Union Omaha (10-10-5, 2nd Place) vs Greenville (11-6-8, 3rd Place)
All competitions: OMA (14-10-6) vs GVL (12-6-9)
Werner Park – Papillion, Nebraska
7:00 PM (CST) ESPN+
The Owls welcome the Triumph as the second and third placed clubs face off in a battle filled with playoff implications. The regular season series ends tonight at Werner Park with a 7 PM kickoff.
The Triumph look to reverse their recent run of form as they are winless in their last three. Those results have an added sting to the burn because only one of those clubs is currently above the playoff threshold. A win tonight would lift them back into the driver seat and enable them to control their own destiny, which at this point is a first-round bye in the playoffs. The Triumph had success in Omaha during their latest visit, so tonight could be a repeat of tactics, involving their stellar midfield.
When the Triumph take the field, head coach John Harkes will have a deep roster from which to choose. Up top, newcomer Jacob Labovitz has attracted a lot of attention and rightfully so – he’s scored 11 goals, has 50 shots, and 24 of those shots have been on target. He’s been a routine threat to defenses and goalkeepers this season. There are plenty of other noteworthy players on the team, but another player that continues to stand out is midfielder Allen Gavilanes. So far this season, he has 4 goals, 4 assists, 45 chances created, and has taken 36 shots, 21 of which were on target. They have a strong offense, a disciplined defense, and have displayed it time and time again this season.
Union Omaha wants to play another game as soon as possible and erase the recent memories of the Richmond game, which resulted in a 2-3 loss at home earlier this week. The Owls took the lead a couple of times, but then gave up a pair of goals late in the second half and saw their victory turn into a defeat. A win tonight will create a four-point gap between themselves and the Triumph, which would go a long way towards locking up a first-round bye in the playoffs. Despite recent results, the Owls have looked good on the ball and have shown a lot of positive energy. This team looks mentally strong enough to leave the past in the past and take on the next challenge.
The regular season series between these two has seen a scoreless draw, followed by a Greenville victory in Omaha earlier this season. As a result, the Green Belt has stayed in Greenville for most of the season. Tonight will be a chance for the Owls to win and keep the Belt in Omaha until the next meeting. Will the Owls and Triumph meet in the playoffs for the third consecutive season? If so, tonight will be a great preview to the game.
Make sure you get to Werner Park early today because the club is celebrating Oktoberfest. From 3-6 PM, a special Oktoberfest tailgate will be held in the parking lot. With it comes the Happy Players polka band, beer vendors, local food trucks, t-shirts, koozies, and a limited-edition stein. Come early to celebrate good times with good people and stay late to celebrate more good times with good people. Tonight’s game is another crucial step towards the playoffs, so fill the stands and be loud. As always…¡Viva Búhos!
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