Union Omaha opened their season against regional foe Forward Madison on Saturday night.  After 90 minutes and a couple of lead changes, the two sides concluded their evening with a 2-2 draw.  For the fourth time in seven matches, a victor was not decided over the span of 90 minutes, nor did either team score more than two goals.  Union Omaha looked to have multiple chances to add to the score line throughout the match, but just couldn’t make it happen.

            In the first half, both sides battled to establish their strategies and their rigidity was tested time and time again.  It didn’t take long before first-year Owl Hugo Kametani broke the deadlock with a wonderful effort in the box.  In the 15^th minute, Kametani had his back to Forward Madison’s goal, received a pass from Noe Meza, was able to turn his body after a touch on the ball, and launched the ball into the roof of the net.  Tonight was Kametani’s second start overall for Union Omaha, but the first start in league play and his goal celebration showed everyone in Breese Stevens Field how much he cared.  Union Omaha elation would only last so long because Forward Madison was bound and determined to spoil the reigning champions and their first regular season match.

            Just before the 36^th minute, Forward Madison’s Derek Gebhard was able to draw a foul in the penalty box.  Audi Jepson stepped up and converted the well-taken penalty kick, his first goal of the season.  It was an interesting decision by Forward Madison to allow Jepson to take the penalty, considering he wasn’t able to score in 22 appearances and 14 starts during the 2021 season.  That’s not an insult to the man, but actually a compliment to his impact on the new management.  It wouldn’t be a Forward Madison versus Union Omaha match without late-half drama and this time Union Omaha would be the provider.

            In the 45+3’, Union Omaha had a corner that was partially cleared away from Forward Madison’s goal.  Unfortunately for the Flamingos, the ball fell to Union Omaha captain Conor Doyle’s feet.  Big mistake.  After a couple of touches, Doyle lobbed the ball back into the box, where JP Scearce was able to win the aerial battle to give Union Omaha their second lead of the night.  Just a minute later, the halftime whistle sounded, but the drama of the evening wasn’t finished.

            The second half was a tightly-contested affair until the 70^th minute.  Union Omaha’s defense had done a pretty good job of controlling the flow of traffic in the middle of the field, but a complete defensive breakdown left them vulnerable and Forward Madison’s Jeremiah Streng was there to send the ball to the bottom left corner.  With the score level again, both sides were throwing everything they had into finding the late winner, but neither side could make it happen.  The single point earned in the match will be a valuable addition to each club’s point total at the end of the season, as we saw how close the 2021 season ended, but there was also an air of discontent because of missed opportunities throughout the match.

            Next match for Forward Madison: Saturday, April 16^th @ FC Tucson

            Next match for Union Omaha: Saturday, April 16^th @ South Georgia Tormenta

            Stay tuned for in-depth analysis and match discussions from Who Gives A Hoot on our website and the podcast.  If you’re already subscribed to both the website and the podcast, you’ll receive reminders when new material is available for your pleasure.  As always…¡Viva Búhos!

Scoring Summary

OMA: 15’ – Hugo Kametani (assisted by Noe Meza)

MAD: 36’ – Audi Jepson (penalty)

OMA: 45+3’ – John Scearce (assisted by Conor Doyle)

MAD: 70’ – Jeremiah Streng (unassisted)

Discipline Summary

MAD: 26’ – Nazeem Bartman

MAD: 30’ – Andrew Wheeler-Omiunu

MAD: 38’ – Eric Leonard

OMA: 47’ – Conor Doyle

MAD: 57’ – Michael Maldonado

OMA: 67’ – Joseph Brito

Substitution Summary

45’ – MAD: Jeremiah Streng replaced Nazeem Bartman

45’ – MAD: Cyrus Rad replaced Cesar Murillo

66’ – MAD: Matheus Cassini replaced Audi Jepson

71’ – MAD: Rojay Smith replaced Derek Gebhard

81’ – OMA: Ricardo Rivera replaced Dion Acoff

81’ – OMA: Giovanni Montesdeoca replaced Joseph Brito

85’ – MAD: Justin Sukow replaced Abdou Mbacke Thiam

88’ – OMA : Gabriel Claudio replaced Hugo Kametani

90+4’ – OMA: Alex Bruce replaced JP Scearce (injury)

Rise and shine, Búhos Nation!  It’s matchday for Union Omaha.  This is Day 1 of a long, arduous journey for the club as they take the field to defend their 2021 USL League One title.  The first test of the season comes from Forward Madison.  Good ol’ Forward Madison.

The Flamingos ended their 2021 season in 9th place, with 8 wins, 12 draws, and 8 losses.  Just like any other club in the offseason, Forward Madison experienced their fair share of turnover in the locker room.  Probably the biggest name to be excluded from roster sheets is former manager [editor’s note: and human-airplane role play enthusiast] Carl Craig.  Replacing him as Forward Madison manager is Matt Glaeser, a man with plenty of experience within the American soccer landscape.  

After finishing his career as a goalkeeper, he turned his focus toward coaching.  In his time as a coach, he’s filled positions at Real Salt Lake, Real Monarchs, and Sacramento Republic FC.  He experienced a taste of what it takes to be a champion, winning the regular season title and USL championship while with the Real Monarchs as an assistant in 2019.  Glaeser has had a busy offseason, signing multiple players and overseeing the introduction of a new managerial era for the club.

Forward Madison has a lot of new faces in their locker room this season, but was able to retain some veteran leadership in the midst of all the turnover.  Most notably, goalkeeper Phil Breno will be minding the net for the Flamingos.  In front of him will be likely-captain Justin Sukow in the midfield.  Joining the club will be 16 new faces, all ready to take the field and dethrone the champions.  

The team has fared well in their competitive matches, so far.  In Week 1 of the USL League One regular season, the club earned a 1-1 draw against the Chattanooga Red Wolves.  In the second round of the US Open Cup, the Flamingos reigned victorious over Cleveland SC 3-0.  During the US Open Cup draw for Round 3, Forward Madison found out that they will be hosting MLS-side Minnesota United on April 20th.  With two competitive matches under their belt, the Flamingos look to carry that established chemistry and experience onto Bresse Steven Field against Union Omaha.

The Owls have one competitive match under their belt: a 2-1 victory over USL League Two champion Des Moines Menace in the second round of the US Open Cup.  In that match, plenty of Union Omaha players showed great effort and potential.  Joseph Brito and JP Scearce connected on a corner kick to even out the score line.  Aside from the scoreline, Dion Acoff, Alex Touche, and Hugo Kawetani all impressed in their first outing for the club.

These two clubs have played each other six times over the last two seasons.  On three occasions, the match resulted in a draw.  Of the other three matches, where a victor was decided, Forward Madison won two of them.  In all of the matchups between these two sides, no club has managed to score more than two goals in a single match and no club has won by more than one goal.  Every fixture between these two clubs has been a low-scoring affair.  Despite the improved rosters on both sides, don’t expect anything different from tonight’s match.  Fans are in for a real treat.

Speaking of fans, there is a good number of Union Omaha fans traveling up to Madison, Wisconsin for the match tonight.  The broadcast is sure to feature plenty of volt and black, which will clash (color-wise, of course) with Forward Madison’s blue and pink off the field, just as much as the players will on the field.  While you’ll surely hear The Flock, Forward Madison’s supporter group, don’t be surprised if you also hear some familiar chants from Parliament and co.

Tonight is sure to be a great matchup between two familiar sides.  It’s going to be an exciting night, so gather your friends and family in front of the television and prepare yourself for a highly-competitive affair.  If you happen to be one of the lucky fans in Madison for the match tonight, wear your colors proudly and cheer even louder.

Stay tuned to Who Gives A Hoot for immediate post-match recap, in-depth article later in the week, and a data dump to fill you in with all of the information you never thought you wanted.  There is bound to be a new podcast episode as well, so subscribe to Who Gives A Hoot for the latest and greatest content surrounding Union Omaha.  ¡Viva Búhos!

            A star.

            When we were children, we worked hard in school and followed the rules.  The grades didn’t matter, but seeing that star-shaped sticker at the top of the page was the validation we needed to show our friends and family that we were succeeding.  It boosted our self-esteem, kept us motivated, and it was a visible sign that we were on the right path.

            A trophy.

            In that same time period of our lives, we were given trophies for our achievements.  We played sports, we won awards through clubs, and earned badges in other involvements, but the awards grew in size and significance.  The gold stars on our schoolwork turned into tangible objects that would sit on shelves in our rooms – a constant reminder that we are worthy and capable of excellence.

            It should come as no surprise that as we grew older, the number of awards we received decreased.  The stakes grew higher, the competition was tougher, and participation alone wasn’t enough to fetch commendations.  We had to work harder, push the boundaries of what we thought was possible, and devote more time and effort to what made us feel impassioned.  We learned more about ourselves, learned more about the world, and started finding like-minded communities to foster that growth.  We learned to encourage others in their pursuits for greatness.  Even if we weren’t in the limelight, we still doled out that motivation to others, knowing we would be on the receiving end someday, as well.  Our investments in the greatness achieved by others took on a new level of meaning because we saw it grow into what it became.  This should be no different on a day like today – the opening day of the 2022 USL League One regular season.

            Today marks the beginning of a new season: one full of new beginnings, hopes, and goals (literally or otherwise).  No club in the league is the exact same as last season.  Each club faces their own challenges and will meet many more before the season ends, but what each club can count on is the fans.

We are the people who take time out of our busy lives to show up at the stadium for home matches, tune into the broadcasts for away matches, buy merchandise, and cheer for the club.  We revel in prosperity and wallow in the tribulations, bending but never breaking in our support of the club.  It should come as no surprise that we make friends around the club and build communities, further entrenching our devotion to the club.  And while we have our reasons for supporting the club off of the field, what about the on-the-field reasons?  Success?  Sure, but that seems too generic.  Greatness?  We’re getting closer, but it still doesn’t seem fitting.  How about something you can touch and feel?

            A trophy.

            If you haven’t had the chance to hold the USL League One trophy, you’re in for a treat.  It’s big and it’s heavy, more so than you would expect.  In each appearance this trophy made at Union Omaha functions during the offseason, it was always buffed to perfection, reflecting light and even seemingly emitting light.  It’s presence in the room is heavier than its actual weight.  The trophy attracts you to it, almost baiting you to hoist it above your head in relived triumph.  And while we, the fans, didn’t play a single minute during the 2021 season, we were afforded the opportunity to watch something special.  Through good times and bad, we saw the team grow and develop into something that was able to reach the finish line stronger than ever.  That’s the special part about following a club.  You never know what’s going to happen.  And how can fans continue to recognize that achievement after the championship is won?

            A star.

            After the 2021 USL League One Championship, I remember having a gold star-shaped sticker stuck to the hoodie I was wearing (thank you, Hunter), conveniently placed directly above the club’s crest.  I’ve worn that hoodie several times since the Championship, but the star had already fallen off, likely during the post-match celebrations.

Just like any championship-winning professional soccer club around the world, that star will be forever etched above the crest.  It’s not going to fall off in post-match celebrations or cycles of laundry.  That star, along with every stitch used to sew it into the fabric of the clothing, is filled with the history and reminders of the proud achievement we were lucky enough to see unfold before our eyes in 2021.  And while the lines of thread display outwardly in perfect, straight lines, the fabric on the inside is twisted and slightly disheveled, like the plenty of plot twists thrown at the club throughout the season.  Future fans will do a quick Google search to see that Union Omaha won in 2021, but won’t know the entire story.  Not even current fans know the entire story, but we can look at the inside threads and fully recognize all that the club had to deal with: the injuries, the losses, the draws, and the sacrifices put forth by those within the club, on and off the field, front office or otherwise.  They went through a lot…and they won.

Today is the start of a new season.  Bring your friends, wear the colors, and proudly display the star, but let your vocal support be even louder.  Union Omaha has a difficult journey ahead of them.  Defending a championship is not an easy task, but with the rows upon rows of fans that continuously file into Werner Park each week, the Owls stand a better chance.  Come early for the tailgate, make even more friends, learn the chants, and stay after for a small celebration, as well.  Just like the song says, “solidarity forever.”

And why do we do it?

Another trophy.

Another star.

April 9, 2020 was supposed to be Union Omaha’s first ever U.S. Open Cup game. 727 days, 44 regular season games, 2 playoff games and 1 League One championship later, the club finally checked that box with a 2-1 victory against defending USL League Two champions Des Moines Menace in their second round match. It also marked the first competitive game for Union Omaha since winning last season’s final, a title they begin defending Saturday, April 9 at Forward Madison.

Even with an enormous amount of roster turnover, six of the starting XI were players returning from last year’s squad. The biggest surprise of that group was Emir Alihodžić, whose return to the team was announced only hours before kickoff. His positioning at right back was maybe the biggest surprise of the evening before the start of the match, as the rest of the lineup was not necessarily predictable, but it was one of a likely small number of realistic possibilities.

In terms of a match recap, this was a weird one. Union Omaha were somehow never in real danger but won needing a late own goal, constantly had the ball in positions to score but in some chaotic situations, and officially maintained 60% of possession but seemingly did not have to defend for a roughly 60-minute stretch of the game. Immediately after Des Moines surprising opening goal in the 14th minute from Corey Hertzog (a new face for Menace for this game, he scored 6 goals in 31 matches for San Diego Loyal last season, his eighth straight season in USL Championship) Union Omaha essentially kept the ball out of their defensive third until the final ten minutes or so.

Union Omaha’s attack looked a lot more composed following Des Moines’ goal, and it only took five minutes for JP Scearce to equalize with a thumper of a header following a Joseph Brito corner kick. Following that goal the midfield really stepped up their game. Brito and Dion Acoff found themselves constantly on the ball and making big plays (the two combined for eleven key passes), Brito and Scearce combined to win 20 of their 31 duels, and Conor Doyle would eventually send in the ball leading to the own goal that ultimately decided the game.

The main topic of conversation this preseason has been determining where the offense will come from this year. Not just accounting for individuals, but also position groups in general. My take (which I think lines up with the majority of others) has been that the midfielders and forwards will carry an equal amount of the load, and that sure seemed to be supported during this game. Union Omaha had 25 shots, we are of course not likely to see a number that high during the regular season, and they were so evenly distributed amongst the forwards and midfielders that it doesn’t seem real:

• Ricky Rivera: 3
• Hugo Kametani: 3
• JP Scearce: 3
• Conor Doyle: 3
• Dion Acoff: 3
• Joseph Brito: 2
• Alex Bruce (sub): 2
• Noe Meza (sub): 2
• Giovani Montesdeoca (sub): 0

So what’s next for Union Omaha in the U.S. Open Cup? A trip to play the Chicago Fire at Solider Field. The match will be between April 19-21, and you better believe we’ll be covering right here on W-G-A-H MEDIA dot com.

Just when you thought this past Tuesday couldn’t have gotten any better, Union Omaha upped the ante and gave fans another reason to be excited about the return of soccer in Omaha: the return of Emir Alihodžić.

The Bosnian midfielder was a regular inclusion to the lineup in 2021, amassing 29 appearances with 14 starts. While his presence was valuable in the middle of the field, Alihodžić also showed plenty of qualities while playing in other positions ranging from forward to left midfielder. His flexibility also enabled him to score three goals and support his teammates with four assists. Alihodžić’s growth in 2021 paid off in the playoffs, as he scored a goal and earned an assist in the 6-1 semifinal victory against FC Tucson. With just 24 minutes of play gifted to him, Alihodžić wasted little time in making the most of his opportunity.

It wasn’t just Union Omaha fans that took notice of Alihodžić’s value on the field. His first goal of the 2021 season was a game-winning header in Union Omaha’s 2-1 victory over Forward Madison in Week 9. Days later, the league awarded him a spot on the USL League One Team of the Week. In the next week of play, Alihodžić earned his first assist of the season in the club’s 4-2 victory over New England Revolution II.

With his inclusion to the roster, Alihodžić becomes the eighth member from the 2021 USL League One-winning roster to rejoin the club in 2022. Búhos Nation didn’t have to wait long to see him play again, either. Just hours after the announcement of his return to the club, he started and played 90 minutes in Union Omaha’s first-ever appearance in the US Open Cup, a 2-1 victory over the Des Moines Menace.

In the press release from the club, it was clearly evident that Union Omaha manager Jay Mims was happy with the signing, saying:

“It is great to have Emir returning. Having a player with seven years of professional experience will really help our young team. Emir had some big goals for the club last year, and his versatility will be a huge asset to have this season.”

Alihodžić could hardly contain his excitement, as well. In the same press release, the club included a statement from him saying, “I’m excited to be back in Omaha to continue building our winning culture. Can’t wait to play in front of the best crowd in League One again!”

Emir joins the club just as the Owls return to USL League One action. The Owls kick off their 2022 season against Forward Madison in Madison, Wisconsin on Saturday, April 9th. The match marks the beginning of Union Omaha’s title defense. Before the Owls and Flamingos kick off, Union Omaha will have already learned the details of their next opponent in the third round of the US Open Cup, which performs their draw on Friday, April 8th. Stay tuned to Who Gives A Hoot for all of the latest Union Omaha news and related content. As always…¡Viva Búhos!

Welcome back to Owls Away! If we haven’t mentioned, this will be a rotating column for the team at the media empire. We have some new rules for who is in the column for the season: we’ll only be covering players who 1) played for us last season or 2) are still with the team they left us for previously. We also a new format for this week and we’re covering action from March 23rd to April 3rd.

Player Name	Team	Date	Opponent	Results	Starter	Position	Minutes	Goals	Assists	FotMob Rating
Evan Conway	San Diego Loyal	3/23/22	FC Tulsa	0-1	Y	LW	90	0	0	6.6
Nicholas Firmino	Atlanta 2	3/23/22	Tampa Bay Rowdies	0-3	Y	CM	84	0	0	6.6
John Murphy	NYRB 2	3/23/22	Louisville City	0-2	Y	CDM	90	0	0	5.9
Greg Hurst	Phoenix Rising	3/26/22	San Diego Loyal	2-3	Y	ST	90	0	0	5.9
Evan Conway	San Diego Loyal	3/26/22	Phoenix Rising	3-2	N	LM	84	1	0	8.4
Devin Boyce	Memphis 901 FC	3/26/22	Las Vegas Lights	0-1	N	RM	5	0	0	N/A
Damia Viader	Republic FC	3/27/22	FC Tulsa	2-1	Not on bench
Ferrety Sousa	Republic FC	3/27/22	FC Tulsa	2-1	Y	LB	69	0	0	6.6
Nicholas Firmino	Atlanta 2	3/27/22	Charleston Battery	4-1	Y	CM	74	0	0	6.9
Greg Hurst	Phoenix Rising	4/2/22	San Antonio FC	0-2	Y	LM	82	0	0	7.3
Damia Viader	Republic FC	4/2/22	Monterey Bay FC	2-1	N	LB	8	0	0	N/A
Ferrety Sousa	Republic FC	4/2/22	Monterey Bay FC	2-1	Not on bench
Devin Boyce	Memphis 901 FC	4/2/22	Detroit City FC	1-1	N	RM	24	0	0	6.4
Nicholas Firmino	Atlanta 2	4/2/22	Hartford Athletic	2-1	Y	CM	89	2	0	8.8
John Murphy	NYRB 2	4/2/22	FC Tulsa	2-3	Y	CDM	72	1	0	6.8
Jacob Crull	FC Tucson	4/2/22	Richmond Kickers	0-4	Y	LCB	90	0	0	5.1
Tobias Otenio	South Georgia Tormenta	4/2/22	North Carolina FC	0-1	Not on bench
Christian Molina	Richmond Kickers	4/2/22	FC Tucson	4-0	Not on bench
Nate Aune	Richmond Kickers	4/2/22	FC Tucson	4-0	Y	CB	79	0	0	7.3
Evan Conway	San Diego Loyal	4/3/22	El Paso Locomotive	3-2	Y	LM	64	0	1	7.7

The first round of the 2022 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup is in the books, and the first ever U.S. Open Cup game to take place in the state of Nebraska will be a champion vs. champion matchup. Union Omaha, the reigning USL League One champions, will host Des Moines Menace, the reigning USL League Two national champions, at Morrison Stadium on Tuesday, April 5. This is the second straight tournament that Des Moines has advanced to the second round, after beating Duluth FC 1-1 on penalties in the 2019 tournament. They would later be defeated by former USL Championship side St. Louis FC by the same score in the second round.

Des Moines defeated Minneapolis City SC 4-2 in a home match where defense definitely appeared to be optional. Both teams combined for 37 total shots, with Des Moines alone placing 11 shots on frame. The box score pretty accurately describes the flow of the game, as Minneapolis started looking more and more overmatched as the game got close to halftime, even as Minneapolis equalized from a 2-1 deficit with half an hour remaining. It was a pretty overwhelming victory, but hats off to Minneapolis City’s Lionel Vang, for scoring what might already of been the goal of the tournament with a thirty-yard free-kick to his upper-left corner.

So, how does Des Moines Menace match up with Union Omaha? Well, a lot of this is going to be a guessing game because both teams are building their rosters before playing their respective seasons, and in Omaha’s case, we’ve still yet to see them play in a competitive match after a considerable amount of rebuilding. We saw Des Moines head coach Dean Johnson line his team up in a 5-3-2 against Minneapolis, but obviously they were comfortable coming up the flanks to build up their attack. It wouldn’t surprise me to see them come out in this same formation, but this keep their shape more, let the game come to them and find opportunities to counterattack. Since Jay Mims stresses box-to-box play and encouraging all players to focus on defending first, we could possibly see a chess game between the two coaches as each of them tempts the other regarding possession. We know what formation Des Moines will likely be going up against, and if you aren’t aware of Jay Mims’ history on this matter I strongly urge you to find Ben Turner at this game to ask his thoughts on the matter [Editor’s note: please do!], but which players will be forming Union Omaha’s shape? The WGaH media empire workshopped a potential starting XI for the season on the recent season preview pod, but with this being a cup fixture less than a week before our first regular season game (away to Forward Madison) it wouldn’t surprise me to see a lineup that doesn’t end up being our regular XI:

A few thoughts with the lineup above:

• Defenders: I believe Claudio and Alex Touche could potentially be swapped here. I can’t find evidence that Jiba has ever regularly played as a defender, but I’ve seen him play it with Union Omaha firsthand and am fairly confident that’s his position with the team [Editor’s note: I second this].
• Midfielders: I think we see Scearce’s role change in 2022 and expect him to take more responsibility on the attack. I don’t expect this diamond formation to be static by any means but wanted to emphasize my expectations. Don’t be surprised if Acoff is perhaps flexed up to play forward instead of Hugo, but I think that’s highly unlikely.
• Forwards: There’s been a good amount of buzz regarding Noe Meza’s preseason performance. If the thought is that he’s in Mims’ preferred XI right now (alongside Rivera), I’m willing to guess that he’d prefer to start them both in Madison the following Saturday, and perhaps let one of them sub on in this match. Obviously, in a perfect world, Rivera is an automatic sub-off at 60 minutes if we have a multi-goal lead.

In closing, I think this will be one of those games that Mims encourages the team to press high on Des Moines. Use their superior talent to force mistakes early, and try to overwhelm an overmatched team early and force them to abandon their gameplan early. I do not expect Union Omaha to approach this game as a final preseason tune up either, so I think we can expect a performance to be proud of, worthy of a team’s first ever U.S. Open Cup match.

Welcome to the last part of the four-part series where we put the spotlight on the newest signings to the 2022 Union Omaha roster.  While this may be the last part, this player is, by no means, the least valuable.  He is very familiar with the pro-soccer landscape of American, including USL League One.  In yesterday’s announcement, Union Omaha announced the signing of center-forward Alex Bruce.

            Coming from Newcastle, England, Bruce crossed the Atlantic Ocean and eventually found himself winning the 2017 US Soccer Development Academy title while playing with youth-squad Texans Houston SC.  In 2018, he joined USL Championship-side San Antonio FC.  During his time with the club, he earned 13 appearances, 8 starts, and 3 goals.  In 2019, he was loaned to Lansing Ignite FC of USL League One and made 23 appearances, 12 of which were starts.  Bruce was also able to score three goals and earn 2 assists in the same season.  His efforts helped the club reach a 2^nd place finish in the regular season.  Bruce was even able to appear in the USL League One Semifinals, playing 72 minutes in a losing effort to the eventual runner-up Greenville Triumph.  Once the season ended, Lansing Ignite FC ceased operations and Bruce was back on the search for a club.  His search didn’t take very long, as fellow USL League One-side, and then-champion, North Texas SC invited him to join the club.

            Over the course of the 2020 and 2021 USL League One seasons, Bruce made 32 appearances and starting on 13 occasions.  In the same time period, he found the net four times and added two assists to his stats.  An interesting note from his time at North Texas SC actually comes at the expense of Union Omaha.  His first assist for North Texas SC occurred in the 2-2 draw against Union Omaha during the 2020 regular season.

            Union Omaha head coach Jay Mims emphasized Bruce’s experience in his quote for the press release:

“Alex is a quality forward who can score goals and bring midfielders into the game.  I am thrilled to have a player of his experience within our team as he understands the amount of work and preparation it takes to succeed over the course of a USL season.”

In the same press release, Alex Bruce expressed his own excitement ahead of the upcoming season:

“I’m excited for the opportunity to play in the stadium and to be able to play in front of the fans,” Bruce said.

He elaborated further on Twitter, saying “Grateful for the new opportunity and to be able to continue playing the sport I love.  Thanks for those around me who continue to help me on and off the field this one’s for you.  Year 5 let’s do it!”

Bruce joins an offensive unit that experienced a lot of turnover in the offseason, so it will be interesting to watch the incoming players showcase their talents and contribute in the upcoming season.

            The 2022 US Open Cup and USL League One regular season are just a couple of weeks away, so there’s plenty of exciting news to share.  Who Gives A Hoot is your source for Union Omaha news, so keeping checking the website, along with our social media accounts, for all the latest coverage of your favorite club.

As always…¡Viva Búhos!

Welcome to the third part of the four-part series as we introduce the newest signings to the 2022 Union Omaha roster.  In this part, we’re taking a look at the exciting new signing of Isaac Bawa.

            Just like 2020-2021 Union Omaha defender Illal Osumanu, fellow defender Isaac Bawa was also born in Accra, Ghana.  It wasn’t until 2018 that Bawa would cross the Atlantic Ocean and start his playing career in the United States.  Accra may have been his birthplace, but after signing his intention to play collegiate soccer with Azusa Pacific University, Los Angeles would quickly become his hometown.

            Bawa wasted no time at all in a new country to start making a name and life for himself.  In two seasons with Azusa Pacific University, Bawa made 38 appearances, scoring 2 goals, and tacking on an assist for good measure.  As a freshman, he started in 19 matches and was named to the United Soccer Coaches All-American Second Team, D2CCA All-American Third Team, and was also named PacWest Freshman of the Year, as well as Defender of the Year.  His second year with the university saw him named to the United Soccer Coaches All-American First Team, D2CCA All-American First Team, and was lauded as the PacWest Player of the Year.  After his second collegiate season, Bawa decided to turn his sights on professional soccer and joined FC Golden State Force, from the National Independent Soccer Association (NISA).

            While playing with FC Golden State Force, Bawa made six appearances in the regular season, three appearances in the playoffs, and was part of a defensive unit that didn’t allow more than one goal in any game, earning eight shutouts along the way.  His short stop with the club allowed him to gain the attention of a much larger club that just happened to be down the street, LA Galaxy II.  Bawa spent two seasons with LA Galaxy II, a club in the USL Championship.  Across those two season, Bawa amassed 31 appearances, 27 of which were starts, and valuable experiences at the high level of USL Championship competition.

            In the Union Omaha press release, head coach Jay Mims expressed his excitement at the opportunity to help Bawa develop:

            “Isaac is a good athlete with experience from LA Galaxy who is a very versatile player.  He is only a few years out of college and is eager to learn and grow to continue his development.  We are so happy to have him in our championship, competitive environment.”

            Bawa returned his own excitement for the opportunity, saying:

“I’m super excited to win more championships for this great club.  My faith in God makes me believe this is where He wants me to be for His glory. So it’s a blessing to be a part of this amazing family, and I can’t wait to get started.”

Bawa joins a stout defensive unit and brings valuable experience with him to the club.  His inclusion to the roster adds depth and excitement for Búhos Nation to follow this coming season.  Stay tuned for the last part of our four-part series as we introduce the four new players to the 2022 Union Omaha roster.

Welcome to part two of our look into the new players joining Union Omaha.  In this round, we’ll introduce you to Joe Brito.

            If you thought Union Omaha’s midfield was fully-stocked, head coach Jay Mims has a differing opinion.  On Tuesday, midfield Joe Brito became one of the latest players to join the club and with his addition comes a whole new level of competition for playing time in the midfield.

            Brito is a driven veteran who is used to battling above his class.  Even in his early teens, Brito was proving himself in age groups above his own.  As an early teenager, he was called into nine US Soccer Training Center camps and played at the U14 level.  During his time at those camps, he was able to learn from Hugo Perez, former US Men’s National Team player and the current manager of the El Salvadoran Men’s National Team.  It didn’t take long for clubs in his own backyard to see his talent and look to further develop his potential.

            His hometown may be Bolton, Connecticut, but you can also say he grew up on the fields of the New England Revolution Academy.  During his years in their Academy, he bounced between the U16 and U18 squads, amassing plenty of appearances.  After starting 11 of the 15 matches with the U18 squad, he was recognized as the leading scorer.  Because of that, and so much more, he was formally recognized as the 2016-2017 New England Revolution Academy Player of the Year.  Later that year, Brito would move himself down to Charlotte, North Carolina and spend his collegiate years playing for the University of North Carolina – Charlotte.

            During his five years with Charlotte, Brito garnered so much attention that if player awards were Pokemon, he collected just about every single one of them.  Even as a freshman, he earned Conference USA All-Freshman team honors.  To further hit that point home, his very first goal with the 49ers was a game-winner in the Conference Tournament semifinal against FIU, who was ranked 8^th in the national polls.  The next year, he helped Charlotte earn an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament, made an appearance in the C-USA Tournament Championship, and lofted the 49ers into the national ranks for a majority of the season.  In 2019, his lore grew even larger when he scored game-winning goals in two consecutive matches, separated by a mere three days.  Oh, and he assisted two game-winning goals in the C-USA Tournament.  Two years later, he scored the game-tying goal against 5^th-ranked Kentucky with less than five minutes remaining and then assisted the game-winning goal in extra time of the first period of overtime.  By the time his collegiate career came to a close, he had earned two First-Team All-Conference USA awards, Offensive Player of the Week, and named to the All-State Men’s soccer team by the North Carolina Collegiate Sports Information Association (NCCSIA).

            In the Union Omaha press release, head coach Jay Mims stated his excitement for Brito’s signing:

“Joe is a two-way midfielder who works hard defensively and can create opportunities in the attacking third. I am excited to help Joe grow as a player and look forward to his development.”

            Brito expressed equal excitement in his quote that was also included in the press release:

            “It’s a dream come true to sign my first professional contract with a club like Union Omaha.  I’m excited to play in front of our passionate fans and help defend the championship!”

            The 2022 Union Omaha midfield will be an exciting unit to watch, especially with Brito joining the club.  Keep an eye out for the third part of this four-part series as we look at the new players joining the Union Omaha roster.