Newly-hired head coach Dominic Casciato has wasted little time in assembling his technical staff.  On Thursday, Union Omaha announced the appointment of two assistants who will help guide the Owls through the 2023 season: Kevin Nuss (Assistant Coach / Head of Scouting) & Ladulé LoSarah (Assistant Coach).

Kevin Nuss joins the club with plenty of coaching experience at the collegiate and club level.  Since 2021, Nuss has been the head coach at Indian Hills Community College in Ottumwa, Iowa.  In his inaugural season, he led the Warriors to the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Region XI Semifinals, upsetting Iowa Central Community College in the first round.  At the conclusion of the season, six individuals from the roster signed Letters of Intent with four-year universities.  In 2022, the Warriors repeated their greatness by winning the NJCAA Region XI Championship.  When the season ended and the awards season began, Warriors star Pablo Marques stood alone as the winner of the Lea Plarski Award, presented annually to an NJCAA student-athlete who “exemplifies sportsmanship, leadership, community service, academic excellence and athletic ability.”  It was only the 5th time in the 27-year history of the award for a soccer player to win the award.

During the off-season, Nuss inspired excellence at USL Two club the Ocean City Nor’easters.  He’s been no stranger to the program, having filled various roles within the club since 2011, such as General Manager, Sporting Director, Assistant Head Coach, and Head Coach.  In his almost 10-year stay, the club has seen an undefeated season (2022: 11-3-0) which earned Nuss a Coach of the Year nomination, a third-round US Open Cup match against Philadelphia Union (2013), and even competed in a friendly against Portuguese giants SL Benfica.  By the time he left the club, 50 players moved on from the program and signed professional contracts.  Furthermore, 14 players were selected in the MLS Draft and 4 are still active in the league.

In Union Omaha’s press release, Head Coach Dominic Casciato offered up high praise for the new additions.  “I’m delighted to add both Ladulé and Kevin to my staff this season,” Union Omaha Head Coach Dominic Casciato said.  “Although the spotlight will inevitably shine more on the players we bring in this off-season, these guys are two of our most important signings.  Both will be pivotal in creating the winning culture we are looking to build, and they’ll help us develop and maintain high standards on a daily basis.”

Ladulé LoSarah is entering the 2023 season with six years of coaching under his belt, both at the collegiate and club level, as well.  After retiring from a career featuring appearances with Inter Leipzig in Germany and the South Sudan National Team, LoSarah transitioned his love of the game into the managerial side.  He started his coaching career with the U-17 Academy Team at his former club, FC International Leipzig in Germany in 2015.  Within two years, LoSarah was stateside and coaching colleges like Pomona-Pitzer and Illinois Wesleyan (both Division III).  While at Illinois Wesleyan, he helped lead the program to a school record-tying 42 goals.  At his last stop before joining Union Omaha, LoSarah helped the University of California-Riverside win their second Big West Conference Title, as well as make their second-ever appearance in the NCAA Tournament.

Head Coach Dominic Casciato added another quote to the club’s press release as he discussed further history with LoSarah.  “Ladulé and I were classmates on both our USSF and UEFA A License courses, and his expertise in the physiological side of the game will be a huge asset over the course of the season,” Casciato said.  “Kevin and I have known one another for over ten years, and his history of identifying and recruiting talented young players to compete for a top League Two franchise at Ocean City is second to none.”

The pre-season is ramping up quickly, which means more exciting news is just around the corner.  Make sure to click “like”, “follow”, and “subscribe” so you stay in the know about Union Omaha.  There’s more great content on the way, so stay tuned to Who Gives A Hoot for the latest news about your beloved Owls, including the very-recently dropped episode of the podcast.  If you aren’t following us on social media, check the links below for all of Who Gives A Hoot’s accounts.  As always…¡Viva Búhos!

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The new era of Union Omaha is upon us and the man tapped to lead the charge is newly-appointed head coach Dominic Casciato.  As is typical with the club’s Tuesday tradition, Union Omaha announced the hiring on social media and received nothing but support from the masses.

Dominic “Dom” Casciato brings an abundance of experiences and excellence, both foreign and domestic.  Drawing from his experiences as an Academy Coach in Spain, a Video Scout in Denmark, a youth club director in New York, and numerous other technical positions at various professional clubs in the US, Casciato has done nothing but impress those around him each and every step of the way.

In the club’s announcement, Union Omaha General Manager Peter Marlette offered his share of sincere compliments toward Casciato.  “The search for our new head coach was exhaustive,” Union Omaha General Manager Peter Marlette said.  “The amount of highly qualified candidates who wanted this job was staggering and speaks to how attractive this club and USL League One are.  Dom came to us highly recommended by everybody who knows him and has worked with him.  His CV is great and throughout hours of interviews, he just kept impressing with his attention to detail, philosophies on the game, knowledge of the league and collaborative approach.  I’m thrilled with this hire and am confident that our fans will be too as they get to know more about Dom.”

Year	Other Accomplishment
–	Has coached over a dozen players who went pro, two of which play in the MLS
2009	Bachelor of Science – Exercise Science (Limestone University)
2012	Master of Professional Studies – Sports Management (Coaching for Optum Perofrmance)
2015	UEFA “B” License
2016	Named to NSCAA’s “30 Under 30”
2021	USSF “A” License
2022	UEFA “A” License

Casciato’s most recent stop in his 12 years of coaching was at USL Championship’s El Paso Locomotive, where he was hired as the Attacking Principles Coach / Assistant Coach.  In 2021, his first season with the club, El Paso finished in second place in the Western Conference and won the Copa Tejas Shield.  The team was able to increase their shot conversion from 14% to 18% and led the league in number of passes, as well as pass completion percentage.  When comparing the league’s rankings for goal scored, El Paso vaulted from 21st up to 5th in one season.  His immediate impact was obvious to the club, but he didn’t stop in his second year with the club.

	Shots/G	Goals/G	Conversion Rate	Passes/G	Passing Acc
2020	16.2	1.5	14%	559.9	81%
2021	13.2	1.75	18%	521.3	85%

In 2022, despite the club barely missing the playoffs, El Paso still ranked first in possession and pass completion percentage.  The club continued to rank highly in goals scored, averaging 1 goal every 54 minutes, good enough for 6th in the league.  Casciato bolstered the team’s offensive threats in other areas, too: 29% of the team’s goals were scored from dead-ball situations.  Not to be outdone on the offensive side of the field, the team only conceded 7% of their goals from set plays.  Casciato’s discipline was inspired and executed seemingly everywhere on the field.

With so many successes happening in El Paso, why did he jump at the opportunity to coach Union Omaha?  In an interview with 1620 AM’s “Mornings with Sharp & Handley,” Casciato was given the chance to explain himself.  “It’s a challenge I couldn’t turn down,” Casciato said.  “I felt ready to become a head coach and everything I’ve come to know about the club and everything everybody says about the club – it’s one of the top League One clubs, so for me it was a challenge I couldn’t turn down.”

In Union Omaha’s press release, Casciato issued a long statement, filled with recognition to those involved in the hiring process.  “I’d like to start by saying thank you to Gary Green, Larry Botel, Martie Cordero and Peter Marlette for giving me the opportunity to lead the club as we move into a new era for Union Omaha,” Casciato said.  “There’s been a great foundation laid here over the last three years, and I’m looking forward to the challenge of building on that as we enter the 2023 season.  My wife and I are excited to integrate ourselves into the Omaha community, and I can’t wait to experience the great atmosphere our fans will create on March 26th against Forward Madison!”

Union Omaha owner Gary Green included a statement in the press release, as well.  “We’re excited to welcome Dom to Union Omaha,” Union Omaha Owner Gary Green said.  “I know that he will be a great addition to our club and to our community.  We’re lucky to have Dom and look forward to the club’s future with him as head coach.”

What style can Búhos Nation expect for Casciato?  In the same radio interview with “Sharp & Handley,” he revealed a few nuggets of what fans can expect to see throughout the season.  “I think, first and foremost, we want to dominate the game and we want to try to dominate the game with the ball by dominating possession and playing forward with a purpose and with quality,” Casciato said.  “And without the ball, we want to dominate it by being super organized and not letting the opposition settle.”

Later in the same interview, Casciato revealed some more traits of his style.  “You’re going to see a team that never gives up, that never knows when it’s beaten, and is going to give everything for the shirt and the city,” Casciato said.  “And I think if we do that, win, lose, or draw, the fans are going to be happy and they’re going to know they have a team on the field that represents them and their city.”

As he steps into his new role, he remains committed to Union Omaha’s quest to find and develop talent.  When answering a separate question, Casciato disclosed another motivation behind wanting to coach Union Omaha.  “I think one of the things that really made the job attractive to me was the club’s desire to continue to develop players and help them move on because that’s something I’m passionate about and something I think is a strength of mine,” Casciato said.

When asked directly about scouting, he had another response that should make Union Omaha fans happy.  “I think scouting is a huge part of the job of being a head coach when you’re in the USL,” Casciato said.  “…I think the scouting piece is huge for us.  There’s a  good strong core of returning players coming in.  Hopefully we’ll convince one or two more to come back and then we’re well on our way to bringing in some new faces as well to hopefully have us competing from day one.”

With the exciting announcement, Union Omaha’s 2023 season draws that much closer.  There’s bound to be more press releases, signings, and news coming from the club, so hit that “subscribe” button to avoid missing out on any updates from your favorite club.  Don’t forget to follow Who Gives A Hoot on social media for more great content, as well.  As always…¡Viva Búhos!

You’ve been asking for it.  Heck, you’ve been begging for it.  Well, USL League One listened and finally revealed the entire 2023 Regular Season.  For the second season in a row, Union Omaha will start their season against regional-rival Forward Madison.  From a league-wide perspective, this season will consist of 12 clubs competing across 31 weeks of action.  After all 192 matches are finished, the league will enter the playoffs using the same format as 2022: top six clubs qualify, top two clubs get a first-round bye, and the highest-ranked club remaining will host the Playoff Championship on either November 4th or 5th.  This will be the longest season in USL League One’s five years of existence.  Without further ado, let’s get into the nuts and bolts of Union Omaha’s schedule.

Unlike past seasons, where Búhos Nation had to watch upwards of six consecutive weeks of away matches, this year’s schedule doesn’t string together more than two away matches in a row.  On the flip side, there is a run of three home matches in Weeks 20 and 21. Speaking of home matches, Union Omaha plays six midweek matches and five of them are at home, the most in club history in both regards.  To dive in even deeper, only one of those midweek matches is followed up by the team hitting the road for an away match.  While those midweek matches may look inconvenient, they’ll be great opportunities for the team to build momentum and take control of their destiny.

This season will present plenty of challenges to Union Omaha, starting with the major roster signings around the league. Defending-champion Tormenta FC has had their fair share of quality signings in the offseason, not to mention the veterans filling Forward Madison’s locker room. New challenges present themselves in the form of two new clubs in the league, as well: Lexington Sporting Club and One Knox SC. Lexington brings professional soccer to the city for the first time ever and One Knox has been wasting little time in turning heads with their signings. Another new change to the season will come when Union Omaha visits Greenville. Instead of playing at Legacy Early College this season, the Triumph is taking their talents to Furman University’s Paladin Stadium.

Enough about the league. Let’s get back to the Owls.

In terms of traveling, Union Omaha will log over 16,000 miles and that’s simply traveling to the matches. That doesn’t account for return travel at the end of road matches. The month of April alone will see the club travel close to 4,000 miles. With trips to Central Valley, Knoxville, and Charlotte, those miles will add up quickly. For there, the mileage per month will remain rather steady near 2,200 miles. July will also be a busier travel month, amassing close to 3,000 miles. While that sounds like a lot of miles, it pales in comparison to Central Valley Fuego FC and Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC, who will travel over 29,000 and 21,000 miles, respectively.

One saving grace, at least for the fans, is the fact that the three closest clubs will all be either on the weekend, or a midweek home match. Union Omaha fans have been active on social media and clamoring for more away days. It would be tough for this schedule to be more favorable for road trips. Now it’s time to paint the road with volt, or lightning yellow, or whatever the new shade is called.

We’d be remiss if we didn’t explore how the US Open Cup plays into the schedule, as well. Nothing is set in stone yet, but Union Omaha is very likely to play their first match in the tournament before kicking a ball in league play. If you look at how the Open Cup matches fit into the league schedule, they fit better than your favorite jigsaw puzzle. Take a look below:

*Matches played at Caniglia Field (University of Nebraska – Omaha)

Whereas last season, the league had to scramble to accommodate the midweek Open Cup matches, the space afforded early in the season allows Union Omaha to carry their success with minimal adjustments and schedule upheaval. In fact, the door is open later in the season, as well. Here’s the rest of the regular season, including the remaining Open Cup dates:

There are so many more angles to break down involving the schedule and season (i.e. coach signing, player signings, themed nights, club-sponsored watch party, more kit releases, Open Cup opponents, etc), so stay tuned for more content from Who Gives A Hoot Media. We’re working hard to make sure you’re updated on everything near and dear to your favorite club. Whether it’s the podcast, data deep dives, interviews, editorials, or social media posts, make sure you’re following all of our accounts. Speaking of, here’s the links:

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As always…¡Viva Búhos!

As we close the proverbial book on 2022 and look ahead to 2023, let’s take one more look back on the Union Omaha season and gain a new appreciation for all of the great things that happened.  Whether it’s the historic US Open Cup run, the fan attendance, or the league play, there was plenty to be happy about, so let’s take a closer look.

            Fans continued to show their support for the Owls, as a total of 50,381 people attended home matches at Werner Park.  That figure is the highest in club history, with 44,478 people attending matches in 2021 and the 2020 season reduced due to COVID restrictions.  The average attendance at Union Omaha matches this season was 3,890 people, which is also the largest in club history.  The Owls were the third highest in overall attendance and average attendance, while second highest in largest attendance.

	Lowest	Average	Highest
2020	2,400	2,500	2,700
2021	2,722	3,354	3,884
2022	2,236	3,890	5,167

*Data taken from USL1 match reports & Mike Pendleton (Twitter: @phat7deuce)
**Post-season home matches not included

            Before the season began, Union Omaha experienced drastic changes to the roster.  Even though the club maintained a 25-man roster, a lot of faces within the club were new to fans.  The club was able to retain a third of the roster, which further emphasizes the changes happening within the club.  Here are the veterans that returned from the 2021 season:

Position	Jersey Number	Name
GK	24	Rashid Nuhu
GK	33	Kevin Piedrahita
D	2	Emir Alidhoždić
D	13	Daltyn Knutson
M	22	Conor Doyle
M	30	Yoskar “Edu” Galvan
M	17	JP Scearce
F	19	Ricky Rivera

            And here are the first-year players with the club:

Position	Jersey Number	Name
GK	31	Christian Olivares
D	21	Isaac Bawa
D	28	Shaft Brewer Jr.
D	5	Gabriel Claudio
D	20	Luis Gil
D	4	Alex Touche
M	26	Dion Acoff
M	8	Joe Brito
M	12	Eddie Gordon
M	27	Ryen Jiba
M	6	Chavany Willis
F	16	Alex Bruce
F	9	Corey Hertzog
F	10	Hugo Kametani
F	11	Kemal Malcolm
F	7	Noe Meza
F	23	Giovani Montesdeoca

            Despite the drop in clubs participating in the 2022 USL League One regular season, the scheduled still worked out such that Union Omaha would play 30 regular season matches (15 at home and away), instead of the 28 matches featured in the 2021 League One regular season.  At the end of the regular season, Union Omaha claimed fifth place, which was enough for them to qualify for the playoffs for the third consecutive season.  While en route to that 5^th-place finish, the Owls were 6-6-3, earning 24 points at home (6^th in the league) and went 4-7-4 on the road while earning 19 points (tied for 4^th in the league).  As the season progressed, the season had to be rearranged in order to accommodate Union Omaha’s Cinderella run in the US Open Cup.

            Union Omaha finally had their opportunity to compete in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup and wasted no time in making a lasting impression.  After defeating USL League Two powerhouse Des Moines Menace, the Owls managed a magical victory at Soldier Field against Major League Soccer club Chicago Fire.  The next round of the tournament saw the Owls hosting fellow League One club Northern Colorado Hailstorm, who was narrowly defeated after the final whistle.  Union Omaha then took to the road again to take on another Major League Soccer club, Minnesota United, and remained victorious yet again.  It wasn’t until the Quarterfinal showdown against Sporting Kansas City that the Cinderella run finally came to an end.  Union Omaha was the first club from Nebraska to make the Quarterfinals of the US Open Cup, the first club from Nebraska to host a match in the tournament, and became the first club from the third division of the US Soccer pyramid to make it to the Quarterfinals in nearly a decade.  The performances garnered plenty of hype and excitement in the soccer world, as well as repeated publicity as the club was mentioned on ESPNFC on multiple occasions.

            Once the Open Cup run was over, the club set its focus back on the remaining matches in the season.  The players battled hard, despite a condensed schedule and a series of unfortunate injuries.  A lot of adjustments had to be made as the club continued to battle week in and week out.  When it was all said and done, Union Omaha was in fifth place and tasked with traveling to Chattanooga for a difficult first-round playoff game.  The match went scoreless in regulation time, but Chattanooga was able to prevail in extra time.  The Owls showed grit and tenacity, but ultimately fell short to the eventual league playoff runner-up.

            As the season dwindled, there were extra bits of good news along the way, as multiple Union Omaha players were recognized for their play.  Here’s a breakdown of that recognition:

Awards:

USL League One Goalkeeper of the Year: Rashid Nuhu

USL League One Golden Glove: Rashid Nuhu

USL League One Newcomer Award Finalist: Ryen Jiba

USL League One All-League First Team: Rashid Nuhu

USL League One All-League First Team: JP Scearce

Goal of the Month (July): Chavany Willis

Goal of the Month (August): Kevin Piedrahita

Save of the Month (August & September): Kevin Piedrahita

Coach of the Month (August): Jay Mims

Player of the Week (Week 21): Noe Meza

Goal of the Week (Week 10): Joe Brito

Goal of the Week (Week 18): Chavany Willis

Goal of the Week (Week 21): Kevin Piedrahita

Save of the Week (Weeks 4, 15, & 17): Rashid Nuhu

Save of the Week (Weeks 21 & 26): Kevin Piedrahita

Team of the Week (Week 3): Rashid Nuhu

Team of the Week (Week 4): Rashid Nuhu, Daltyn Knutson, JP Scearce, Hugo Kametani

Team of the Week (Week 5): Noe Meza

Team of the Week (Week 7): Ryen Jiba

Team of the Week (Week 10): Joe Brito

Team of the Week (Week 11): Isaac Bawa

Team of the Week (Week 13): JP Scearce

Team of the Week (Week 15): Ryen Jiba

Team of the Week (Week 17): Alex Touche

Team of the Week (Week 19): JP Scearce

Team of the Week (Week 20): Noe Meza

Team of the Week (Week 21): Kevin Piedrahita, Ryen Jiba, Conor Doyle, Noe Meza

Team of the Week (Week 23): Rashid Nuhu, Dion Acoff, Daltyn Knutson,

Team of the Week (Week 24): JP Scearce

Team of the Week (Week 25): JP Scearce, Corey Hertzog

Team of the Week (Week 28): Conor Doyle

Team of the Week (Week 29): JP Scearce

            There’s a lot to be proud of when thinking of the 2022 Union Omaha season, so don’t hesitate to reach out to the club, players, and staff to express your praise.  The 2023 season is already shaping up quickly, with roster announcements and a jersey manufacturer being announced recently, so keep checking back with Who Gives A Hoot for all of the latest announcements, articles, and banter on the podcast.  As always…¡Viva Búhos!

Big news continues to come out of Union Omaha’s clubhouse.  If you haven’t seen the announcements on social media, Union Omaha held a party in Benson on Thursday night to announce a recent partnership with Danish kit manufacturer hummel.  The multi-year deal allows the Owls to wear the same brand as other high-profile clubs around the world, including Everton and Southampton of the English Premier League, FC Köln and Hertha 03 of the German Bundesliga, and national teams like Denmark, Lithuania, and Bahamas.  The short presentation from club General Manager Peter Marlette included a video featuring Union Omaha midfielder Luis Gil wearing the new kit, as well as a brief explanation from Marlette toward the club’s decision, saying:

            “In this partnership with hummel, we’re able to collaborate with one of the most creative brands in global soccer on truly custom offerings that represent our club and our community.  This partnership allows us to offer our players and fans one-of-a-kind items without sacrificing any quality.  In addition to creative freedom and high-quality product, hummel also allows us to offer jerseys and gear that are made in the United States.”

            As seen in the picture above, Union Omaha’s first-released jersey offers a lot of subtleties when seen close up, including:

• A black base with ash-grey accents in the shape of feathers in vertical alignment
• hummel’s signature chevrons cascading down the shoulder with two lightning yellow chevrons on each side
• A small, lightning-yellow colored rectangle with black “OMA” letters inside, signifying the “One Means All” motto embraced by the club and fanbase
• The same “One Means All” motto printed on the inside of the back collar
• Room in multiple locations for Union Omaha’s jersey sponsors to display their logo
• The USL1 logo printed into the jersey, instead of an ironed-on patch

In several conversations with Union Omaha front office staff, Who Gives A Hoot learned that there are multiple jersey designs in place, with at least one coinciding with Pride Night next season.  The partnership with hummel also allows the kits to be tailored to the individual player, providing an even better fit as they take the field.

Here are some quotes from front office staff, collected by Luke Opperman:

      Peter Marlette (General Manager) – “The creative freedom and the collaboration that we’re going to be able to do with hummel is just going to open up so many opportunities for us and for our fans.  And also, the fact that we can get quick-turn jerseys that are produced and made 100% in the USA has such an impact on what we’re trying to do and speaks to our message so well.”

Wes Mims (Equipment Manager) – “I think it’s amazing.  The guys are going to look fantastic.  It’s great quality.  I’m super, super excited to have it.  I can’t say enough great things about hummel.”

Justin Rolfes (Marketing & Communications Director) – “The creativity that we’re able to put into the kits is something that we’ve never been able to do, but always wanted to do. The fact that we’re able to do that with hummel and they walk alongside us with that to give us ideas and feedback and different tips and ideas…is invaluable to have a partner like that, that’s actually helping us being as creative as we want to be with it.”

Jack Yates (Graphic Design & Digital Media Coordinator) – “We didn’t want to do anything crazy, flashy.  We didn’t want to do too little.  So we got a cool, sublimated feather design on the jersey.”

Josh Todd (Senior Corporate Sales Executive) – “It’s a great deal for the club…the creative freedom we have with hummel is going to be off the charts.”

The new kit, along with many other new apparel are available in the club store, so click the link and check out all of the new offerings at the club.  As far as we know, there aren’t personalization options available yet, but that availability should be coming very soon.  There are plenty of good options in the team store, so get a head start on next year’s merchandise or finish your holiday shopping at the Union Omaha team store.

The 2023 season is already taking shape, so make sure you are up to date on everything related to Union Omaha by following Who Gives A Hoot on social media, checking the website for more articles, and listening to the latest episode of the podcast. As always…¡Viva Búhos!

Chattanooga Red Wolves (12-7-11, 4th Place) vs Union Omaha (10-13-7, 5th Place)

All competitions: CHA (12-7-12) vs OMA (14-13-8)

CHI Memorial Stadium – East Ridge, Tennessee

6:30 PM (CST) ESPN+

Happy Quarterfinals Day, Búhos Nation!  Today, the Owls travel to Tennessee to take on the Chattanooga Red Wolves in the first round of the 2022 USL League One Playoffs.  Kickoff is scheduled for 6:30PM and the match will be broadcasted on ESPN+.

You see those regular season records, places, and other mentionings above?  Right here and right now, they mean nothing.  What happens from here on out is entirely dependent on who wins, who wants it more.  All of the trials and all of the triumphs this season have culminated into the meaningful match we all intend on watching with bated breath.  These single elimination matches have that spectacle which ignites the fervor of fan bases.  Luckily for Union Omaha, there’s no shortage of that in Omaha.  Remember those speakers from the movie, “Spinal Tap”?  Yeah, on a scale of 1 to 10, tonight’s match will also go to 11.

Before this season started, Union Omaha had never won a match in Chattanooga, let alone defeated the Red Wolves in general.  Think of the great players that have come through Union Omaha in its short existence.  None of those players could combine to pull off a victory.  This year, the team was able to beat Chattanooga twice – once in Chattanooga, then again at home.  Across the three matches these two clubs played this season, Union Omaha remained victorious twice and drawing once, outscoring the Red Wolves 4-2 across all three matches.

These two clubs match up very well, too.  On one hand, Chattanooga has the second-highest regular season goals this season with 52, but Union Omaha has allowed the fewest goals throughout the regular season.  Chattanooga has Juan Galindrez, the striker who leads the club in all-time goals, led the team with 13 goals in the regular season, and led the league in goals per 90 minutes with 0.73.  Did he score against Union Omaha this season?  I’ll save you the time of looking up that stat: No.  Sure, Chattanooga has a +4 goal differential against this year’s playoff teams, but not because of Union Omaha.  Their goal differential against the Owls this season was -2.  For every stat that elevates the Red Wolves, the Owls have one that buries them.  That’s how good tonight’s match will be.

Another factor that favors Union Omaha: set pieces.  Chattanooga has conceded the most fouls in the league with 465, second most yellow cards with 94, and tied Charlotte by conceding the most penalties in the regular season with 7.  Think of how many goals Union Omaha has had off of set pieces (corner kicks, indirect and direct kicks, and penalty kicks) this season.  Union Omaha’s midfielder JP Scearce is salivating at the opportunity to get his head on more services from Joe Brito, Daltyn Knutson, and everyone else taking those kicks.  Sure, Chattanooga’s fouls could disrupt the flow and rhythm of Union Omaha’s offense, but Union Omaha will gladly take a set piece opportunity to put this match away, especially if they’re able to put themselves in favorable territory for those set pieces.  Hook, line, and sinker.  As long as the Owls don’t let the fouls get to their head, they can let them happen all night long and take advantage of those opportunities.  Union Omaha’s defensive discipline will frustrate the Red Wolves, but the Owls will smile at the expense of Chattanooga’s undisciplined side.

Tonight is one of those nights where no bars, restaurants, or watch parties should have chairs present.  This is one of those matches where you need to be standing on your feet, cheering on the players, and supporting your team for the full 90 minutes.  It’s been a long season, filled with ups and downs, but tonight is the next step in the journey for the Owls to defend the star and end this season on a high.  The past is in the past.  Here and now, this team has unfinished business and it starts in Chattanooga.  There’s no such thing as settling anymore.  Win and you advance.  There are no other options.  And dammit, I wanna win.  Wear the only colors that matter, raise your scarves, yell like hell, and let’s cheer them on to victory tonight.  Up the Owls, always and forever.  As always…¡Viva Búhos!

Union Omaha (10-13-6, 4th Place) vs Central Valley (10-7-12, 8th Place)

All competitions: OMA (14-13-7) vs CV (11-7-13)

Werner Park – Papillion, Nebraska

4:00 PM (CST) ESPN+

Decision Day.  The day that brings so much excitement, anxiety, and heartbreak.  It’s finally upon us.  For Union Omaha and Central Valley, their fates have already been decided – the former is in the playoffs, the latter starts their offseason after tonight.  The Owls can host the first round of the playoffs with a win tonight, so make sure you are inside Werner Park to witness all of the action as the USL League One regular season comes to close tonight.  Kickoff between Union Omaha and Central Valley is slated for 4 PM and you can also catch the broadcast on ESPN+.

Central Valley Fuego FC remained in the playoff through Week 27, despite two losses in the same week, but Week 28 saw the club’s playoff chances disappear after results from other matches around the league.  Fuego FC can still play the spoiler, but there’s little meaning to tonight’s match beyond that.

Fuego FC’s offense will be a good test for Union Omaha’s defense tonight, as the methodical unit ranks third in the league in shots, third in total passes, second in passing accuracy, and nearly 75% of their goals involve assists.  Their leading goal scorer, Christian Chaney, is also tied for second place in team assists and has the second highest shot count in the entire league.  Midfielder Villyan Bijev leads the team in assists, while also boasting the team’s third-most goals, second-most shots, and third-most chances created.  Victor Falck, another midfielder, leads the team in chances created, is second in goals, and third in assists.  The trio leads the club in almost every offensive statistic.  Meanwhile, netminder Ofek Antman has amassed seven clean sheets this season, enough to rank him third highest in the league.  Antman is also fourth highest in saves.  Defensive efforts from Michael Hornsby, Ozzie Ramos, and Nathan Smith have frustrated teams throughout the season, as well.

Union Omaha looks to give team captain Conor Doyle a belated birthday present as they battle to secure a home match in the first round of the playoffs.  In Week 28, the Owls battled Tormenta FC to a 1-1, which was enough to earn the club an automatic bid to the playoffs.  By the end of tonight, Union Omaha fans could see the Owls rise as high as second place, or fall as low as fifth.  There’s plenty of drama in store for tonight and the math determining each placement involves a lot of math.

The Owls will look for production from proven leaders like Noe Meza, who still leads the team in goals, assists, shots, shots on target, and is tied for the lead in goals from inside the box.  Midfielder JP Scearce isn’t far behind Meza, ranking second in nearly every one of those categories.  Mid-season signing Corey Hertzog has made an impact in his 12 appearances, scoring 4 goals and leading the club in minutes between goals.  On defense, the center back duo of Daltyn Knutson and Alex Touche continues to lead the team in clearances and blocks during their consistently strong performances.  It’s possible that fans could see Rashid Nuhu in net tonight, but backup keeper Kevin Piedrahita has filled the position during his recent absence and could also mind the net again tonight.  There are no clear indications as to who will start, so fans will have to wait and see on that front.

These two clubs have only met twice in history.  In Week 4, Fuego FC was the sacrificial lamb in Union Omaha’s home opener, losing 0-3 to the Owls.  When the teams met again in Week 19, Union Omaha traveled to Fresno and defeated Fuego 1-0.  Central Valley has failed to score on Union Omaha so far this season, the only club in the league to do so.  A win tonight from the Owls would give the club a clean sweep on the season series.

Make sure you get to Werner Park in time for all of the early action ahead of Fan Appreciation Night.  There will be tailgates with food, beverages, music, and games.  The Parliament tailgate is going to include merchandise available for purchase, with purchases over $25 receiving 3 raffle tickets.  Some of the prizes from the raffle include gift cards, with the main prize being a brand new laptop.  Once you get into the stadium, the club has personalized the walkout music for Hoot, the trivia theme, and even the kit design to the will of the fans.  It’s going to be a great day, so don’t miss out on any of the fun!  Be loud and support the Owls to victory. As always…¡Viva Búhos!