The Ottawa High School boys soccer players are not satisfied with a winning season. The Cyclones want to make a run in the playoffs.

The Cyclones closed the regular season Thursday with a 1-0 victory over Louisburg in Ottawa. It sealed Ottawa’s first winning season in several years.

The Ottawa High School boys soccer players are not satisfied with a winning season. The Cyclones want to make a run in the playoffs.

The Cyclones closed the regular season Thursday with a 1-0 victory over Louisburg in Ottawa. It sealed Ottawa’s first winning season in several years.

Ottawa (8-7-1) plays 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at Spring Hill in the first round of regional action.

The Cyclones and Spring Hill played two close matches in the regular season. The two teams had a 1-1 draw last week and earlier Spring Hill won 1-0.

Ottawa coach Daniel Nathan expects a defensive battle between the two Frontier League foes.

“[Scoring] will be few and far between,” Nathan said. “We have to keep playing our game. From here on, there will be no easy [matches].”

Ottawa’s level of play has risen a lot since the calendar turned into October. The Cyclones own a 2-1 win over defending state champion Kansas City Christian and lost 2-1 to state-ranked Baldwin, plus tied Spring Hill.

“It has been a lot of fun,” senior defender Wyatt Peters said of the late-season run. “Everybody has stepped up. It is coming together [at the right time].”

Ottawa’s 6-0 loss to Baldwin in late September was a low point in the season. The Cyclones regrouped and refocused since that match.

Peters said the players believe in each other and know they can make a run in the postseason.

“We have good communication from me to the team and within the team,” Nathan said. “It helps everybody. The seniors are our leaders. We have gotten stronger as the season gone along.

“We have had a lot of high points in the season.”

One of the highest was the win over Kansas City Christian.

Ottawa and Louisburg battled the cold and gusty wind on senior day. Louisburg had the wind at its back in the first half and kept the Cyclones scrambling on defense.

Ottawa sophomore keeper Alex Stepp came up with big saves just as he did against the No. 2 ranked Panthers earlier in the week.

“The goal keeper has really stepped up,” Nathan said. “He has some big saves against Kansas City Christian. He kept us in the game.”

Peters, who plays right in front of the keeper, said Stepp has played at an amazing level the past few matches and has been a vocal leader for the defense.

Ottawa sophomore Connor Stepp scored the only goal. Stepp was in the middle of the 18-foot box when a loose ball came to him. He fired it low and hard for the goal with five minutes remaining in the first half.

Peters said the wind was tricky. Ottawa had trouble moving the ball quickly against it and the wind pushed the ball away from Ottawa in the second half.

Ottawa continued its high-pressure defense, pushing the Louisburg forwards up to at least the midfield area. Louisburg attempted to beat Ottawa in the first half with passes over the top.

The Wildcats attempted to use possession in the second half. Neither worked well.

The Ottawa junior varsity tied 1-1 with Louisburg.

Gabie Guerrero scored Ottawa’s goal on a penalty kick.

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