COLUMBIA, Ky. – On Wednesday, the Indiana Tech men's soccer team traveled to Columbia, Kentucky for the First and Second rounds of the NAIA National Tournament. The Warriors were drawn into the Columbia bracket with Ottawa University (Kan.) and hosts Lindsey Wilson College (Ky.). Tech would play a first-round matchup with RV Ottawa on Thursday with the winner moving on to the second round to face #2 Lindsey Wilson on Saturday.
 
The Warriors, making their fifth straight national tournament appearance after winning their fifth straight Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference Tournament Title, have never played Ottawa before. The Braves made the tournament for the first time since 1971, after finishing 15-4-1 and runners up in the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference Tournament this season. In the game, both teams would take some time feeling each other out and getting used to the playing surface. The Warriors would control most of the first half, but neither side created any high-level scoring chances, as neither team wanted to make any costly mistakes. The game would remain level 0-0 at halftime. In the second half, Tech would continue to push forward trying to get the goal that could send them through to the next round. Then, just under ten minutes into the half, the Warriors would earn a penalty kick. In the 54^th minute Tech's Lucca Motta would become the hero, converting from the spot and putting the Warriors ahead 1-0. The Orange & Black knew one goal would be enough to escape with a win and would start to play more conservative, not allowing any chances for the Braves to get back into the game. However, the Warriors would face a scare with 19 minutes to go as the Braves would find the back of the net in what seemed like the tying goal. To Tech's relief, the offside flag went up from the linesman and the goal would not stand. The Braves would fight for their lives the final 20 minutes as the game would open up. The Warriors would fail to convert on a couple counter attacks and the game would remain 1-0 down the stretch. David Martinez would come up big for Indiana Tech in goal, making three of his four saves in the second half, as the Warriors would hang on to their 1-0 lead. Ottawa would create a chance with just over a minute remaining in the game, but the header would go just wide of the net. Ottawa would also win a corner with 30 seconds to go and after an Indiana Tech clearance, Ottawa would send the ball back into the box and get a header on goal, but Martinez would make the save in the final seconds, as the Warriors would survive the Braves, advancing into the second round!
 
Indiana Tech will now face hosts and No. 2 seed Lindsey Wilson in the second round on Saturday, November 18^th at 3pm est. with a spot in the last 16 and a trip to the final site on the line.