?We played well early in the game?and we knew that we had to because of the wind that day?but we lost some of our intensity in the second half,? coach Grant Brubacher said.
But the Bluejays mastered the lesson, and against Ottawa extended to 3-0 15 minutes into the second period on a marker by Dallas Pruitt from Silas Hibbs.
Ottawa scored twice during the final 10 minutes, but Aaron Schmucker and the Bluejay defense held on for the win.
For the women side, Tabor striker Jessica Burden scored seven goals to boost the Bluejays into a shot at the conference?s No. 1 team in the semifinal round of the KCAC playoffs.
?JB has been playing very well, and she really stepped it up a notch this week,? Brubacher said. ?Every game is important right now?if you win, you get to keep playing.?
Burden scored four times during Tabor?s 4-0 defeat of Friends Wednesday, Nov. 5.
She buried three more goals in Tabor?s 5-0 win over Bethany Friday. The Bluejays limited the Swedes to just four shots on goal, and Aubrey Whitehorn made every save.
?The defense has been very good this week, and Aubrey Whitehorn is playing exceptionally well during the most important games of the season,? Brubacher said.
Burden has totaled 13 goals on the season, and is tied for fifth among the conference?s leading scorers.
Coming?The Tabor women (8-10 overall, 5-4 KCAC) face Kansas Wesleyan (12-5-1, 9-0) at noon Friday at Ottawa.
If the Bluejays snap the Coyotes? nine-game winning streak, Tabor will play the winner of Ottawa-McPherson in the championship game at 5 p.m. Saturday at Ottawa.
The Tabor men face No. 2 seeded McPherson at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Ottawa.
A win would pit the Bluejays against the Kansas Wesleyan-Friends winner in the championship match at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Ottawa.