On February 18th, Union Omaha fans were intrigued to see a trialist listed among the goalscorers in the 3-2 preseason victory over Sporting Kansas City II.  Less than a month later, fans have learned his name and can soon buy his jersey.  On Tuesday, March 7th, Union Omaha signed forward Alex Steinwascher ahead of the 2023 season.

Steinwascher initially stepped into the limelight while playing collegiate soccer at the University of Indianapolis.  As a true freshman, he scored a goal in each of his first three games.  By the end of the season, he had amassed eight goals and five assists.  Of those eight goals, four were game-winners.  That trend continued throughout his time with the Greyhounds.  After four years with the university, he scored 38 goals, 13 of which were game-winners, and earned 25 assists.  Spanning across four years, Steinwascher started every match for the Greyhounds, except for one.  Among the plethora of awards and recognition he received were 2018 GLVC Co-Freshman of the Year, 2-time Academic All-GLVC, and 2-time GLVC Offensive Player of the Year.

After graduating from University of Indianapolis, Steinwascher played a year of collegiate soccer at Xavier while in graduate school.  He was able to start all 18 matches for the Musketeers, score 3 goals, and add 2 assists. 

Next up, Steinwascher took his talents to the Major Arena Soccer League, playing for the Milwaukee Wave.  In the 20 games that he played, he found the net 8 times and assisted his teammates on 7 other goals.

In Union Omaha’s press release, both Head Coach Dominic Casciato and General Manager Peter Marlette cited his work ethic in their quotes.

“Alex is a hard-working forward with a nose for goal,” Union Omaha Head Coach Dominic Casciato said. “He’s bought into our culture of putting the team first and impressed throughout our pre-season in both training and games. I’m delighted to add him to the group and watch him grow in his first professional season.”

“Alex is a hard-working forward,” Union Omaha General Manager Peter Marlette said. “I expect him to bring his teammates into the game and allow those around him to excel offensively, while also causing defenders problems himself. He had a great college career at Indianapolis and Xavier, and I’m looking forward to seeing him at this level.”

Steinwascher added his own quote to the press release, saying, “Union Omaha has been a very welcoming place, and I’m looking forward to my time here.  Let’s make this year a long and enjoyable year!”

With his addition to the roster, Union Omaha has 21 players, 4 of which are forwards.  The 2023 season is less than three weeks away, so make sure you have your season tickets purchased and don’t miss out on any of the action.  There are still a few signings remaining for this season’s roster, so make sure you like, subscribe, and follow Who Gives A Hoot for all of the latest Union Omaha content.  You can find those links below.  As always…¡Viva Búhos!

In his rookie season with Union Omaha, Joe Brito had finally achieved his goal of playing soccer at the professional level.  He dazzled fans with his footwork, scared defenders with his unpredictability and awed everyone watching his attempts on goal.  To Joe, this was nothing new.  Since he was 12 years old, he knew he wanted to be a professional soccer player.  No, not like the rest of the kids in the classroom who announced their dreams as if it was the flavor of the week.  Brito could see the future.  He knew what he wanted, he had a plan to make it happen and he simply took the steps needed to make it happen.  Even today, Brito speaks with the certainty of a man who has it all figured out.  And to think, all it took was one massive loss in a youth soccer match to jumpstart his success story.

Brito grew up in Bolton, Connecticut, a town with less than 5,000 people and about a 15-minute drive east of Hartford.  Soccer wasn’t big there and development wasn’t taken as seriously at the time, but he still signed up to play with his local program, Oakwood Soccer Club.  Even then, Brito wanted to play professionally.  It was a seed planted in the dark recesses of his mind, waiting for the right moment to sprout.  That seed lay dormant until the fateful day when his club team lined up against the New York Red Bulls academy team.  “They destroyed us 10-0 or something like that,” Brito said.  “And that’s when I knew I had to move on to an MLS academy,” he continued. “And that’s where I wanted to be: playing professional soccer.”

After seeing him play a few times, the New England Revolution invited him to be a part of their Under-14 squad.  Brito was brought in as a midfielder, well within his wheelhouse, but then he received the surprising news.  “I was a lot smaller than everybody, so I played a lot of left wing and right wing,” Brito revealed.  “Once I became around Under-16, I started getting shots inside the middle.”  It should come as no surprise that his successes improved after that move.  “They started giving me chances there and I started to succeed.”  Even in his adolescence, Brito’s ambitions were well ahead of his physical development.  Once the pieces started falling into place, so did Brito’s rate of success.

During his time with the Under-18 squad, Brito was invited to travel with the Revolution’s first team to Arizona for preseason training.  “That was a great experience because playing with [the first team], there’s nothing like it,” Brito recalled.  “The speed of play, the physicality and everyone’s soccer IQ is really high.”  He followed that up by saying, “That’s something you can’t really replicate playing against kids your age, obviously.  That helped me to take a lot of valuable steps forward and prepare me for college and so forth.”

Upon his return to the east coast, it wasn’t long before he was traveling with other Revolution academy players to showcases in Florida and Texas, where plenty of college scouts were watching intently.  “You’d see basically the whole sideline filled with college scouts,” Brito said.  “After that, you get coaches interested in you and they reach out to you,” he added.  Luckily, the Revolution academy coaches helped him find the right fit:

“I would have college coaches reach out to me and I would reach out to the academy director and ask him, ‘Is this a good school?  What do you think of this coach and would it fit me?’  And he was good about telling me, ‘You don’t want to go here. This isn’t going to suit you. This isn’t going to push you to the next level.’ And he would tell me when it would be a good fit for me.”  One of those schools that turned out to be a great fit for him was the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and Head Coach Kevin Langan acted quickly to sign Brito.

“We spoke to his coaches up there and spoke with US Soccer folks, as well,” Langan said.   “They all had incredible things to say about him.”  Langan elaborated on some of those initial attributes that caught his attention, “The main thing was his level-headedness.  He wants to influence and impact the games.”  He could tell that Brito didn’t bring a disruptive ego with him, either.  Even better – he brought a passion for the game.  “He’s such a quiet guy, but as soon as the ball rolls out, he just comes to life,” Langan added.  “His eyes spark up and he just lets his play do the talking for him.”

Head Coach Langan knew he was adding a special player to his roster, but what followed was a page taken directly from a book that Brito was altogether too familiar with: switching from a central midfielder to a winger.  “When he first joined, I think physically, and I think Joe would admit that as well, he had the aerobic capacity to keep running,” Langan expressed.  “Physically – maybe not quite ready for the college to Under-23 level.  But again, he’s such a good player.”  That was the issue, though: giving him minutes and developing him while not jeopardizing his career with injuries.  “We wanted to get him on the field, so we played him on the left side of the midfield and allowed him to cut in on a more favored right.”  That decision paid dividends for the Forty Niners, as Brito would go on to score 4 goals and earn 16 assists in his freshman year.

Brito’s first two years were spent as a fixture on the left flank.  In those two years, he was able to tally 7 goals and 22 assists.  Those were his best statistical years while at UNC-Charlotte, as far as scoring goals and earning assists, but Brito will tell you those weren’t even his best years.  During his junior year, he was moved to the middle and this is where he felt his level of play excelled.  “My stats weren’t the greatest because I was playing more of a six [central defensive midfielder], but I was just playing the best soccer I played and consistently.”  From his junior year through his COVID senior year, Brito would continue to pad his stat sheet, scoring 9 goals and adding 13 assists.  This was also the same time that Brito was gaining even more confidence in his chances to play professionally.

Head Coach Langan felt confident in Brito’s playing abilities, even while recruiting him, and could tell he had the qualities to make him fit in amongst the professional ranks.  “We know he’s going to work hard,” Langan said.  “We know he’s going to work at his game. He was humble enough to take on information and work on it. He didn’t have this huge ego that was going to be a barrier to him learning and he also had that deep passion to be a pro, as well.”  Being that Brito has a Portuguese lineage, Langan even urged Brito to get his Portuguese passport.  “We told him to go get his Portuguese passport,” he advised.  “That way he could open up avenues for him to go play in Portugal and Europe, where there’s just obviously more soccer opportunities at any level.”  Langan added, “So get a degree and then put your cleats in the trunk and go anywhere in the world.”

After graduating from UNC-Charlotte, Brito set his sights on invitationals and combines, whatever would allow him to get more eyes on himself.  He knew he was a good player and he knew that he could play against professionals, but the very nature of those combines was tough.  “You’re going and playing with players you don’t know and you don’t know what the coaches are looking for,” Brito expressed.  He even told a story about the combine at which he met former Union Omaha Head Coach Jay Mims:

“On the third day, I had a really good game. I scored a couple goals and had some assists and after that I talked to Jay and then we kept in contact.  But actually, at that combine, I became really good friends with Eddie Gordon. That’s where I first met him. He was there, so I met him. He introduced me to Jay and then he took my phone number and then later that week he called me and invited me to their combine and then the rest was kind of history.”

Coach Langan helped spread the word about Brito to any professional coaches that would listen and he had one message that he wanted to get across the most.  “Joe grows on you. You see him every single day at continuity in his game – that consistency.  He’s extremely robust. I literally can remember, I think, one injury in four and a half years that kept him out for two weeks and that’s because I made him stop,” Langan professed.  “At his worst, he’s a 7 out of 10. At his best, he’s a 10 out of 10. So, for the pro coaches, you’re not going to see the best Joe Brito in a combine. He’s not the biggest, strongest, or fastest player, but I guarantee – let him come into preseason and by the fourth day, you’re signing.”  Those words fell onto the ears of Jay Mims, too.  Mims brought Brito in for preseason and he was signed shortly afterwards.

Even as Brito was suiting up and playing as a professional, he showed no signs of intimidation in that moment.  “I felt pretty comfortable with it, to be honest,” Brito disclosed.  “I think going from playing college to that next level, just in training, helps you adapt to the speed of play.”  In his opinion, taking the step into playing college soccer was a more difficult process.  “I felt like I needed a bigger adjustment going from academy to college.  I remember my first college preseason game. I was like, ‘Wow, this is tough.  I don’t have much time on the ball and everyone’s very physical and really athletic.’”

As Brito reminisced about his first year as a professional soccer player, he was secure in his contributions.  “I felt very comfortable on the ball and I had the ability to make game-changing plays out there,” Brito asserted.  Even while discussing his first year, he quickly turned his attention toward areas of improvement for himself, already devising a plan to address those perceived weaknesses.  He’s not a player that dwells on the past.  He even recognized the fact that he’s working in the entertainment industry and feeds off the energy from the crowd.  As he described his first match in front of Union Omaha fans, he said, “…that was my first time playing with a professional fan atmosphere, so it’s almost like an entertainment mindset.  While you’re playing, you’re not just playing to win, but you’re playing to entertain the fans, so they carried me through the game and I think that was probably one of my best games last season.”

It’s clear that Brito has big expectations for himself, too.  Listening to his off-season and preseason preparations is like listening to someone list off a never-ending to-do list, except his items aren’t overly self-critical.  He knows his limits, he knows his weaknesses, and he knows exactly how he’s going to go about addressing them in such a way that he’ll experience more success in the coming season.  He fully admits he’s not done and not settling.  He’s focused on the future, improving his play and setting himself up to climb the next rung on that ladder of success.  That’s the kind of leadership he brings.  Coach Langan noticed it, too.  “…such a serious young man.  So serious about his soccer.”  He followed that statement with, “Joe just led by example.  Just a role model for everyone to follow.”

Outside of helping the team win this year, Brito has a similar, yet slightly different motivation for this season.  “I think just going out there and proving myself, again,” Brito said.  “Because I feel like last year, I was out there to prove myself that I can play at this level and I think going back there and having to do it again just shows that you belong and that you can keep moving up and playing at higher levels.”  That seriousness and businesslike manner in Brito’s statements shows his focus and determination ahead of the 2023 season.  Coach Langan wants to see a different angle to Brito’s play this season.  “He doesn’t need to be out there with something to prove.  He needs to be out there just loving the game.  Just having fun, a smile on his face, just trying things. That’s when you see the best Joe.”

Even now, Brito is looking into the future is prepping for his next step. In this case, that next step involves coaching. “When I’m in Omaha, I do it as a side gig,” Brito began. “I coach kids from the local area to Omaha and I’ll do one-on-one training sessions.” This was the first time in our chat where he seemed to put a limit on these expectations. “I can see it one day, but it’s hard to think that far in advance when I’m trying to focus on my soccer playing career because it just began.” He didn’t remove it from becoming a possibility. At one point in discussing this topic, he even mentioned a particular enjoyment in coaching youth players. “I enjoy it and I think I’m pretty good at it.” Until he revisits that sense of purpose, he’ll direct his entire focus on his playing career.

The opening whistle to the 2023 season will be sounding soon and with it, we’ll see the fruits of those off-season labors. With the full faith and confidence of his teammates, his coaching staff, and his fans, Brito will be ready. That’s a certainty. His 12-year-old self knew he would be. The only uncertainty in this situation is how bright he’ll shine. Preparation is about to meet opportunity (again), so sit back and enjoy the show.

It was another exciting Tuesday for Union Omaha, as the club announced the signing of 18-year-old defender Anderson Holt.  His signing is the third as a club academy player, following Yoskar Galván and Jaime Ponce ahead of the 2021 season.

Holt started his pursuit for the professional ranks at the age of 15 years old, where he trekked across the Atlantic and joined Talent Projekt in Germany.  The program is an all-inclusive, year-long immersive experience for young players to contend with elite squads and increase the intensity of their development.  During his time in the program, Holt was able to take the field against top Bundesliga academy squads.  Last season, Holt played for Queensboro FC II and helped the squad reach the USL Academy Cup.

In the club’s press release, Union Omaha Head Coach Dominic Casciato, General Manager Peter Marlette, and Anderson Holt all contributed quotes.

“Anderson is a talented young player that could go on to have a great career in the game if he continues to focus on the key things he needs to do to improve,” Union Omaha Head Coach Dominic Casciato said. “It’s tough to find young left footed center backs with his quality and desire to learn, so I’m looking forward to helping him develop as he takes his first steps in the professional game.”

“Anderson is exactly the type of player we hope to sign to an academy contract,” Union Omaha General Manager Peter Marlette said. “He has all the tools to become a successful professional and the ability to contribute to our team this season. I can’t wait to see him develop over the course of this season and am excited for his future.”

“I am delighted to sign here at Union Omaha and continue my journey with this team,” Holt said. “It’s exciting to join a team with such a strong fan base and rich history.”

Holt’s signing brings the 2023 Union Omaha roster up to 20 players, with a total of 8 players contending for starting positions on the defensive side.  The season is less than a month away, so stay tuned for all of the latest Union Omaha content.  Whether it’s the latest podcast episode, data dives, or other articles, Who Gives A Hoot has you covered.  Make sure to like, follow, and subscribe to all of our social media accounts listed below:

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The 2022 Union Omaha season had ended and players were having their individual end-of-season recap meetings with the technical staff.  Players entered and players exited, all receiving their offseason assignments.  Some players left the clubhouse with a sense of uncertainty, not knowing if they were going to wear the crest again next season.  One player, in particular, left with a sense of renewed determination and resolve that 2023 would be his season to make a big impact on the club: Yoskar Galván.

“[Assistant Coach] Bobby [Murphy] said it best, ‘There’s 18 and 19 year olds doing the same thing you’re doing right now and it’s possible for you to do it,’” Galván said.  “‘It’s possible for you to be playing at a high level, even at the age you are because people do it.  There’s a lot of people doing it.’”

Galván’s road to success was filled with more potholes than an Omaha street in the springtime.  Unlike the literal potholes, the young midfielder’s hazards were created in his mind.  With the support of those around him, coupled with his courage to battle that inner monologue, Galván was able to experience success and have fun along the way.

Growing up in Lexington, Nebraska (population: 10,360), Galván didn’t have a lot of options in the way of club soccer, so his dad opened that door for him.  “When I was younger, he started the first club team…” Galván explained.  “…the whole reason why I started playing was because of my dad,” he said.  “I didn’t feel like I had enough in me.”  Despite that, and his dad’s busy work schedule, the two found time every day to train.  “He didn’t have enough time to take me to train or do anything, but he’d always make that little hour or two a day to take me out and train on the field,” he stated.  Their shared love of the game and devotion to training allowed young Galván to gain exposure, but adolescent growth spurts would soon become his next road hazard.

Even while playing at Lexington High School, Galván could see how the pile was stacked against him.  “I was never the tallest, I was never the strongest and so I had a lot of problems,” Galván revealed.  “I hadn’t grown into my body enough at the time.”  Instead of focusing on the disadvantages, Galván began to think of ways around his new obstacles.  “I was able to use those first two years of high school to really see that I can actually play with people that are stronger and faster than me because I can read the game a little better,” he explained.  “I took that time because when you’re short and not really physically capable of doing that, you have to figure out a little cheat code to help you out on the field.”  His new mindset and physical abilities began to turn heads, including that of former Union Omaha Head Coach Jay Mims.

During Galván’s junior year of high school, he was invited to a trial by Mims.  “He asked a lot of players to go and trial,” Galván said.   “I did really well with a friend of mine.  We were two of the chosen ones on the team to go and that’s where he started noticing me a little bit.”  Soon, a collection of players were taken to a tournament in San Antonio.  “I did pretty much everything I was supposed to do in that game,” he revealed.  “At the end of the whole tournament, he told me, ‘Yeah, we should keep in contact.’”  Over the next two years, Galván would continue to play with his club team in Gretna, as well as his high school team, and waited for the opportunity to play for Mims again.

Out of the blue, Galván received a text from Mims.  “He texted me and asked if I wanted to train with him,” Galván explained.  “I trained with him for three days and then he asked me if I really wanted to play and if I wanted to do something like this.”  It didn’t take long for him to respond to the question.  “I told him that, yeah, it’s been something I’ve been wanting to do since I was a little kid, so he offered me an academy contract and that’s when I signed it.”  As he signed the contract, Galván became the first academy signing for Union Omaha.

When asked how it felt to have the contract placed in front of him, a giant smile appeared along with a deep breath.  “It was crazy,” Galván recollected.  “I wasn’t working at the time, so I just had $20.  I went, sat down…and called my parents.”  The reaction to the news from his parents was understandably positive, mixed with a dose of realism.  “My dad was super happy and he was like, ‘Yeah, you have to take this,’” Galván said.  “My mom, on the other hand, asked, ‘Does this mean you’re going to quit school?’”  Luckily, Union Omaha’s partnership with Bellevue University allowed him to pursue an education while competing as a professional athlete.

His first season with the Owls was in 2021 and his first days in the locker room at Werner Park were in wonderment.  “At first, it was nerve-wracking, obviously, because I didn’t know what I was signing up for,” Galván explained.  “I had so much pressure on myself.”  He also elaborated on what it felt like to be in the professional environment as a new player.  “I was kind of star struck because I’ve seen a lot of pro teams train, but I’ve never been a part of that environment,” he confided.  “I met a lot of the players and they were really nice people…and they’ve been a big help.”  Being a part of the new environment pulled back the curtain on the industry, as well.  “It kind of woke me up and told me, ‘Yeah, this is not something we just come to do.”  Even the acclimation to his new career was a process for Galván, though.

In the beginning, he admitted to playing it safe.  “The first few training sessions, I didn’t really try to do too much,” Galván confessed.  “I wouldn’t try to keep the ball at my feet because I just felt, ‘Oh my God.  If I do, they’re going to get mad at me.’”  The other players on the team noticed and encouraged him to play with more confidence.  “It wasn’t until three or four weeks in that some of my teammates told me, ‘You should take more chances.’”  He explained that “…at the end of the day, you have to take risks to get a reward.”

Even socially, Galván revealed that he played it safe in his first year with the club.  “In the mornings, I just kind of sat in my locker and didn’t talk to anyone,” Galván said.  “That’s not really me.  I like to talk to everyone, but I just didn’t feel comfortable.”  With the help of teammates, like John Murphy, Ricky Rivera, Damià Viader, and Greg Hurst, he was able to come out of his shell.  “Greg talked to me a lot and I think, from everyone who was there, he was the person that kind of got me into the group,” he said.  “Fast forward to this past year, I would always get [to the locker room] and I’d always be the one talking…”

The 2021 League One season ended on a high note for Union Omaha, capturing the regular season title and defeating Greenville Triumph in the Championship.  Galván shared a funny story from the celebrations that night.

After the trophy had been lifted in front of the fans, the team took their celebrations to the locker room.  “Everyone was partying and I was just sitting there.  Obviously I’m too young to do any of the alcohol,” Galván said.  When the players embraced the public for more celebration, Galván finally remembered an important detail to the day: an upcoming deadline for homework.  “I was chilling and then I remembered midway through the whole thing, like ‘Oh my God!  I have an essay due,’” he revealed.  “I sprinted into my apartment, got on my computer and started typing right away.”

Fast forward to the end of the 2022 season, Galván confessed to still struggling with hyper-focusing on his faults.  “I was too focused on all of my weaknesses,” Galván revealed.  “I was really hammering that into my head.”  In that end-of-season individual meeting with the coach staff, they redirected his thinking to a more positive tone.  “[Head Coach Jay Mims] asked me, ‘What do you think your strengths are?’ I told him my strengths and he said, ‘I completely agree.’”  He elaborated more on what Mims told him in the meeting.  “‘You used them against some teams, but you didn’t use them against all of them.  You have to be more confident in yourself’.”  Despite not playing as many minutes as he would’ve liked, Galván revealed a special message from the coaching staff.  “[Mims] said they kept me here because they know I have the potential to reach the level they think I should reach.”

Being such a young player within the club, Galván recognized that many see him as the future of the club, but he showed how he’s able to temper those expectations with his own desires.  “I’ve always envisioned myself going farther than I possibly can and just push the team forward,” Galván revealed.  “I’ve never looked at myself and been like, ‘I’m going to be a star.’  No, I’ve always looked at myself and been like, ‘I’m going to play and I’m going to have fun.’”  He extended this vision out far enough to include the fans, as well.  “I hope that while they see me play, that everyone that’s watching is having fun, too.”

As for the 2023 season, Galván isn’t holding back on his goals for the season.  When asked if he sees himself contending for Young Player of the Year, he didn’t stop there.  “Yeah, that’s always a goal of mine, if not Player of the Year,” Galván added.  “If I have the opportunity to contend for the MVP every year, then I’ll contend for it.”  He also revealed a few other goals for the upcoming season.  “I want to start as many matches as I can, first of all,” Galván began.  “…to score my first professional goal…and even my first assist, too.”  As for the team goals, he said, “Just to go back to [my] first year…and win a championship with the team.”  He then quickly added, “…and just enjoy every second of it.”

Just after this, the discussion turned toward the possibility of getting called up to the U-20 Guatemala National Team leading up to the U-20 World Cup this summer.  “No, it’s not my main goal, but it’s one of my biggest goals.”  Galván has been in contact with the Guatemalan soccer federation, so it’s entirely possible he’ll be called up again and Union Omaha fans could cheer him on as he competes in Indonesia this summer.

Galván couldn’t hold back talking about the 2023 season without talking about the fans.  “The thing that resides in my heart is that the fans are pretty much what push me and give me that fighting spirit.”  He even reflected on past matches involving poor performances.  “We didn’t play very well sometimes, but because of the fans, we had the burst of energy and opportunities that we scored and scored and scored.”  He summed up the support by saying, “It’s the best feeling you can have during a game.”

Despite playing at a high level of soccer, his biggest opponent seems to be his own criticism.  Even then, he seems to be vanquishing those thoughts, as well.  His teammates have established a healthy environment for him to grow as a player, he’s maturing as a person, and he has the support of his club and it’s fanbase.  The future is bright for Galván and he knows it:

“I actually have a lot of good things going for me.”

Union Omaha continued its ownership of Tuesday announcements, releasing the news of two more signings – midfielder Joe Gallardo and defender Alexis Souahy.  Both players bring experience from abroad, as well as years within the USL umbrella.

Joe Gallardo started his pro soccer career in 2012 with Mexican club Monterrey’s youth program and quickly gained enough attention to be called up to the US U-17 Youth National Team the very next year.  Within five years, Gallardo was back in America and playing for Orlando City B.  His biggest break came in 2019, playing for USL League One club Richmond Kickers, where he earned a spot on the League One First Team at the end of the season.  The San Diego native has over 50 league appearances in his senior career, with 7 goals to his name in league play and over 20 goals if you include his international career.

“Joe’s a talented player that’s gained some great experience here and in Mexico over the last few years,” Union Omaha Head Coach Dominic Casciato said. “He’s versatile, has good technical quality and is eager to make his mark again in League One after being named an All-League selection back in 2019 with Richmond. He’s young enough to still have room to grow and improve before he reaches his peak, so I’m excited to see what he brings to our team this season.”

“Joe is a creative player who is so dangerous when running with the ball,” Union Omaha General Manager Peter Marlette said. “He’s going to be a constant threat and I think our fans will love what he brings to our game.”

“I’m super excited to be joining this organization, and I’m ready to give it all for the crest of this team,” Gallardo said.

The Owls also announced the signing of Alexis Souahy on Tuesday.  The Comoran international made 18 appearances with Notre Dame College before finishing his college career at Bowling Green with over 50 appearances with the Falcons.  Souahy’s pro career has taken him from Le Havre, France to Flint, Michigan before earning a roster spot with USL Championship club Louisville City FC.  While with the club from 2018-2021, he was able to amass 82 appearances and won the USL Championship trophy in 2018.  Souahy is no stranger to winning championships, as he also won the USL League Two Championship with Flint City in 2016.  Last season, Souahy played in 24 matches with New Mexico United, losing to Sacramento Republic in the Western Conference Quarterfinals.

“Alexis is a player that I’ve seen a lot of over the last few of years, playing at Louisville under John Hackworth and Danny Cruz, and then with New Mexico United last season,” Union Omaha Head Coach Dominic Casciato said. “He’s an experienced defender that’s won the USL Championship, and he brings great leadership qualities to our locker room. I’m looking forward to seeing the impact he makes both on the field and in our community this season.”

“Alexis is a proven winner and an experienced pro in USL,” Union Omaha General Manager Peter Marlette said. “On the field, in the locker room and in the community, he makes us a better team. I’m excited we were able to get this deal done.”

“I’m very excited to join the club and the team!” Souahy said. “I’m looking forward to meeting the fans, teammates and coaches and to have a great season!”

Union Omaha’s 2023 roster is now up to 19 players.  The roster is generating a lot of excitement and the hype is building.  Don’t miss out on any content from Who Gives A Hoot.  Whether it’s new articles or podcast episodes, we’ll keep you up to date on all of the latest Union Omaha news.  Make sure to “like”, “follow”, and “subscribe” to all of the links below for all of the latest content.  As always…¡Viva Búhos!

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On Tuesday afternoon, Union Omaha continued to excite fans by announcing the signing of two players for the upcoming 2023 season.  Center forward Steevan Dos Santos and defender Sebastian Sanchez were revealed as new members of the roster.  Both announcements give Búhos Nation reason to celebrate, one for an established history of excellence and the other with a very promising future ahead of him.

Steevan Dos Santos is a proven competitor in the USL Championship landscape, with stops at Rochester Rhinos, Ottawa Fury FC, Pittsburgh Riverhounds, and Tampa Bay Rowdies.  Each club allowed Dos Santos to experience both personal and club success, as he was a part of the 2015 Rochester Rhinos who won the regular season and playoff title.  At Ottawa, Dos Santos was regularly recognized as a top offensive threat in the Eastern Conference.  In the combined 85 appearances between Pittsburgh and Tampa Bay, Dos Santos scored 31 goals and earned 4 assists.  The 6’4” Cape Verdean terrorized defenses with his aerial challenges.

In the club’s press release, Head Coach Dominic Casciato and General Manager Peter Marlette offered their excitement for the signing.

“I’m delighted to have brought in a proven goal scorer like Steevan,” Union Omaha Head Coach Dominic Casciato said. “His record speaks for itself. He’s a player I’ve tracked for a long time and comes highly recommended from Neil Collins at the Tampa Bay Rowdies, where he has been competing at a high-level day-in and day-out for the last couple of seasons. I am sure our fans will love the impact he will make on our front line, and I’m looking forward to seeing his experience and quality come into our locker room as we build a united group this pre-season.”

“Steevan is exactly the type of player we set out to find at the beginning of the offseason,” Union Omaha General Manager Peter Marlette said. “He’s an experienced goal scorer with the physicality and ability to give League One defenders serious problems. I expect him to not only score goals himself but also allow the players around him to find the net often.”

Steevan Dos Santos even included a short, but enthusiastic quote to the press release.  “I’m very excited to be a part of the team!” Dos Santos said.

The second signing of the day included Sebastian Sanchez, a 19 year old defender from Akron, Ohio.  While still signed on with USL Championship club Louisville City FC, he’s being loaned to Union Omaha for the 2023 season, with his home club retaining the rights to recall.  After having spent time in Louisville City’s academy program, Sanchez was loaned out to South Georgia Tormenta last season.  Sanchez returned from his loan just in time to make his professional debut in a USL Championship match against Rio Grande Valley FC.  In 2022, Sanchez was named to the USL Academy League Finals All-Tournament Team.  Just a year before that, he was named as a Kentucky All-State selection while at Ballard High School.

Head Coach Dominic Casciato was appreciative of the loan spell from Louisville City FC.  “Sebastian is a talented young player that joins us on loan for the season from a top USL Championship club in Louisville City,” Union Omaha Head Coach Dominic Casciato said. “Seb has been in a changing room that knows how to win, and he has a great mentality, so I’m looking forward to seeing him compete with our more experienced center backs over the course of the year. We’re thankful to Danny Cruz at Louisville for sending Sebastian to us as he enters an important phase of his career.”

General Manager Peter Marlette expressed his excitement for the loan this season.  “Sebastian has incredible pedigree as a young player,” Union Omaha General Manager Peter Marlette said. “He’s coming to us from one of the best clubs in all of USL, and like them, we see a lot of potential in him.”

Sanchez recognized Union Omaha’s championship-winning history in his quote for the press release.  “I am super excited to get started with Union Omaha!” Sanchez said. “I can’t wait to help the Owls fight for another championship!”

Union Omaha’s preseason schedule kicks off in less than two weeks, which can only mean more announcements to come.  With each update from the club comes more content from Who Gives A Hoot, so like, follow, and subscribe for more content straight to your inbox and homescreen.  Check out all of the links to our social media accounts below to make sure you’re caught up on all of the latest content from Who Gives A Hoot.  As always…¡Viva Búhos!

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Union Omaha’s ritualistic Tuesday announcements brought with it an additional surprise: not one player signing, but two.  Defenders Junior “El Buffalo” Palacios and Stefan Mueller were both announced as new signings to the 2023 Union Omaha roster.

Junior Palacios joins the club as a right back, with possible appearances as a center back and defensive midfielder.  Having signed with the Owls, this will be his first professional experience playing with a club outside of the state of Florida.  He’s had stops at the Fort Lauderdale Strikers (NPSL), Boca Raton FC (NPSL), Florida Soccer Soldiers (UPSL), and Miami FC (USL Championship).  With over 52 combined appearances among the clubs listed, not including US Open action, Palacios is proving himself to be a battler with plenty left in the tank.

When you watch his highlight video below, Palacios is predominantly seen playing at right back, though he does show necessary skills to play in the middle of the field. The Colombian has good instincts when he has the ball at his feet – composure, guarding the ball from pressure, and a good first touch. Playing primarily as a right back, when he advances up the field, he’s not a strict to-the-corner attacker. The film shows that he’s more than willing to move the ball inside, claim ground in the middle of the field, and even go at defenders. Another aspect to look out for in the film is his ability to scan the field while the ball is at his feet. He doesn’t stare at the ground or the defender’s feet, he has his chin up, scans the field, and looks for opportunities to combine with his teammates. He has a balanced arsenal of good decision making, too. He has good instincts for when it’s good to pass, dribble, create with teammates, and likes to serve low, driven ground passes up the field to attackers. He doesn’t waste a lot of time looking back or to his side to settle the ball and swing the ball across the backline. He wants to drive the ball up the field and include his teammates every step of the way.

In Union Omaha’s press release, Head Coach Dominic Casciato mentioned a long-standing eagerness to work with Palacios.  “Junior is an experienced player that’s been on my radar for a couple of years now,” Union Omaha Head Coach Dominic Casciato said. “He can play a number of different positions along the backline and in the midfield, which will prove invaluable over the course of our season. I’m sure our fans will love his mentality, and I’m looking forward to adding his leadership, will to win and quality to our team this season.”

General Manager Peter Marlette included his own satisfaction with the signing.  “Junior is an athletic, versatile player with good experience in USL Championship,” Union Omaha General Manager Peter Marlette said. “We’re expecting him to make a big impact in League One no matter what position he lines up in for us.”

Palacios included his own quote in the press release.  “I’m very happy to come to a club like Union Omaha,” Palacios said. “From the players to the coaching staff and the front office, we are committed to working hard and bringing joy to our fans.”

East coast native Stefan Mueller was also signed by Union Omaha on Tuesday.  The New Yorker has had experience playing in the New York Cosmos Academy, leading Temple University’s backline, developing more in Germany, playing with Tormenta FC, and even appearing with Rio Grande Valley last season.  After a prolific four years with Temple University, in which he took part in a stout defense known for shutouts, Mueller took his talents to the professional level, where he experienced success, as well.

In his highlight video below, you can see that his defensive fundamentals are strong, as are his instincts to advance up the field as soon as the opportunity is presented.  He drops off on his one-on-one pressure because he has the ability to anticipate the ball moving to his side of the field and he has the speed to get him to where he needs to go in order to intercept the pass before the opposition can get to it.  His face-to-face challenges are physical and precise, too.  He’s not afraid to throw his body around, but he has the fundamentals to do so in a way that doesn’t concede fouls or cards often.  When he forces turnovers, his first touch is good and sets himself up to show off his pace as he darts up the sideline.  He’ll be a valuable member on offense, too.  In the film, you can pick out several good crosses that land right in the middle of pressure and give his teammates an opportunity to finish the ball.

Union Omaha’s press release included the following quotes:

“Stef is a player that’s gained great experience over the last couple of years in both League One and Championship,” Union Omaha Head Coach Dominic Casciato said. “He’s got a great engine to support the attack, crosses well and is comfortable defending one-on-one. He’s a player that will buy into our motto of “One Means All,” and I’m keen to see him integrate into our team and the local community.”

“Stefan is a dynamic player who can get up and down the flank all game and put dangerous balls into the box,” Union Omaha General Manager Peter Marlette said. “He’s proven himself at this level already and I’m looking forward to seeing him do so with us.”

“I’m incredibly grateful for this opportunity to represent a club that has had so much success in such a short period of time,” Mueller said. “I can’t wait to get out there in front of some of the most passionate fans in the country and do everything I can to help bring another championship to Omaha.”

Union Omaha’s roster is now up to 15 players, with plenty more signings to come.  The backline and midfield are certainly looking solid at this point, but we can all agree the club isn’t satisfied yet.  Stay tuned for more news regarding your favorite club and subscribe to WGAH for more Union Omaha content.  Don’t forget to like, follow, and subscribe to the social media links below.  As always…¡Viva Búhos!

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Fellow Nebraskans,

We at WGaH don’t often try to dip our hands into anything other than lower division soccer.  However, there’s something we feel needs the support of as many Nebraskans as possible.

The Nebraska Examiner recently published an article with the news many fans of Union Omaha had been waiting for: news of progress on a soccer specific stadium (SSS) in the city limits of Omaha.  The news has understandably come with mixed reactions, as such projects often do, ranging from the “why does Omaha need another stadium” to “no one watches soccer” to the biggest hurdle – “why should Nebraska contribute state funds to a project that benefits the few”.  Most of those points are valid and we would be fools to dismiss the arguments in favor of hype.  The truth of the matter is, soccer is growing in popularity in the US, now the 4th-most watched sport in the country.  Those fans are young with disposable incomes and looking for community.

What does a new stadium provide that doesn’t already exist in Omaha?  To begin with, this is a tough question when you consider Creighton University, a private Catholic university in downtown Omaha, has a ~6000 seat SSS stadium in the downtown area.  What is likely less known is that sharing that stadium with a professional team or two (as the Examiner’s article says) will play at the proposed new SSS.  This would likely void the non-profit status that property holds, opening it to the high property taxes of downtown Omaha.  This, if you are a Creighton administrator, negates a full season share with any professional team.  Less so, the land reverts to the tax base in Omaha, something that a proposed SSS occupied by Union Omaha would provide.  Secondly, a SSS and accompanying development around it in the North Downtown area of Omaha provides something the Omaha metro is lacking: a professional sports team in the heart of a vibrant revival of the riverfront area.  A professional sports team that Omaha can call its own, providing that sense of community that younger people often may feel is lacking as Omaha knocks on the door of a million-person metro.

How does the stadium benefit me, soccer fan or not?  Now here’s the question that really gets to it.  Frankly, Omaha has seen idiotic corporate schemes that have, under the guise of progress, promised big rewards for the city only to undermine the nature, culture, and heritage of the city.  What may be lost in the talk of $50 million dollars of public funds being proposed to invest in the stadium development is that, unlike ConAgra or Mutual, there’s no threat of this team picking up its headquarters and moving to a bigger city with a deeper talent base.  To the contrary, this development seeks to curb the overwhelming “brain drain” Nebraska faces by providing to the community the meaning of the stars on the team’s shield: People, Place, Purpose.  By not only, as mentioned earlier, building a stadium and surrounding development (likely on one of the countless vacant parking lots in Omaha) that pays taxes on the land and value of development, but also giving another value added attraction to the urban heart of Omaha, the SSS is almost certain to be a boon to Omaha as opposed to bust.

Why should I care about another “minor league” sports team trying to raise taxes and take land that could be used for a greater communal benefit?  Firstly, the proposed bill in committee in Lincoln, LB621, would not raise taxes.  As we understand it, the bill would reward those willing to invest in growing development in Nebraska by offering a matching grant of up to $50 million from the state’s budget surplus.  In supporting this bill, you are supporting another tool for Nebraska to increase development in the state.  In essentially incentivizing investment, you put Nebraska first for investors who were looking at Iowa, Kansas, South Dakota, Missouri, or Colorado for where their next project would be.  Secondly, Omaha is a parking lot, and based on the context of land being secured is not purchasing public land, negotiating with the City of Omaha to remove land already accessible to the public from the existing land bank. With the proposal listing “north downtown” the land will likely involve repurposing blighted former industrial areas or the utilization of paved lots/derelict rail lines.  The potential benefits to the tax base, and population makeup are huge; definitely something any resident of Nebraska should be excited to see for their state.

Now we get to the final question here; We hope you’re all waiting to ask: How do I help make this happen?  Right now the best ways to help are writing or calling the Nebraska policy makers sitting on the committee that has final say of whether LB621 makes it to the floor of the Unicameral for a vote.  Here are the names of the committee members for the Banking, Commerce and Insurance committee:

• Sen. Julie Slama (Chairperson)
• Sen. Eliot Bostar
• Sen. Kathleen Kauth
• Sen. Raymond Aguilar
• Sen. Beau Ballard
• Sen. R. Brad von Gillern
• Sen. Mike Jacobson
• Sen. George Dungan

Please consider reaching out to them if you support vitalizing downtown Omaha, retaining talent, and bringing a winning club to the heart of the metro.

We thank you for taking the time to read through this, and look forward to continuing to bring you Omaha soccer content for as long as you’ll listen.

With gratitude:

Bryan Daily

Ryan LeGrande

Christine Johnson

Morgan O’Rear

Jonathan Ryan

Richard Flemings

Luke Opperman