Men’s Soccer Falls for the First Time in 2023 with Loss to (RV) Ottawa

BALDWIN CITY, Kan. – A couple of Braves goals in each half of Saturday's match handed the Baker men's soccer team its first loss of the 2023 season after (RV) Ottawa took a 4-0 result on Saturday night in Baldwin City.

Coming into the match unbeaten on the year, the Wildcats still outshot the Braves with a 19-14 advantage and earned six corner kicks, but couldn't find the back of the net for just the second time this season. Gyorgy Kamaras tallied a game-high seven shots with two of his coming on goal.

The Braves scored their first goal in the 32nd minute on a redirected ball in the box before notching their second score in the closing minutes of the first half on a strike from their freshman midfielder Zach Hammar.

Despite the scoreless outing, Baker kept the Ottawa keeper busy all night long, starting with Kaden Keller's header off a free kick in the 10th minute. Keller got a second chance later in the half on another free kick after finding himself with the ball around the 6-yard box, but the charging goalie was able to thwart his effort yet again.

Down 2-0 at halftime, the Wildcats came out of the break looking to trim into the OU lead with Axxel Chazaro-Lara registering a couple shots in the first 15 minutes following the restart. In the 71st minute, Kamaras was able to slip a shot through the legs of a Braves defender, but the keeper was there to make a blinded, diving stop.

Ottawa added to its lead with a goal in the 74th minute and tacked on its final score a few minutes later in the 76th to knock off a red-hot Wildcats squad.

After giving up just two goals all season, the BU defense was tagged for four goals in this one while the offense was held scoreless for only the second time this year.

With a 4-1-2 record, the Wildcats close out a fruitful non-conference schedule that saw them earn a pair of top-25 wins with victories over Northwestern Ohio and Hastings while also defeating (RV) Cumberlands (Ky.).

Up next, Baker opens up conference action with another ranked matchup as No. 11 William Penn comes to town on Saturday, Sept 16 with kickoff from Hartley Field scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

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