Good morning, Búhos Nation!  It’s a Union Omaha gameday, so grab your gear, wear the colors, and support the Owls as they take on Tormenta FC tonight at 6:30 PM (CST) at Erk Russell Park in Statesboro, Georgia.  The match will be broadcasted on ESPN+.

The 2021 edition of the Tormenta FC was a team that had potential, but ultimately never achieved said potential.  The team started off the season with six losses in their first seven matches.  They were able to achieve a four-match winning streak, which saw them flirting with playoff contention, but soon suffered injuries on the backline and couldn’t sustain the winning momentum.  By the final whistle of the last match of the season, Tormenta FC saw themselves in 11^th place, only 5 points above last-placed North Carolina FC.  The club was busy in the offseason and hopes to find more luck and success along the path of the 2022 USL League One regular season.

Much like most of the clubs in USL League One, Tormenta FC has seen a large roster turnover prior to the start of the 2022 regular season.  The 2021 team leading scorer, midfielder Marco Micaletto, is plying his trade in the MLS Next Pro with Columbus Crew 2.  Another major producer from last year’s squad, forward Azaad Liadi, is playing with Loudon FC in the USL Championship.  The last major piece of their 2021 roster, midfielder Luca Mayr-Fälten, crossed the Atlantic to return home and play for SK Vorkwärts Steyr in Austria.  Though this trio was essential to the roster last season, Tormenta FC has brought in some talent, as well as retained some, as well.

One familiar face for many USL League One fans is goalkeeper Pablo Jara.  By the end of the 2021 season, Jara had earned five clean sheets and was awarded the Week 10 USL League One Save of the Week and Team of the Week honors.  He’s returned for yet another season and hopes to see the club rise in the standings.  Another familiar name to Tormenta FC is midfielder Adrain Billhardt.  He had a lot of buzz surrounding him during his rookie season in 2021, but tore his ACL within the first five matches of the season and had to spend the rest of the season recovering from that injury.  He seems to be healed up and ready go, but it remains to be seen if he can substantiate the hype around him.  A new face to the club is forward Arthur Bosua.  The South African spent the 2021 season with New Amsterdam FC (NISA) and the 2020 season with the Charleston Battery (USL Championship).  He has a big frame, even bigger presence, and loves to hunt down cross.  With Jara in net, Billhardt in the midfield, and Bosua up top, the team has already laid a solid foundation for link-up play.

I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the all-too familiar name now associated with Tormenta FC: Toby Otieno.  A member of the 2020 and 2021 Union Omaha squad, many fans were excited at the prospect of seeing the Kenyan midfielder returning for a third season, but things just weren’t meant to be.  During the offseason, Otieno accepted a deal that would move him to Statesboro, Georgia and mind the midfield for Tormenta FC.  At this moment in time, Otieno is stuck in Kenya and waiting for his visa approvals before he can join his new club.

Union Omaha and Tormenta FC have only played each other four times, but I don’t think I have to go out on a limb when I say that Tormenta FC may be Union Omaha’s biggest supporter.  Aside from a draw during their first match in 2020, Union Omaha has collected three points each time they played.  In fact, it’s been 583 days since Tormenta FC has scored a goal on Union Omaha.  Remember when Prince Harry and Meghan Markle quit the royal family and moved to Canada?  How about murder hornets?  Yeah, those news pieces are just slightly older than Tormenta FC’s last goal against Union Omaha.

As far as what to expect tonight, Tormenta FC head coach Ian Cameron will likely have a similar system in place: lots of possession, lots of commitment to moving numbers up the field, and glaring vulnerabilities in transition.  In the four times that Union Omaha has faced Tormenta FC, Cameron instituted a different formation in three of the matches.  One thing rings true across those formations: the more players he commits high on the field, the more goals the team will let in.  This is because the players transition with excitement on offense, but don’t commitment to getting back on defense and open themselves up to counterattacks.  This was true in Week 1, when Tormenta FC lost 0-1 to last year’s Wooden Spoon winner: North Carolina FC.

Cameron tried to play a 4-5-1 while on defense, but transition to a 3-5-2 (with two Central Defensive Midfielders and three Central Attacking Midfielders).  In the first half alone, there were almost a handful of instances where four to five players were committed high up the field, with only three to four sitting far back on the backline.  North Carolina was able to create turnovers, sneak midfielders into wide open spaces, and transition quickly on offense.  Tormenta FC gave up the game winner in the first half because of this exact tactic, combined with poor defensive tracking inside their own box before the eventual game-winning header.

Tormenta FC does have some quality players on their roster, but it seems that the tactics are still lacking at this point.  If Union Omaha can control the midfield, keep attacking along the flanks, counter attack quickly, and capitalize on set pieces or in-play crosses, the Owls shouldn’t have any trouble continuing their unbeaten streak.  Hopefully Union Omaha can put a cherry on top and make it another clean sheet in the process.  Three clean sheets across four matches?  Not bad.

Kickoff is scheduled for 6:30 PM (CST), so make sure you plant yourself in front of a TV to watch the match.  If you are in the Omaha area and want to watch with other fans, there will be a watch party at the Corner Kick Cantina located at 132^nd & Dodge.  The watch party begins at 5 PM, but if you’d like to arrive early and help with a special project involving the national flags hung during home matches, feels free to arrive around 3 PM and provide some extra hands.  It’s going to be a fun evening, so where your colors proudly and cheer on the Owls to their first victory of the season.  ¡Viva Búhos!

Union Omaha continues to find gems in the Omaha area. This afternoon, the club announced the signing of midfielder Eddie Gordon to the 2022 roster.

Eddie Gordon is no stranger to the Omaha area, playing high school soccer at Creighton Prep and college soccer at the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO). Before joining the Mavericks at UNO, Gordon was a decorated player for the Junior Jays. In his four years at Creighton Prep, he was a team captain for two years, played in three straight Nebraska Class A title games, won the state title in 2017 (runner-up in 2015 and 2016), was a two-time Nebraska Gatorade Player of the Year, and was twice selected to the First Team All-Nebraska selection (both times as the team captain). Oh, and was also named the honorary captain of the All-Nebraska Class A team. If he didn’t win the “Most Likely to Succeed” superlative, he definitely used that as motivation to work even harder at UNO.

In his four years as a Maverick, Gordon had 46 starts across 77 appearances, collected 3 assists, and was selected for plenty of conference honors, including Summit League Commissioner’s List of Academic Excellence, Summit League Academic Honor Roll, CoSIDA Adademic All-District Team, Summit League All-Tournament, and All-Summit Second Team.

The connection between Gordon and Union Omaha head coach Jay Mims has been a long-time development. In a 2020 essay/interview with The Summit League, Gordon spoke about his deep desire to play for Mims. Even before being offered a spot to pay at UNO, Gordon played for Mims at the club level and became fond of, what he would coin, “The Mims Effect.” In the essay titled, “I Will Reach the Summit,” Gordon described the high standards and expectations placed upon himself and his teammates:
“None of the kids on this team were incredible by any means, but we worked harder than anyone else we played, including other teams in Omaha, at regional tournaments. Even though we were never as talented as some of the academy teams, it wasn’t difficult to see which team worked harder, ran farther, and wanted it more. We coined the term, “The Mims Effect”, and no matter what team he coaches, those qualities shine through.”
When he was awarded the no. 6 role on the team at UNO, it meant more than just the number on the jersey. As fate would have it, Gordon’s dad wore the same number during his collegiate soccer career at Notre Dame. To go one step further: growing up, Gordon’s favorite soccer player, Mark Moulton, was both a midfielder and captain at both Creighton Prep and UNO. Playing in the midfield and wearing the no. 6 jersey at UNO was in the stars. His journey didn’t stop upon graduation, as Mims recruited him to play professionally.

In the club’s press release, Mims expressed excitement with Gordon joining the club and seeing his development: “Eddie has an incredible determination to succeed and a great attitude. He is a versatile player who can play in a number of positions. I look forward to his development over the new few years, and I am super proud of him. It really is special to begin his professional career right here in the city where he grew up.”

Gordon was quick to express his own excitement of the signing: “It’s been a dream come true to be able to join this team and be a part of this organization, and I’m so blessed to be able to continue my journey here in Omaha. I’m incredibly excited to have a chance to help this team in any way that I can! I can’t wait to get started!”

Union Omaha has their second match of the regular season tomorrow in Georgia as the Owls take on South Georgia Tormenta FC at 6:30 PM (CST). Tune into ESPN+ for the broadcast and then stay tuned to Who Gives A Hoot for reactions, breakdowns, and all of the content to feed your Union Omaha appetite. As always…¡Viva Búhos!

Union Omaha finally dropped the curtains on the long-suspected signing of Kemal Malcolm.  The 32 year-old Jamaican attacking midfielder was announced as the newest addition to the roster for the 2022 season.

Malcolm brings with him a wealth of experience, ranging from the Jamaican national team, Arnett Gardens FC in Jamaica, and AD Chalatenango in El Salvador.  If the Jamaican national team and Arnett Gardens are familiar to you, that’s because fellow-Owl, and Reggae Boy, Chavany Willis also spent time with those squads.  During Malcom’s eight years with Arnett Gardens FC, he was a part of the league-winning squad in 2015 and 2017.  After transferring to AD Chalatenango, Malcolm had 21 goals and 3 assists in 48 matches.  It should also be noted that Malcolm has appeared for the Jamaican national team 8 times and scored two goals.

 With his addition to the squad, Union Omaha greatly supports their offense ahead of this weekend’s match against South Georgia Tormenta.  It remains to be seen if Malcolm will start for the Owls on Saturday evening, but even his inclusion to practices will help develop the youthful attackers who have already signed for the club.  Malcolm doesn’t have many highlight reels available online, and the quality of the videos is even harder to watch, but one thing is sure about him: he knows how to score. 

Though he may be listed as an attacking midfielder, it should surprise nobody that he can also float up top as a striker.  He is a player that brings a lot of speed, acumen in transition, and is a proven finisher.  From what can be made out of the videos online, he routinely terrorizes the opposition along the right side of the field.  He doesn’t stick to the sideline, but likes to float just to the right of center and create a lane for himself.  Melding his style of play to that of Union Omaha head coach Jay Mims will not take long at all.  They complement each other very well and Búhos Nation shouldn’t have to wait long to see Malcolm make a difference on the field, let alone make an appearance.

In the club’s press release, Jay Mims echoed a lot of the sentiments above by saying, “Kemal is a quick, talented striker that is excited to join our club.  He will add immediate quality and experience to our attacking group of players, and I’m excited to work with him soon.”

 Union Omaha is on the road again and takes on South Georgia Tormenta FC this Saturday evening at 6:30 (CST).  If you are looking to watch the match with other people, there are watch parties happening around the city.  One, in particular, will be happening at The Corner Kick, the official watch party location for Parliament this season.  Keep an eye out for further details regarding start time and location.  Whether you’re at a watch party or watching from home, make sure to tune in and watch the Owls continue their title defense.

 Before heading to the watch party, keep up with the latest news and content surrounding your favorite local soccer team via Who Gives A Hoot.  If you like reading, we have articles.  If you like listening to banter, we have a podcast. [Editor’s note: if you like WATCHING banter, we’re putting the pod on YouTube these days.] Subscribe to Who Gives A Hoot and get the latest offerings sent directly to you.  Union Omaha makes it easy to watch soccer, so why shouldn’t we make it easy to root for them?  As always…¡Viva Búhos!

Big week for the owls that have flown away with 2nd Round Open Cup matches and league matches on the weekend. The Open Cup provided particularly happy hunting grounds with Evan Conway continuing his hot streak, Dami getting a goal (on a header (assisted by Sousa)) in his debut for Republic FC, and Jake Crull scoring his first professional goal on the same day as his brother Taylor scored his first professional goal. When asked when the last time Jake and his brother scored on the same day, he had a succinct answer: “never.” All but one player involved advanced and the average FotMob rating was 7.5. Wild stuff. (Also, will I use this date point when I continue to tell folks we could have made a super deep run in this tournament last year…yes.)

Player Name	Team	Opponent	Results	Starter	Position	Minutes	Goals	Assists	FotMob Rating
Greg Hurst	Phoenix Rising	Valley United FC	1-0 ET	N	LM	78	0	0	7.1
Evan Conway	San Diego Loyal	ALBION San Diego	2-1	Y	ST	63	1	0	7.5
Damia Viader	Republic FC	Portland Timbers U23	6-0	Y	LM	90	1	0	8.6
Ferrety Sousa	Republic FC	Portland Timbers U23	6-0	Y	RB	90	0	2	8.9
Devin Boyce	Memphis 901 FC	Chattanooga FC	1-3	Y	RM	45	0	0	6.6
Ethan Vanacore-Decker	NoCo Hailstorm	Colorado Springs	1-0 ET	Y	ST	65	0	0	6.7
Jacob Crull	FC Tucson	Las Vegas Lights	3-2	Y	LCB	90	1	0	7.9
Tobias Otenio	South Georgia Tormenta	Charleston Battery	1-0	Not in squad
Christian Molina	Richmond Kickers	Nova FC	1-0	Not in squad
Nate Aune	Richmond Kickers	Nova FC	1-0	Y	CB	45	0	0	7

I have less to say about matches over the weekend. BUT, the real MVP and the _REAL_ MVP scored goals the only goals in the Kickers v Hailstorm match on Saturday, so that is fun.

Player Name	Team	Opponent	Results	Starter	Position	Minutes	Goals	Assists	FotMob Rating
Greg Hurst	Phoenix Rising	LA Galaxy II	3-1	Y	LW	86	0	0	7.3
Evan Conway	San Diego Loyal	Charleston Battery	4-1	Y	LM	45	0	0	7.1
Nicholas Firmino	Atlanta 2	Detroit City FC	0-4	Y	CM	81	0	0	7
Ethan Vanacore-Decker	NoCo Hailstorm	Richmond Kickers	1-1	Y	LM	62	1	0	7.6
Christian Molina	Richmond Kickers	NoCo Hailstorm	1-1	Not in squad
Nate Aune	Richmond Kickers	NoCo Hailstorm	1-1	Y	CB	90	0	0	6.8

            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