OTTAWA, Kan. - Although the Braves had the better chances in the second half, they were unable to find an equalizer against Avila, falling 2-1 on the afternoon.
Rylee Ringer was able to find net for Ottawa in the 31st minute, scoring her second goal of the season.
Avila came out pressing against Ottawa early, but
Makena Tapia was equal to the challenge on the first two efforts from Lydia Mannino, stopping a top-shelf effort in the 2nd minute and corralling her effort in the fifth minute.
The Eagles managed to take the lead in the ninth minute after earning a corner kick, as Cali Lasater collected a pass from Aubrie Henson and finished past Tapia.
Tapia kept Avila from doubling its lead in the 10th and 13th minute, stopping low driving efforts from Hope Hines.
Ottawa had a pair of chances to equalize over that stretch, with
Ellie Fitzpatrick missing just to the right of goal in the 12th minute and
Charlotte Gatehouse seeing her shot in the 14th minute blocked.
Lasater did manage to pick up a second goal for the Eagles in the 17th minute, as her first shot was stopped by Tapia but fell back to her feet for the finish.
Laura Quijada nearly made an impact shortly after checking in for Ottawa, forcing Jocelyn Zettergren into a save in the 19th minute, with Gatehouse following up with a chance low and to the left in the 25th.
The Braves earned a penalty kick in the 28th minute, as Avila's Korynn Perigrine was whistled for a foul in the box.
Melissa Grohmann stepped up to take the shot, but her effort hit off the front of the crossbar and bounced right back to the feet of Grohmann. Unfortunately, the second touch was whistled for an indirect kick for Avila.
Ottawa managed to pull one back in the 31st minute as Ringer challenged Zettergren for a loose ball, forcing a turnover just outside the 18-yard box. After eluding a defender to find space, Ringer put the ball in the net.
Cennet Donahue nearly found an equalizer for the Braves in the 32nd minute, forcing a low save by Zettergren.
After the halftime break, Donahue forced another save by Zettergren in the 56th minute.
Aside from a small group of chances around the hour mark, with
Lena-Marie Winkler up to the challenge in both the 59th and 62nd minute, Avila was content to possess and wait for Ottawa to press.
A corner kick in the 79th minute nearly paid dividends for Ottawa, as the ball fell to Gatehouse for a hard shot in the box. Her effort had beaten Zettergren but was cleared off the line by an Eagles defender.
Ellie Fitzpatrick also came close to leveling for the Braves in the 86th minute, forcing a diving save by Zettergren that was spilled to the left side but put just over the bar by Gatehouse.
Next for the Braves is a battle against McPherson College. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.
