BALDWIN CITY, Kan. - Closing out the road portion of its non-conference schedule against a team that has historically been a bit of a bogey, no. 18 Ottawa had reasons for concern after twice trailing at (RV) Baker. But equalizing goals by
Mateo Trigo and
Slobodan Novicevic set the Braves up for an 81st-minute game winning free kick by Cole Scott as the Black and Gold nabbed a 3-2 road win.
Ottawa controlled much of the early possession, putting together a couple of early chances from
Simon Kindt in the 10th minute and
Jevan Purcell-Jackson in the 12th.
The Wildcats were able to find the momentum through the middle of the first half, but ultimately the teams went into the break tied 0-0.
Shortly after the second half kickoff, Baker was able to open the scoring, drawing a foul just inside their attacking half. After collecting the quick restart, Noah Conover played a quick give-and-go with Bernat Amengual Servera then eluded a sliding tackle from a Braves defender before finding the left post just out of the reach of
Alex Neri.
Ottawa was able to survive a continued wave of pressure from the Wildcats, eventually turning the momentum in their favor as
Antonio Natalucci was able to earn a corner kick in the 55th minute with a hard volley, but the Braves were whistled for a foul after Scott's inswinger.
Trigo made a quick impact on the match after subbing on in the 65th minute, needing just 92 seconds to find the back of the net. Ottawa switched the ball across the field to the feet of
Drago Kecman, who quickly spotted Natalucci. Natalucci hit a square pass to Trigo, who lifted a lobbed pass to find Natalucci on the supporting run. As a trio of Wildcat defenders collapsed on Natalucci, Trigo's marker got caught watching as Natalucci found Trigo right in stride to beat Maxot Arystanov near post.
Baker managed to retake the lead in the 72nd minute with a solid buildup down the left side, but Trigo and the Braves refused to let go, equalizing again in the 76th.
Ottawa was in the midst of a quick transition that got broken up by the Wildcats, but the Braves maintained the pressure and forced an errant pass. As he was chasing down the pass, Trigo's defender went down with minimal contact hoping for a foul call but none was coming, leaving Trigo an easy pass to Novicevic for another near post finish.
Trigo nearly snatched the gamewinner in the 78th, as he was in a perfect spot as Kindt sent a cross back from the goal line, but Arystanov was able to palm the ball away for an Ottawa corner.
A handball whistled against Baker in the 81st minute set the Black and Gold up with a free kick 20 yards out from goal even with the right goal post. Seeing a five-man wall with Arystanov cheating far to his left, Scott dialed up an inch-perfect shot into the top corner to put Ottawa up 3-2.
Baker nearly found their first equalizer of the night in the 84th minute, as Conover cranked a shot off the left post that fell to the foot of Samuel Zelenka. Zelenka was able to get a touch to it that was partially deflected then emphatically cleared off the goal line by Leo Moutret.
Demonstrating the command of his area that earned him NAIA Defensive Player of the Week honors, Neri came up huge on three occasions over the final five minutes for Ottawa, cutting out dangerous entry passes in the 85th and 86th minute and making a diving stop on a long route-one pass from Baker in the 90th.
The Braves open their home schedule with their non-conference finale next Saturday, taking on Midland. Kickoff from the Dick Peters Sports Complex is set for 4 p.m.
