Lincoln blanks Ottumwa 2-0 behind strong second-half surge
| 1H | 2H | T | |
|---|---|---|---|
| DES | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| OTT | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Des Moines Lincoln turned a tense, scoreless night into a confident 2-0 conference win at Ottumwa on Tuesday, breaking through early in the second half and never letting go. The decisive moment came when Abel Molina-Ordaz found the net off an assist from Xavier Keomany, giving the Rails the breakthrough they had been chasing after a tight opening half.
The first 40 minutes were hard-fought, with neither side able to crack the scoreboard. Lincoln changed the tone after halftime with a more aggressive approach, controlling possession and pushing Ottumwa onto its heels. That pressure paid off with Molina-Ordaz's opener, and the Rails added a second goal later in the half to create separation and close out an important road result in conference play.
Keomany again played a central role in the attack. The junior finished with a goal and an assist, adding to a strong season that now includes three goals and four assists. His playmaking helped unlock the match, and his finishing touch helped put it away, another standout effort from the team leader in points.
Lincoln also got a mature performance from freshman Jonathan Davila, who looked far beyond his years. Davila repeatedly helped the Rails keep possession and play out of pressure, a key factor in Lincoln's second-half control. Sophomore reserve Daniel Salih brought relentless energy off the bench and consistently pressured Ottumwa's back line. Salih even appeared to score a third Lincoln goal, but the play was waved off for offside.
The defensive work gave the Rails every chance to finish the job. Goalkeeper David Aguayo-Davalos made three saves to preserve the clean sheet, and coach Joe Sithonnorath praised his side's defending after the match. Lincoln won 50-50 balls, stayed sharp in tackles and kept a good Ottumwa team off the board, a complete team effort that made the trip home from Ottumwa a happy one for Lincoln.
The Rails move 3-1-1 on the season and 1-1 in conference. Lincoln returns to action on Thursday April 16th vs Roosevelt.
