Earlier today, Union Omaha treated its fans to a second helping of player signings.  This time, the club brought news of a player new to the area.  Giovanni Montesdeoca has signed with the Owls for the 2022 League One season.

The Dallas native and forward has quite the history already: University of North Carolina standout, three Final Four appearances with the Tarheels, Third Team All-American, and two-time national champion while playing for the academy at FC Dallas.  With his already-productive career, the 23 year-old looks to add more lines to his crowded resume, but is even more determined to continue crowding his trophy shelf.

In today’s press release from Union Omaha, Giovanni Montesdeoca said:

“I am extremely blessed and thankful for this opportunity to join Union Omaha.  The club’s success recently has shown this is a winning culture!  I will give everything for this club and to add positive value to the team in any way possible.  I’m looking forward to meeting the staff, my teammates and most importantly the fans!”

Union Omaha coach Jay Mims had high praise for the newest Owl in today’s press release, saying:

“I love Giovanni’s background and I know he will fit in culturally within our team.  He had a great youth career with FC Dallas and was able to really excel at UNC.  He is excited to get to work and we are eager to start coaching him.”

In 2021, Giovanni Montesdeoca spent time with Loudoun United FC in the USL Championship.  Having signed his contract with Loudoun United FC in July of 2021, the forward was able to find playing time in 13 of the remaining 17 matches of the club’s season.  Despite Loudoun United’s difficult campaign last season, Montesdeoca looks to reverse his fortunes this season by helping the Owls defend their title.

As a part of the 2022 Union Omaha roster, Montesdeoca will be able to test his skills in the preseason against a club that is very familiar to his family.  On March 12^th, Union Omaha will travel to Kansas City and take the field against Sporting Kansas City II.  Purely coincidental, but Montesdeoca’s uncle, Jose Luis Burciaga, played several seasons with the then-Kansas City Wizards [Editors Note: And for the COLORADO RAPIDS in 2008.] Less than a week later, Giovanni will battle with Union Omaha as they take on St. Louis City SC 2, the reserve side for the new MLS club.  The clash is scheduled for March 18^th and will provide a quality competitive experience for the Owls.

The announcement of Giovanni joining the Owls continues to build the excitement as preseason matches are only a month away.  There are still several roster spots to be filled, so follow Who Gives A Hoot on social media and keep checking for the latest news surrounding the club.  With the regular season fast approaching, we’ll keep you fully informed about the club, the league, and all of the fun, and random, information you never knew you wanted to know.  We’re the gift the keeps on giving…because we give a hoot.  ¡Viva Búhos!

Union Omaha took fans by surprise this afternoon with the announcement of another signing: Ricardo “Ricky” Rivera. The Owls now have eleven players on their roster, much to the chagrin of the rest of the league.  Some players have already reported to Omaha and started training for the upcoming regular season, which kicks off for the Owls on April 9^th in Madison, Wisconsin against Forward Madison.

      Ricky Rivera returns to Union Omaha following an injury-shortened 2021 season.  After signing with the club in August of 2021, Rivera wasted very little time before producing a goal for the Owls during an away match at North Carolina FC on September 4^th.  Having progressed through his physical recovery, the 24 year-old Puerto Rican National Team player is ready to endear himself to fans.  In the press release from the club earlier today, Rivera said:

“I am really excited to continue my professional career with this great organization and the support of the Búhos fans.  I am healthy and ready to show what I am capable of to the team, the staff and the fans!  Last year we were champions and we are going to work hard to achieve nothing less than that.  Counting on your support to go the whole way!  Viva Búhos!”

His enthusiasm was matched only by Union Omaha coach Jay Mims in the same press release:

“We are happy to have Ricky back this season as he showed some great qualities playing as a striker.  Now with a full season ahead of us, I know Ricky will have a chip on his shoulder and be eager to work for the team and help us have a great year.”

After a League One Championship, in which there were complaints lodged regarding sand spread across the playing surface, it seems fitting that Union Omaha would sign a player who has a history of playing professional beach soccer.  Ricky Rivera brings that wealth of experience from his time spent at Caparra FC, a club based in his home country of Puerto Rico.  With his competitive experiences on multiple surfaces, League One clubs should be wary of the dual-threat he possesses.

Rivera looks to step into the big shoes of the offensive production from last season.  Union Omaha finished the 2021 League One regular season with 44 goals, 27 of which came from Greg Hurst and Evan Conway.  With the departure of Hurst and Conway, Mims has been assigned the difficult assignment of replacing the high-yielding duo.  Recent signings, like Rivera, give a sliver of signs to what the club’s offense could look like come April.  This has the potential to be a fast-moving offense, capitalizing on fast breaks.  Without speculating too much, Mims is signing players that will bring excitement to Werner Park, as well as the rest of the League One stadiums.

Los Búhos are still assembling their 2022 roster, which means there are still plenty of news, updates, and analysis from Who Gives A Hoot.  Make sure to follow us on social media for Union Omaha fun.  If you’re looking for even more ways to enjoy Union Omaha news, make sure to check out the latest episode of the Who Gives A Hoot podcast.  The voices you love will keep you entertained with offseason developments, all with their own fun and unique twist on the club and league.  ¡Viva Búhos!

It’s Tuesday and that can only mean one thing for Union Omaha and Búhos Nation: more club roster announcements.  Today’s announcement brings news of a familiar Owl returning to Omaha for the 2022 League One season.

            Yoskar “Edu” Galvan-Mercado has signed a contract with Union Omaha at 18 years old, making him the youngest professional signing in club history.  This isn’t unfamiliar territory for Galvan-Mercado, though.  In August of 2021, he signed the first-ever academy contract in club history.  By the end of the 2021 season, Galvan-Mercado played a total of 39 minutes, but seemed to have left a greater mark on those around him than his minutes could ever show.

            In today’s press release from Union Omaha, coach Jay Mims said:

“We are thrilled to be a part of this exciting process for Yoskar as he has a bright future ahead and his dream has become a reality.  Through the Union Omaha and USL partnership with Bellevue University, he will now be able to continue his education while playing professional soccer, which was important to all of us.”

            In the same press release, Yoskar was quoted as saying, “I’m thankful and blessed to have the opportunity to sign my first professional contract.”  Referencing the aforementioned dream, Galvan-Mercado said, “It’s been my dream since I was a little kid, and I’m making this dream a reality.  I can’t wait to be able to play in front of our amazing fanbase again – Viva Búhos!”

            Yoskar graduated from Lexington High School and impressed analysts during his time with the Minutemen.  Galvan-Mercado played in the 2021 Class B State Finals, named to the 2021 Boys Super-State Second Team, and was also named to the Class B All-State Team.  He spent his time playing club soccer with Gretna’s Elite Academy, as well.  Now that he has signed his professional contract, he can play professional soccer while attending college and it will only be a short drive away from his hometown.

            Galvan-Mercado brings youth and eagerness to a full Union Omaha midfield and will learn plenty from the club veterans.  Coach Jay Mims also expressed excitement after signing Yoskar to his academy contract last year:

            “Players like Yoskar do not come around often.  He is a special player who has such great imagination and joy when he plays but also has a competitive edge to him.  His ability to think and see the game at such a high level for being so young is encouraging.  I am excited to help Yoskar continue to develop on and off the field over the upcoming years.”

            It will be interesting to see how Galvan-Mercado fits into the system, but there’s little doubt that coach Mims will find the best version of him and enhance his own system along the way. The 2022 League One season is going to be an exciting one, so make sure to purchase your season tickets. You’re not going to want to miss out on 2022 League One action.

            Tuesdays have become a cherished day of the week for club announcements, but in between those weekly holidays, make sure to check out the latest that Who Gives A Hoot has to offer.  It may be the offseason, but the podcast hasn’t slowed down a bit, so go to your favorite podcast-streaming service and listen to the latest episode.  We’ll keep you updated with Union Omaha club news, analysis, and a little bit of fun banter, as well.

When Union Omaha simply tweeted, “Tuesday,” fans had no idea what to expect.  The anticipation for today paid off as the club announced two signings in the same day.  One of the two signings, Dion Acoff, has joined the club ahead of the 2022 League One regular season, which kicks off for the Owls in 67 days.

            The 30 year-old forward is familiar with the Omaha area, having played for Creighton University from 2009 to 2011.  In his 58 appearances with the Blue Jays, Acoff scored 5 goals and collected 16 assists.  After the 2011 season with Creighton, Acoff spent the 2012 season in his home state of California with the University of California at Santa Barbara.  In his single season with the Gauchos, he was able to score 1 goal and earn 3 assists across 22 matches, in which 19 appearances were starts.  In each of his three seasons playing in the Missouri Valley Conference, Acoff was the recipient of a slew of awards, such as MVC Freshman of the Year, MVC All-Freshman Team, MVC First Team, NSCAA All-Midwest Region Second Team, MVC Second Team, MVC Offensive Player of the Week, and College Soccer News National Team of the Week.

            After performing well in the college ranks, Acoff continued to excel as a professional.  His first professional career started in 2015, with a stop at Knattspyrnufélagið Þróttur in Iceland.  Acoff played for the Köttarar, or “Meat Eaters,” in 40 appearances, scoring 9 goals along the way.  During his time in Iceland, he also played for Valur, where he was able to showcase in skills in the UEFA Champions League and Europa League.  While playing for Valur, Acoff made 32 appearances and scored 6 goals, winning the top Icelandic league twice, the Icelandic Super Cup twice, and the League Cup once.  In 2019, Acoff joined Seinäjoen Jalkapallokerho (SJK) in Finland, before returning to Iceland in 2020 with Grindavik.

            Returning stateside brings Acoff back to familiar territory, under the familiar coaching of Jay Mims, and allows him to reunite with a fellow former Blue Jay, Conor Doyle.  In the press release from the club, Mims said, “I have known Dion since he was in high school and have always enjoyed watching him play.”  Referencing his international experience, Mims noted that Acoff “…brings plenty of experience by playing in 1^st divisions in Europe over the last several years and I am excited to reconnect with him over the next few years.”

            In the same press release, Acoff said, “I am really looking forward to being back in the states and playing in Omaha again.”  While complimenting Union Omaha, he said, “I am excited to be a part of this organization and the community.  Omaha is where it started for me back in college so to come back and play here is something special.”

            In the videos below, you’ll see that Acoff can punish the opposition if he’s given space.  Almost all of his videos show him playing strictly up and down the sideline, but he doesn’t let that stop him from providing quality crosses and low-driven passes into the box.  If he’s given time and space, he is a dangerous player, especially in build-up play into the attacking third.  He should be a valuable member of the offense, collecting quite a few assists throughout the season.  While he has the history of playing as a forward, he shows a lot of value along the sideline as a midfielder.  Mims will do a great job of coaching Acoff to fit into his system perfectly.

            With these two signings, Union Omaha now has eight players signed to the 2022 season.  The club opens their title defense on April 9^th in Madison, Wisconsin against Forward Madison FC.  The Owls play their first home match on April 23^rd in a first-time matchup with Central Valley Fuego FC.  If you haven’t purchased your season tickets yet, make sure to head over to the club’s website or call the ticket office to be a part of the exciting action this upcoming season.

While some people in the Omaha area are elated to hear the news about a second elephant being born at the Henry Doorly Zoo, Union Omaha fans are overjoyed to hear about another owl joining the club.

            On Tuesday afternoon, Union Omaha announced the signing of forward Noe Meza.  The 23 year-old comes from Sunnyside, Washington and played collegiate soccer at Seattle University. The new signing brings a wealth of experience from his young career.  After redshirting for the Redhawks in 2016, Meza went on to appear in 62 matches, starting in 44, and scored 21 goals, including 6 game-winning goals and a hat trick.  He was even given the opportunity to showcase his talents at the NCAA Tournament, where he scored against Stanford.  His play on the field attracted several accolades, including Team of the Week nominations, First Team All-WAC, All-WAC Second Team, and WAC Tournament MVP.

            In the club’s announcement, released earlier this afternoon, Union Omaha coach Jay Mims said, “Noe is someone I have tracked for several years and I have enjoyed watching his development.”  When describing how Meza would fit into the lineup, Mims said Meza “…is a versatile player who can play in a number of different positions including up front, in the midfield, or in the back.  He comes from a super program and I am excited to help Noe develop into a good professional on and off the field.”

            Noe Meza released a short statement in the same press release from the club, saying, “I’m very excited to join such a great club and city.”  He also complimented the club and said, “The club’s recent history has shown a culture of winning.  I look forward to helping bring more success.  I can’t wait to play in front of an amazing fan base.”

            Looking at Meza’s scouting film and highlight reels, he looks like an intelligent team player with soft feet and good finishing skills.  He makes good runs up the field after passing to a teammate, has good composure under pressure, and has good instincts in the build-up of plays.  Most of his film shows him playing out of the middle, but also shows his comfort level along the sideline and movement between the two areas of the field.  That kind of freedom comes from a coach who is comfortable with the skills in his player and trusts his instincts.  His height may limit him in aerial battles in League One, but his film also shows that he is good at winning the second ball and redirecting shots or headers on goal.  He also shows the ability to draw fouls around the penalty area.  This could become a valuable asset for the club during set pieces.

            Noe Meza is one of two signings from the club today, so be on the lookout for the second article, in which we highlight the second addition to the team and welcome another owl to the community and our collective family.

            Stay tuned to Who Gives A Hoot for even more analysis and thoughts on the recent club signings through our articles and podcast episodes.  It may be offseason for the club, but the banter never quits on the podcast, so check out the latest episode to hear your favorite voices break down the latest club and league news, with a healthy sprinkle of miscellaneous news to keep you on your toes.

With 4 players signed to USL-Championship clubs so far this offseason, another Owl could soon leave the nest and be on there way to another club.  This time, the player involved is Damià Viader.

          In late December, Union Omaha announced the re-signing of Damià Viader for the 2022 League One season.  The 23 year-old Spaniard was named League One Defender of the Year in 2021, as well as Most Valuable Player in the Championship Match, so it shouldn’t come as any surprise that his efforts turned the heads of those at larger clubs.  The most recent suitor is Toronto FC, the winners of the 2017 MLS Cup.

            Earlier today, Toronto FC announced a 34-player roster for a preseason camp in California.  Viader’s name was included among the names released to the public, but only as a “Trial” player.  When he laces up and hits the field, he’ll be joined by likes of Michael Bradley, Sebastian Giovinco, Alejandro Pozuelo, and newly-appointed coach Bob Bradley.  The camp is expected to extend into early February, as the club continues to prepare for its first preseason match, scheduled for February 26^th against FC Dallas.

            After “The Reds” finished the 2021 MLS regular season ranked 13^th in the Eastern Conference (26^th overall), the club currently finds itself in rebuilding mode.  The club is filled with veteran experience, but the aging presence wasn’t the best fit for then-coach Chris Armas, who preferred to play a high-pressing, fast-paced style.  After Armas was fired, Javier Pérez filled in for the remainder of the season.  Upon the conclusion of the season, Toronto FC opted to bring in the well-established Bob Bradley for the 2022 season.

            So how will Viader fit into the system at Toronto?  Well, the Reds currently have glut of attackers ready to make Bradley’s style of play work in the East.  While Bradley coached Los Angeles FC from 2017 to 2021, his team often displayed a healthy balance of pressure, possession, and flashy play.  In fact, the 2021 LAFC squad possessed many 1^st and 2^nd-placed rankings in year end statistics, including goal differential, passing, and shots.  This style certainly plays to the strengths of Viader.

            As Union Omaha fans saw time and time again, Viader has the abilities and determination to make plays on both ends of the field.  He spent almost all of his time along the left sideline, but exercised good judgement in floating toward the middle to support his teammates during the run of play.  Viader also showed exceptional ability to produce chances in the box with his efforts along the sideline.  With his passes and crosses, he was able to create a league-leading 61 chances, resulting in 6 assists. [editor’s note: Dami generated a league leading 8.33 xAssists over the last two seasons #datadump]

            Bob Bradley’s style has evolved a bit over the course of his career, but with the offensive weapons available at Toronto FC, especially with Viader’s possible inclusion to the roster, he could end up with a high-powered offense.  Make no mistake: Bradley likes to press, but it’s not the all-out blitz type of press that Armas tried to employ during his short tenure at the club.  Bradley has a more patient press, if that makes any sense at all.  His LAFC squad forced a lot of turnovers and quickly moved up the field on the counter-attack.  Another prominent note from his time in Los Angeles was how much time the ball spent in the middle of the field, right outside of the 18-yard box.  Viader would be a valued member of the distribution team, especially from the point of the turnover to assisting the goal at the other end of the field.

            Of the 11 defenders invited to the preseason camp, only three players have a history of playing on the left side: Rohan Goulbourne (19 years old, Toronto FC II (and one time IWCC player)), Luca Petrasso (21 years old, Toronto FC II), and Damià Viader.  While Petrasso is a true left-back, Goulbourne has also spent time as a left-wing.  As for the 2022 Toronto FC roster, there are already two left-backs on the payroll: Kemar Lawrence (29 years old, Jamaica, contract ends in 2024) and the already-mentioned Luca Petrasso (21 years old, Canada, contract ends in 2023).  Lawrence made 25 appearances with the Reds last season, while Petrasso earned 28 appearances with TFC2.  On January 11^th of this year, Petrasso signed a Homegrown Player contract with Toronto FC that will last through 2023.  Viader will have some competition at the camp, but he should be able to impress players and coaches alike.

            The left-back position doesn’t seem to be very high on the scale of importance for Toronto FC at the moment.  Being that the club is in the process of rebuilding, the Reds are looking to possibly re-sign forward Sebastian Giovinco, after selling him to Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hilal FC in 2019.  Giovinco would have to enter the MLS Allocation Order and Process, of which Toronto FC occupies the third position.  The club is also focused on opening a Designated Player spot, as well as money, for the incoming star forward Lorenzo Insigne.  Another big-name player that could potentially make the move up north is center-back Carlos Salcedo.  In doing so, the club would likely have to release players like midfielder Yeferson Soteldo and forward Jozy Altidore.  With all of these moves, the club could very easily find comfort in the way of Lawrence at left-back and keep Petrasso as his backup, in order to avoid any additional financial moves (i.e. Damià Viader).  Of course, there are ways in which Viader could be brought into the club, while keeping the books in order, but that’s a matter for their financial officers to handle.

            Obviously Búhos Nation would appreciate Viader’s presence on the field, but he deserves to reach high and strive for his full potential.  Even though that potential may not be reached while playing in Omaha, he can rest easy knowing that he made a huge impact on the club and will have plenty of fans supporting him from afar.  Once an Owl, Always an Owl.  So from those of us here at Who Gives A Hoot: best of luck at the preseason camp, Dami. [editor’s note: Don’t be afraid to show them your greatness!]

It’s the season of giving and USL League One generously gave their fans a big gift: the schedule for the 2022 regular season!  With 11 [editor’s note: all independent!] clubs competing in the league next season and the league sticking with 30 matches per club, it makes perfect sense for the league to design a schedule where each club plays all of the other clubs in the league three times throughout the season.  Now that the schedule has been finalized and released, let’s dive into Union Omaha’s schedule and find some of the hidden treasures and traps along the path to the postseason.

Before we get started, here’s a quick rundown of the 2022 Union Omaha schedule:

For the third year in a row, Union Omaha gets to watch other clubs battle in the opening week of the season.  The Owls will start their title defense in Week 2, when they travel north to play our friendly neighbors in Madison, Wisconsin.  Búhos Nation will have to wait until the fourth week of the season before the Union Omaha has its first home match.  The club has three extended breaks of ten days or more throughout the season and two of them occur before Week 9 of competition.

The first third (10 matches) of Union Omaha’s season stretches from April 9^th to June 18^th: a total of 70 days.  With an average of seven days occurring between those matches, the team only has one midweek match.  Fortunately for them, both the midweek and weekend match are home matches, so no travel worries will occupy any space in their recovery and preparation.  Nine out of the ten matches occur on Saturdays and the team will have the most away matches during this span of their season, with six matches occurring on the road.  The team finishes this ten-match schedule with a home match against runner-up Greenville Triumph – the first time the two clubs will face each other since the 2021 USL League One Championship.

As Union Omaha enters Week 13 and begins the second third of their season, they’ll start to feel a little bit of a compressed schedule.  The next ten matches occur over the span of 56 days, affording the Owls slightly less time to recover and prepare for the next match.  This is due, in part, to the crunch in scheduling from Week 17 to Week 18, where the club will three matches in seven days.  The Owls have two midweek matches during this same time period, but the rest of the matches are on Saturdays.  During these ten matches, Union Omaha will experience a balanced mixture of home and away matches, with five of each taking place.

The final third of the season is where the schedule truly condenses and places a lot of stress on the team.  These ten matches take place across 49 days, allowing the team an average of just under 5 days to recover from the previous match day.  The last ten matches see the club playing the most midweek matches, alongside their lone Sunday match.  Half of the matches in final weeks of the season see the team playing on four, or less, days of rest.  The worst portion of this schedule is from Week 24 to Week 26.  In the matter of ten days, the team will play four matches.  During this same span of time, the club will face FC Tucson on the road, Richmond Kickers at home, Greenville Triumph at home, and finish with a road trip to Northern Colorado.  There’s no doubt that the first three opponents will be highly competitive next season, so that run of matches will be crucial to the team’s final placement in the standings.

This season will be a true test of grit, and roster depth, as it is only natural that load management will come into play as the regular season ends.  The 2021 Greenville Triumph team experienced a lot of this, yet still found a way to finish strong.  Luckily for the Triumph, most of their injuries occurred early-to-midway through the regular season.  If Union Omaha can stay healthy and manage the stress and strain of the season, hopefully they will find the same level of success, or better, during the continuing compression of the schedule.

One of the features of having each club play three matches against the other clubs in the league is the inevitable imbalance between home and away matches.  Here is how Union Omaha’s schedule against each club breaks down:

Here’s the good, the bad, and the ugly surrounding the 2022 Union Omaha regular season schedule:

The Good:

• The club gets plenty of rest at the beginning of the season, allowing the team an easier transition back into the league’s competitive schedule.
• As the regular season comes to a close, the team begins to have more home matches than away matches.
• There’s no point in the schedule where the team plays more than two away matches in a row, unlike last season’s streak of six away matches at the beginning of the season.
• Aside from having two home matches against every new club competing in the league this coming season, the two highest-finishing clubs (outside of Union Omaha) from last season (Greenville Triumph and Chattanooga) will also make multiple visits to Werner Park.
• Union Omaha has six midweek matches, but four of them are home matches.  Of the six matches that follow those midweek matches, four of them are also home matches.

The Bad:

• The months of April and June will see fans filling Werner Park only once during each month.
• June and July each have a small stretch of tough matches.  June has Union Omaha at Chattanooga, at FC Tucson, and finishing up at home against Greenville.  July features a home match against FC Tucson, trips to Greenville Triumph and Forward Madison, and then a home match against Chattanooga.
• There are only two midweek matches that feature Union Omaha playing on the road and both of those matches are against opponents that are probably the easiest for Union Omaha fans to drive to.

The Ugly:

• It’s already been stated that the last third of Union Omaha’s regular season will be brutal, but not just because of the condensed scheduling.  From Week 22 to Week 25, Union Omaha will play at Richmond Kickers, host Forward Madison, host Chattanooga, at FC Tucson, host Richmond Kickers, and host Greenville Triumph.  This could end up being the toughest stretch of matches in their season.  In those 21 days, Union Omaha will face a tight schedule of six matches, filled mostly with clubs that played in the 2021 playoffs.  Having an average of 3.5 days of rest before the next opponent will be extremely tough on the Owls.

Now that the 2022 USL League One regular season schedule has been released, you can start to make your travel plans.  The club has repeatedly said how impressed and ingratiated they are by the support of Búhos Nation, so make sure you have your tickets lined up, as well.  Starting in April, the Owls will return to the field to defend their title and the competition is only going to get better.  Even though we’re still in the offseason, Who Gives A Hoot still has you covered for all of the great Union Omaha coverage.  Make sure to continue following us on social media, checking for new articles, and listening to the latest and greatest episodes of the podcast.  We here at Who Gives A Hoot wish you all the safety, comfort, and happiness during the holiday season.  ¡Viva Búhos!

            It’s hard to imagine the holiday season bringing any more happiness, but as usual, Union Omaha found a way to give their fans a quality gift: a roster update!

            Yesterday, Union Omaha sent a tweet with a link to the club’s website, announcing the return of five players from the Championship-winning team.  This press release is the first update of any roster signings since the 2021 USL League One Championship.  Fans can begin to celebrate the return of familiar faces while continuing to speculate about their teammates, as well as any players that saw their stock rise after the Open Tryouts.  Either way, the 2022 Union Omaha roster is beginning to take shape and some excellent players are sticking around the Omaha area.

            The first player mentioned in the release is Damià Viader.  If you painted a portrait of Viader using a different color for each accolade, you’d better be prepared for a very colorful portrait.  He was named USL League One Championship MVP, Defender of the Year, and First Team All-League Defender, to name a few.  He showcased his talents at left back and left midfielder, leaving no doubt to his domination along the way.  His return to club next season is a big step toward Union Omaha having another strong season.

            Joining Viader will be Conor Doyle, an integral part of Union Omaha’s offense.  Doyle was no stranger to awards, having been named among “Team of the Week” twice throughout the 2021 USL League One regular season.  While playing in all 30 of Union Omaha’s 2021 matches, he was able to amass six assists.  Even though this past season was his first with the club, manager Jay Mims trusted him by giving him the second-highest amount of minutes played by any Owl on the roster.  Doyle’s intelligence on the field will certainly be of great value next season.

            JP Scearce is another familiar name to many Union Omaha fans.  He’ll be keeping his talents in Werner Park for the 2022 season.  [Editors note: JP was one of two players (Dami is the other) who were already under contract for the season.] During the 2021 season, Scearce was a passing, shooting, and tackling machine.  His defensive efforts lead the team with the most tackles, most tackles won, most duels, most duels won, most aerial duels, and most aerial duels won.  Union Omaha will be more than happy to utilize his talents and work ethic.

            If you’re looking for more defense, then you’ll be happy to know that Daltyn Knutson is returning to the club next season, as well.  Playing as one of the defensive stalwarts in front of the goal, Knutson lead the team in clearances and blocks in 2021.  His presence on the backline was a key factor to Union Omaha’s defensive success.  His calmness in the face of chaos will be welcome returning sight for the club.

            One player we didn’t see a lot of last season, but could easily see a lot more of in 2022 is Kevin Piedrahita.  In his four starts throughout the 2021 season, Piedrahita saved seven shots.  The 2021 season was his first with the club, joining the Owls after leaving CD La Equidad, a first-division club from Colombia.  His experience at top-level soccer will surely help him in the 2022 season.

            There are still plenty of roster announcements to come in the near future, so keep an eye out for more updates from the crew here at Who Gives A Hoot Media.  We’ll continue to bring you updates, analysis, and fun episodes of our podcast.  The 2022 roster is already looking good with these five players, so while you’re waiting for more news, make sure to let these players know how happy you are to see them return.  ¡Viva Búhos!

What a season!  The Owls were able to win “the double” and Union Omaha fans can ride that joy for the entire offseason.  There are plenty of team achievements that have been mentioned all season, so let’s break out the microscope, sift through the USL League One awards, and check out the individual awards won by Union Omaha players.

Starting with the man at the helm, Jay Mims won Coach of the Year.  There were lofty expectations around the club and he didn’t shy away from managing his team to another season-long repeat performance of excellence.  He was able to inspire his team to score the most goals in the league this season, concede the fewest, and tie the record for greatest goal differential in a single season. 

It didn’t take long for Mims to start collecting accolades this season.  He was chosen as the Coach of the Month back in June.  This was due, in part, to the strong start from the Owls.  The team was already undefeated in the month of May, but Union Omaha kept the momentum going for the entire month of June, winning three matches and drawing two others.  The team was able to avoid a single loss, score nine goals, only concede five goals, earn a clean sheet along the way, and finish the month of June in the same place they would ultimately finish the season – first place.

Rashid Nuhu had another stellar year between the goalposts.  By the end of the season, Nuhu was able to boast 0.75 Goal Against Average good enough for the Golden Glove award.  Over the course of his 26 starts this season, the Ghanaian earned nine clean sheets, which was good enough to tie him for second place and only one shutout away from the Goalkeeper of the Year – Akira Fitzgerald.  Rashid Nuhu’s success was consistent and dependable, earning him multiple nominations and recognition in other categories such as a nomination for Save of the Playoffs, Second Team All-League Goalkeeper, two awards for Save of the Month (alongside an additional nomination), three awards for Save of the Week (two extra nominations, as well), and Goalkeeper of the Week on three separate occasions.  Just as his song says, he kept the shots out and in doing so, helped Union Omaha find their way to the podium in November.

Damià Viader was the source of envy for every team in the league.  Jay Mims knew what weapon he had in his arsenal and let him loose.  His punishing play was perfectly balanced with technique and grit, which kept other clubs guessing his next step every minute of the match.  If Viader was disappointed about not winning Most Valuable Player, for which he was deservedly nominated, he had a plethora of awards to keep him company in its absence. 

He was awarded Defender of the Year, MVP of the USL League One Championship, First Team All-League Defender, Player of the Month for September (nominated for the same award in one other month), nominated for Goal of the Month in September, awarded Player of the Week in the fifth week of the regular season, winner of Goal of the Week for his goal against North Carolina FC in Week 22 (nominated for two other weeks), and was chosen as a member of the Team of the Week on nine separate weeks.  Viader was one of, if not the, quickest players in the league and he left his competition in the dust literally and figuratively.

Though Greg Hurst came up short in the race for the Golden Boot, he was an essential piece of the offense as Union Omaha dealt with injuries, roster management, and player experimentations in unfamiliar positions.  His unwavering work ethic and high pressure relieved a lot of pressure off his teammates, who returned the kind gesture of feeding him plenty of goal-scoring opportunities. 

At the end of the season, Hurst was recognized as First Team All-League Forward, nominated for Player of the Month in June, nominated for Goal of the Month in July, awarded Player of the Week in Week 10, Goal of the Week in Week 17 (against North Texas SC), and was chosen as a member of Team of the Week six times throughout the regular season.  The Scotsman had incredible chemistry with Evan Conway and was in the highest echelon of players in USL League One for reading the flow of the match and correctly anticipating the next move.

Just because Devin Boyce didn’t win the Assist Champion, doesn’t mean he wasn’t helpful to his teammates.  His work rate, tenacity, and chemistry with Ferrety Sousa was incredible to watch this season.  He didn’t let anyone intimidate him and made sure that only he and Sousa could work the right sideline.  While combining with Sousa, Boyce was often able to get close to the corner flag and send plenty of crosses into the box, which explains why he was tied for second in the race for Assist Champion.  His goal in the USL League One Championship was a masterpiece and was appropriately voted as the Goal of the Playoffs.  He was also recognized as Second Team All-League Midfielder, nominated for Player of the Month in October, and Team of the Week five times (three of which were sequential).  Other players in the league were afraid to turn their lights off at night because, just as his chant suggests, he’s everywhere.

One player who we missed for almost half of the season was Evan Conway.  Union Omaha fans didn’t know it was possible, but they collectively held their breath for nearly three months as Conway was left out of the lineup with an injury.  The 2020 Union Omaha leading scorer didn’t waste any time in making an impact once returning to competition.  Once he returned in Week 20, he more than made for up lost time, finishing the remaining 12 matches in which he played with 8 goals (consisting of two separate hat-tricks) and an assist. 

USL League One fans and voters expressed their love for Conway by nominating him for Goal of the Playoffs, awarded him Second Team All-League Forward, and nominated him for Player of the Month and Goal of the Month in October.  He was awarded Player of the Week twice, Goal of the Week twice, and Team of the Week twice, as well.  As short as his 2021 season was, he left a large impact on the field.  His synergy with Greg Hurst was enough for defenders to start volunteering to be subbed off the field.  A lot of Union Omaha fans are very happy for his recovery, thankful for his contributions, and are already starting to hold their breath again in anticipation of news regarding his contract with the club.

So many players within the club had a huge impact on the season and deserve the recognition they were awarded, or for which they were nominated, this season.  To make life easy for all of you readers, I’ve compiled a complete list of End of Season, Postseason, Monthly, and Weekly nominations and award winners.  Each and every player on the roster worked incredibly hard this season and deserve every bit of support from Búhos Nation.  Once an Owl, Always an Owl.  ¡Viva Búhos!

As a new season quickly approaches and we have all had time to let the high of becoming Champions fade away it is never too early to look ahead to next season and all of the exciting things to come. With season tickets available, and the holidays upon us it is the perfect time to discuss our ticket options and how it compares to the rest of League One, along with some of the possible season ticket holder only events in our future!

When you look at all the options we have available to us its plain to see that prices have gone up since last year. Now that may not be what we all want to hear, but it is inevitable. You don’t win a championship and expect everything to be exactly the same. You’ll be glad to hear though that the pricing model for this year is still extremely good value for the money! 

Let’s talk about value. For an end line seat you’ll be paying under $300 total. If you want the seatback, you pay slightly higher at $285 per seat, or $205 for the berm. Which if you split up into the 16 total matches included you’re only paying $17 and $13 respectively. Where else can you go to get great entertainment for under $20? 

The average movie ticket is $9.37, and popcorn is an astounding $9.09 for a large, and $6.29 for a large soda. $24.75 for one night at the movies which I guarantee if you try to cheer or chant in you’ll be prematurely removed. Fancy dining is much higher as well at around $30. To me the choice is simple. Plus you get to take out some anger by screaming and chanting for 2 hours.

Taking a look at the rest of the league we are comparable to everyone else, who might I add are not reigning champions. Runner up Greenville only has one end line option, which is the supporters section coming in at $150. Which is roughly $10 per match. But who are we kidding, they play in a high school stadium, which lowers the cost of tickets. Love the people, don’t love the stadium option.

Looking at the No Bantz FC, up in Madison their options for end line tickets are on the higher end, and also based on the available information, places them at the top of pricing for this next year. Sitting at a whopping $324 for supporters’ end tickets that places their price per match option at $20.25 per match, yet is still cheaper than a movie or a fancy dinner. You only have to worry about which of the nine kits they are going to wear that day, and if they’re going to switch at half.

Next stop in our theoretical road trip is The Kickers of Richmond. Slightly less than our previous team, they come in at $150 per season ticket. And includes 15 matches, making my job easy by taking my weakest subject in high school out of the equation, at $10 per match you’re sure to get your money’s worth, even if you have to watch The Kickers play in a recycled Arsenal Kit.

North Carolina FC is next up in our list. That is if all of their players finished their chores at home to be able to play in the match. Season tickets come in at $140 for the end line, non supporters section, and $168 for supporters as of last year. Current information is not available at this time. Making them contenders for the top spot for once, in a complete reversal from the table standings. Setting the bar high at $9.30 per match.

Moving on to Tennessee and the Red Wolves of Chattanooga. $126 for end seats and $154 for supporter sections. Beating NCFC for the top spot in value. Coming in at $8.40 per ticket! That’s great value. The only downside being if you’re prone to heart issues this may not be the team for you as they seem to only be able to score in stoppage time. One cool addition is the ability to take unused match tickets and roll them over to another match. So, if you can’t attend one week you can get two tickets to the next week, one perk that should be adopted by more teams in the League. [Editor’s note: *cough* Union Omaha *cough*]

The last team on the East Coast is League One newcomers Charlotte Independence. Giving you all 15 League One matches and 6 W League matches this also has pretty decent value. $99 for supporters end tickets and $180 for end line, this is the cheapest option in the League. We all know there are behind the scenes issues which I won’t discuss here, but at $6.60 per match, nobody can say that the seats aren’t cheap.

Northern Colorado is another new face here. However, there is no information on season tickets as of yet. Which is disappointing. Almost as disappointing as finding out there is no easy way to take a train out there for a match from Omaha. And that drive through western Nebraska is not fun.

Central Valley Fuego was also without season ticket information. I sent in a request and received no word as of this article. Really not much else to say about it, I was in California once, I hated it, Death Valley is a cool place to be for a day, not a month like I was. It gets cold when you’re sleeping on a cot next to a HMMWV in the sand.

Speaking of sand, FC Tucson is up. $150 will get you into the supporters section all season long. Pretty much in line with the rest of USL-1. Bright side of being at a Tucson match though is that you have a high chance of being on TV, and the soccer is pretty good too.

Finally, saving the best value for last heading over to South Georgia Tormenta, their stadium will be going through renovations during this next season so they have only two options for their season tickets. A premium seat, which is next to the GA area, and a General Admission stand. The general admission stand comes in at $160, but does include League One, Two and W league matches. If you attend all the matches from the three Leagues that puts the value at $3.50 per match. A great value for the money to be sure, even if you have to worry about getting a nail in your tire.

I reached out to Supporters Groups around the league, only receiving two answers back. They were both very happy with ticket prices as they are. They are also extremely excited about season ticket holder events returning this year. While no specifics were available at the time they were all optimistic about the possibilities. These events really do mean the world to a lot of fans, it’s nice to have your club do things for the season ticket holders. It really makes you feel like part of the organization.

So as you can see USL-1 teams are all great value for the money you are shelling out every year. All of which include a gift, (usually a scarf) and season ticket holder only events are starting back up now, which is great for everyone involved in this sport. It gives us a chance to meet everyone and do something really cool in the process. I know I’ll be there getting autographs, even if the players are 10+ years younger than me.

Season ticket holders really do become a family. I look forward to seeing the people I sit with every week, learning about them and their family. The fact that we get to watch silverware caliber play is just a bonus. I remember all of their names and can not wait to reconnect with them as soon as we get back to the park. First match back I’ll probably buy my whole row a beer (or soda if my seat neighbor brings his grandkids again). So, here’s hoping that $2 beer before the match returns next year, but even if it isn’t I’d be happy to share the time with my second family.