillings stepped up for the Braves, but her shot was just within reach of Neve Mulrooney.
Ellie Fitzpatrick nearly found net for Ottawa in the 53rd as the ball settled at her feet after pinballing around the midfield, but Mulrooney was once again able to cover.
But just as Ottawa appeared to be settling into a sustained pressure, keeping possession and pinning Tabor in its defensive half, the Bluejays snatched a turnover and a quick goal in the 63rd minute. Ottawa was recycling the ball through its backline to restart the attack, but as the ball was played forward a Tabor midfielder was able to sneak in and wrestle possession, with Soraya Mendoza picking out Haley Rogers on the run.
The Braves searched desperately for an equalizer, but Tabor was content to sit back and absorb the pressure.
Tabor nearly doubled its lead in the 73rd as Ottawa was whistled for a foul in the 18-yard box, but Tapia was able to parry the original shot from Haven Deckinger to her left then recover and save the rebound attempt from Margaret Bates.
Ottawa returns to Dick Peters Sports Complex on Wednesday, hosting Avila University. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.
