For those of you who read the recap of the Charlotte match this week, you’ll notice that I had some thoughts on the Owls’ recent lack of scoring. Through three matches in the league, we’ve scored three goals. Through three matches in the US Open Cup, we’ve scored seven—but all of those were against USL 2 competition (ok…one looked more like MLS PAST PRO, but still). There is a distinct lack of finishing against our USL 1/C competition. It seems, as a wise coach once said, the hardest part of soccer really is just putting the ball in the net.
Thankfully as hard as it has been for us, it’s been even harder for our opposition. Rashid Nuhu and the Búho Backline has allowed all of two goals this year in all competitions. In those six matches, he’s saved 19 of the 21 shots that the defense has actually allowed to get through on goal. The defense looks more like the 2021 team that conceded only 22 goals in 28 games en route to the Shield and League Championship.
Between the positive and not-so-positive, I decided to ask Coach Dominic Casciato three questions to help put this early season into some perspective as we head into a very full May schedule.
*Note: All responses were received via e-mail. Quoted portions are presented as received.
First, I had to ask the obvious question about the statuses of Steevan Dos Santos, Blake Malone, and PC Giro, who have all missed the last two matches. Much to my delight, and the relief of Búho Nation, Coach confirmed that all three should be back in training this week.
This is good news, not only because of the goal involvements and ball control these three provide, but also because of the run of games we have coming up. Starting on May 1 with the Jäegermeister Cup tie against Northern Colorado, the Owls will see four games in 11 days. And if the Hailstorm don’t bother you (an Eamon Zayed coached team always should), or South Georgia Tormenta (don’t discount Bolt), there’s a little team called Sporting Kansas City followed three days later by a trip to a very good and well supported Spokane Velocity. By the end of the month, Union Omaha will have played as many games in May than in the first two months of the season combined.
The depth of this team hasn’t truly been tested the way it will be this month, and we’ll need all hands available to make sure we can withstand it with our league and cup positions intact.
Second, I had to address the giant Grey-and-Volt Owl in the room: our finishing. We’ve gone 210’ without scoring a goal (230’ if you count the final 20 minutes vs. One Knox) and with Dos Santos not in the team. I asked Dom if he was concerned about the lack of finishing in the last two games. I followed up with asking if this was a sign of how much Dos Santos meant to his attacking plans.
In his own words:
“Not concerned, no, because we’ve been creating high quality chances and getting into the right areas. If you look at how many touches we are getting in the opposition box, it’s more than anyone else – so we just need to make the most of those chances. Steevan is obviously a top player and very important for us, but we are confident that we will begin converting those chances with the quality of players we have available, with or without Steevan.”
While the stats don’t fully support us getting more touches in the opposition box than anyone else (20.7 per game vs. Spokane’s 26.8 per game), within our own games Dom is spot on. In all three league games, we’ve had the ball in the opponent’s area more than they’ve had it in ours—and usually significantly more. If you add in the El Paso Locomotive match, the ratio goes even higher (we outperformed them 41-15).
That has translated to a 71-29 shots advantage over USL 1/C teams this year. 42 of those shots have come from inside the box. The boss is right–we’re getting in really good areas to have create chances. The issue, as he alluded to, is making the most of those chances. Only 15 of those 71 shots (21.1%) has made it on target.
Not that Steevan would make that any better. His goal against One Knox was his fourth shot of the season in USL 1, and the first on target. Still, his holdup play and physical presence allowed his teammates to get in great positions, notably as he notched two assists in the win against Central Valley Fuego. He’s as much an enabler as he is a scorer, winning second balls in dangerous positions and setting up the others when he’s not teeing off himself.
So Dom’s logic holds that as amazing as Dos Santos has been for us across all competitions, he’s only a part of the quality that the Owls can bring to bear in attack. In reality, we’re one or two amazing saves from the likes of Austin Pack from not even having this conversation. So obviously, the problem isn’t one player’s absence—it’s getting more accuracy in shooting and constantly putting opposing keepers under pressure. That should come as time, and a consistent run of matches, goes on.
Finally, I had to ask about the amazing form that our defense has seen so far. A .33 goals against average in all competitions isn’t solely on Shido, as great as he has been at times this year. Additionally, we’re racked up three consecutive clean sheets across those competitions. I had to solicit some praise from Dom for our back line and how they’ve been able to lock down opponents.
Of course, he started by crediting the whole of the team:
“Yes, the backline and Rashid have been outstanding. Defending is a team effort so I’d praise our forwards first for their ability to maintain pressure on the opposition and not let them advance into dangerous areas too often. Then obviously our backline has done a good job on limiting the opposition’s chances to very few per game once the initial pressure has been broken. Then finally, Shido has come up huge and made some incredible saves when the opposition have managed to find a way past our backline.”
You don’t need to look to the stats to see what he’s talking about. From the first minute of a match, everyone up front is running and pressing in a controlled, deliberate manner. Rotations and coverage have been well-timed and are probably the best reflection of team chemistry of the lot. Several times a match you can watch the forwards force mistakes from a team playing out of the back.
If the ball does get past the initial press, the midfield has been there to step up. Pedro Dolabella has had to step in and help anchor that group with leaders like Conor Doyle and JP Scearce moving on this year. With him, Nortei Nortey, and help on the wings from the likes of Dion Acoff and Ryen Jiba, opposing attacks have found an unforgiving midfield when attempting to play through.
If the ball has to go over the top, Marco Milanese, Luca Mastrantonio, and Mechack Jérôme have been in good position to cut out the passes and get the second ball back to our midfield. Acoff, Jiba, and Malone (when healthy) have done extremely well using their speed to get back when needed to cut off what would normally be easy breakaways, odd-man advantages, and weird bounces that happen to put attackers in the way.
As Coach said, this has been a total team defensive effort, and why you see such an advantage in passing, shots attempted (and on target), and touches inside the box. 10 players—comfortable with each other, the system, and their jobs—are working like a pretty well-oiled machine despite the early season schedule issues.
Then, of course, if you can get past all of that, you still have to beat two-time Golden Glove/Goalkeeper of the Year, and our Captain, Rashid Nuhu.
Good luck with that.
Who Gives A Hoot? 