Meet the Owls: New Signings

Five new signings join the roster of Union Omaha for the inaugural 2020 season. Three of the five players officially signed before the Wasatch Cup with Rashid Nuhu, John “JP” Scearce and Tyler David on the official team. On March 2, Illa Osmanu and Sebastian Contreras signed officially with Union Omaha. These two were some of the trialists that were listed on the Owls roster during the first set of preseason games. 

Here is the breakdown of the five players that will see the field in the Black and White. 

Rashid Nuhu

Nuhu joins Union Omaha as the first goalkeeper in franchise history. The man between the sticks was a part of New York Red Bulls II last year as the second choice keeper. He made four appearances while conceding 10 goals during his stint with the USL Championship side. 

Nuhu has strong wrists and quick reflexes which is evident in his highlight tape from his career at Fordham. He allowed only one goal with two clean sheets in the Wasatch Cup during his first three games in goal for Union Omaha. 

JP Scearce

The Nogales, Arizona native signs with Union Omaha to bolster the depth of an impressive midfield. An aggressive midfielder who finished with 5 goals in his senior season at Cornell University, He was the main leader for the Ivy League squad where he captained and started all 17 fixtures for the Big Red. 

Scearce has fantastic flick with this header from way outside of the box. His athleticism to jump high and make contact on a perfectly weighted ball is an impressive feat for the six-foot-one-inch midfielder. 

Tyler David

David joins Union Omaha after playing one year with Hartford Athletic of the USL Championship. David suffered an adductor tear in his hip which ended his 2019 campaign early in July. He only saw the field six times in his short time in Connecticut.

David has lots of experience that should help him succeed with the Owls. He spent in Europe with BK-46 of the Finnish Kakkonen second division league. He made the jump to Europe after a outstanding career with Saint Louis University Bilikins and USL Championship club STLFC. David’s story can be read in detail by The Athletic journalist Jeff Rueter here: https://theathletic.com/387877/2018/06/11/tyler-david-mls-usl-saint-louis-fc-finland/

Personally, David was one of my favorite players to watch during the Wasatch Cup due to his high work rate. He started as a center back in his time at SLU, but has turned himself into a holding midfielder. David played the midfield position during the preseason games in the Wasatch Cup. David’s aggression in Coach Jay Mim’s high pressing team allowed him to become diligent in through balls and defensive stops. In the clip, his defensive stop may have seemed minuscule or unimportant, but his presence forced the Monarchs to pass the ball backwards and help initiate the pressure by the Union Omaha attackers. 

Illal Osmanu

Osmanu signed with Union Omaha after graduating from Marshall University. He started all 22 games for the Thundering Herd at the center back position. He was a pivotal part of the back line that saw Marshall bow out of the NCAA Tournament at the Sweet 16 and earn a poll record as high as 11th place during the 2019 season. 

Osmanu is a strong defender who is comfortable on the ball. He has a soft touch which adds to his skillset on the ball which will benefit a Union Omaha team that enjoys pressing and playing out of the back with Nuhu in goal. 

Sebastian Contreras 

Contreras comes to Werner Park from El Paso Locomotive FC where he started 24 of his 34 appearances for the USL Championship team. The 29 year old Argentinian will be one of the most experienced players for the Owls. He finished with 3 goals and four assists along with bagging a goal from the penalty spot in the 2019 Western Conference Semifinals against Sacramento Republic FC.

Contreras’ ability to use his dribbling skills was on display last year against Tulsa as he carved his way into the teeth of defense and was able to draw a penalty. He played the number 10 role as playmaker all season for El Paso and now he has the chance to do it for Union Omaha. 

Getting to know UO pt 4

We at Who Gives a Hoot want you to get the insider info on our supporters and members of the Union Omaha front office. To get you an insight, we’ve asked each group four of the same questions as well as one unique to the front office and one unique to supporters for a total of FIVE fun answers. ENJOY!

What has you excited about Union Omaha?
As a lifelong Omahan, if I had to sum it up in a word; everything. But to really narrow it down, the thing that’s got me the most excited is a club that’s for the entire community. For the longest time, Omahans and Nebraskans have had to rely on clubs out of state or at the collegiate level for their local or Pro soccer. This is a community that has been waiting for a club at this level for a really, really long time. We’ve got really good collegiate and high school clubs all over the state, but there was no true top-of-the-pyramid within the state for our players and coaching talent to go. So, when the news broke that we were getting a USL Team, I was cautiously optimistic. At the team name and crest reveal in Benson this past fall, I went from being curious to ecstatic when the name and crest was announced. My arms literally shot in the air and I went “YES!!” for a couple of reasons. First; we didn’t go the FC or United route with our name. I owe the ownership group a sandwich for that one Also it seemed to connect to the community history without being cheesy or obvious. And the fact that we were able to pull in a coach like Jay Mims was a huge signal to the community that they were wanting to draw in top local talent while wanting to be competitive on the field. That said to me that the owners were serious about getting this off-the-ground. It was at the crest reveal the seed for wanting to start a supporters group of my own was planted. Since then, i’ve been trying to find as many like-minded mutants to join my supporters group to cheer this team on!
What is your favorite soccer memory?
My favorite English Premier League club is West Ham United and a few years ago, they were relegated to the 2nd tier of English Football. They spent the next year in total “eye of the tiger” mode fighting their way to the top of the table to get back into the Premier League. A lot of fans dread seeing their team go down from the top-flight, but watching your team and its fans to come together in hard times was honestly one of the best seasons of soccer that I got to witness. It added so much drama and urgency to the games that with the matches I was able to watch online (since not a lot of 2nd tier games make NBC/Fox Sports, etc) it made the games so electric! Plus away days in the 2nd tier are a lot of fun because the fans at that level are super fun but relaxed since it’s only the 2nd tier of soccer. Believe me, being a West Ham supporter means knowing how to pull behind your team in feast and famine. And they showed the best of what community soccer fandom at the club level can bring. And it’s that kind of energy that I want to bring to the table for Union Omaha.
How do you plan on celebrating our first goal?
Me and the Union Army will be on our feet and hopefully lighting smoke to celebrate!
Where do you see Union Omaha in 5 years?
As the preeminent midwestern powerhouse club in the USL. Nebraska has a richer soccer culture than we realize and it never had an outlet in the state at the Pro level. I would hope in five years, both the club and the founding fanbase, does some significant outreach to parents and players at the K-12 levels to bring them into the fold. My hope is that we build a rabid fanbase in Omaha to the point where we’re pulling in 20 thousand people per home game and that there’s a significant waiting list for season tickets to the point where significant expansions of Werner are needed to accommodate the interest. I just want to work really hard to make this a club where every member of the community, regardless of their background, can come together and watch a really good soccer club. Maybe even by that point, we’ll even be fielding a women’s team! That’s where people like us come in to spread the good word amongst our friends, family and community.
How can someone get involved?
That’s easy; tell everyone you know about the team. There are a lot of soccer people in the area who still don’t know about the team, so just doing outreach and communication about the club is job one. But if you really want to get involved with some really passionate fans, I’d recommend joining either the Parliament or Union Army supporters groups.

Postgame: Union Omaha vs Real Monarchs SLC

Union Omaha kicked off their preseason against USL Championship side Real Monarchs SLC. Both clubs are taking part of the Wasatch Cup in Herriman, Utah. 

The Owls and Monarchs finished with a 0-0 draw, but both teams showed flairs of excitement. 

The Monarchs started on the front foot with an opportunity inside the first four minutes of the game, but the Owls were able to clear their lines and avoid the danger. 

Union Omaha stayed on the front foot for the entire half with three chances that could have found the back of the net. 

The first opportunity came in the 8’ from forward Evan Conway who found a bit of space and used his dribbling skills to find his way towards the touchline. Conway dumped a pass off to fellow forward Austin Panchot who missed close to goal. 

In the 29’, the Owls utilized a short corner which saw midfielder, Xavier Gomez whip in an in-swinging cross which found the head of Conway at the back post. This free header almost gave the Owls their first goal in history, but it was stopped beautifully by the Monarch keeper. 

Minutes later, the solid build up play for Union Omaha continued. Forward Ethan Vanacore-Decker saw an open Elma Nfor across the box. Nfor was ruled offside, but the unselfish play by Vanacore-Decker was nice to see. 

The Owls and Monarchs would split some chances with good open field play the rest of the way. Union Omaha would only see some real, tangible attacks late in the game with forward Juan Mare who could not find the back of the net. 

Forward Elvir Ibisevic did go down with an injury in the first half of the game. A non-contact injury saw him walk off on his power clutching is left hamstring, Nfor replaced him in the 24’. 

The Owls will continue in the Wasatch Cup when the face off against Louisville City FC on Wednesday at 2 p.m. CT.  

Video content courtesy of Real Salt Lake Youtube Page

Getting to know UO pt 3

We at Who Gives a Hoot want you to get the insider info on our supporters and members of the Union Omaha front office. To get you an insight, we’ve asked each group four of the same questions as well as one unique to the front office and one unique to supporters for a total of FIVE fun answers. ENJOY!

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I have a solution to our goalkeeping problem

Much like Bigfoot we have had to go into the deep depths trying to figure out our goal keeper. Looking at grainy videos, and trying to figure out what are we actually going to be doing this year at goalkeeper. 

I even caught my own self breaking down a 10 second instagram video of a goalkeeper just standing there. I don’t even know if it’s just some intern we hired or an actual goalkeeper we could be signing. 

But damn it that goalkeeper looked to have a nice stance in that ten second video. 

Now a lot of fans are panicking and looking for solutions. Well, you came to the right place. 

Because I have thought of all the answers to fix the problem. 

GO EMPTY NET

They do it in hockey all the time! That seems to work a lot! Why can’t we! 

Maybe Union Omaha is officially on the forefront of being the change in soccer around the world. 

Games would be 10-7 and it would be the most entertaining game in the world. People from around the world would come to Omaha just to bask in the glory that is what we would call it…. “Chaotic Soccer.” No organization. No formation. It would be 22 grown men playing like 10 year olds for 90 mins. Maybe we even go over the top and put them in like a WWE hell in the cell cage. Who knows the possibilities are endless. 

Maybe, 20 years from now my kids and I  will be watching Chelsea winning the Champions League for the 5th time in 7 years, and I will tell my kids about the long lost art of goalkeeping. Then when I tell them that it all ended in our own backyard they will freak out, read this blog and say “wow dad you’re the coolest.” 

I know I am Pierce Jr. I know. 

INVINCIBLE

In an old disney movie starring Mark Wahlberg there is a movie about a man from Philadelphia who tries out for the Eagles and actually makes the team.  

The Eagles in that movie had a big need on the Special Teams, and they wanted to draw more local fans….. Does this situation sound familiar? Oh it does? Does it sound like Union Omaha and their need for a goal keeper? 

Well, when I asked the front office about this possible scenario they sent me back a laughing face emoji. 

Which if I remember correctly from my high school flirting days means that while it’s not a yes right now, the door is still open for a fan to try out….. Maybe? 

I think Luke still has some bounce in his step? Maybe Patrick Tyler could make some moves? Liam seems to be the best one in shape, but so maybe he’s our starting goalkeeper? I don’t know. 

But what I do know is that if you’re reading this…. You may have a chance at being our starting keeper this year. 

THEY SIGN A GOALKEEPER

Which is boring, and dumb. 

Reaction to the CAS Decision on MLS System

On Friday, February 7th 2020, the Court of Arbitration of Sport (CAS) made a decision to a very arduous lawsuit in regards to the MLS closed system and the potential force of a promotion/relegation system to the top flight soccer league in the United States.

The lawsuit was originally filed by USL-C Miami FC and USL League 2 Kingston Stockade FC in 2017. The lawsuit, which was against FIFA, CONCACAF and the USSF, was intended to end the closed system of the MLS and to stop clubs from paying $200M in franchise fee’s to enter the league.

The ruling that the CAS came to was that for countries registered to FIFA that have never participated in a Promotion/Relegation system, IE the United States and Australia, do not have to participate in the system and can be allowed to use the closed system, even though it is not recommended by FIFA.

The decision that was come to by the CAS, solely based on opinion, is a huge step back for US soccer, but also provides better hope for the USL to take the spot light and hopefully leap frog the MLS in terms of popularity.

Jake Edwards, president of the USL, has publicly come forward in an SI article in 2016 and explained how he dreams of having a promotion/relegation system integrated in the USL.

“The sport is evolving, the sport is changing. What is considered normal now might not be correct in a couple of seasons’ time. How we’re approaching that, and I get asked the question all the time, is the launch of our second league, League One. A lot of focus and attention needs to go into building that league up over a short period of time. But we’ve got to get the right owners in League One, the right stadiums and infrastructure. We’ve got to make sure the quality on the field is at a good standard. You have to create parity as much as you can between the two divisions. Of course, the Championship will be different from League One in many respects, but it can’t be obscenely different.”

Credit to Sports Illustrated: As American Soccer Builds Toward 2026, USL Ramps Up Its Ambition

If you are looking for more from Jake Edwards on his goal of promotion/relegation, here is a great clip of him Landon Donovan sitting down with Tyler Terens during the 2019 USL-C Championship game.

The United Soccer League, for those who are new to following the current second tier league, currently has adopted 3 leagues: tier 2 USL Championship, tier 3 USL League One (where Union Omaha Currently plays in) and tier 4 USL League 2 (once formally known as the NPSL). There are 35 teams in the Championship with 2 expansion teams on their way, followed by 12 in League One, and 82 in League 2, split among 3 conferences.

This makes a grand total of 129 teams in the USL. For reference to top European countries who have a promotion/relegation system, there are 92 professional teams in England, 80 professional teams in Italy (S/O to AC Milan), 307 in Germany (really there are only 56 but the Germany system recognizes 307 because why not?) and Spain has 62.

If England can handle 92 professional soccer teams in a promotion/relegation system, than why can’t the USSF? Why are we always striving to be 3 steps behind the top flight leagues in the world?

For those who might not understand why I am frustrated with this, here is a break down of how the current system works:

In 2019 there were 24 teams in the MLS (Yes there are now 26 teams with the additions of Inter Miami and Nashville SC, but we’ll stick with just the 24 for right now). The 24 teams are split into 2 conferences. The top 8 teams in each conference at the end of the season are sent into a playoff format. This means even if you are in 8th place, you still have a shot of winning the MLS Cup, therefore there is no real weight to losing games other than not having a shot of winning the league.

In all other countries with the exception to Australia they have a promotion and relegation system, which is pretty simple to understand: the bottom 3 teams in each league are all relegated to the next lowest division, and each of the top 3 teams below the top tier division are promoted. For example, if the USL were to adopt a promotion/relegation system, the bottom 3 teams of the Championship would drop to League One, and when Union Omaha wins League One they would be promoted, along with 2nd and 3rd place, to the Championship.

This system just simply adds more weight to the value of winning and losing. Zlatan Ibrahimovic, former striker of LA Galaxy, has called out the MLS on numerous occasions about not having a proper promotion/relegation system, for the same reason as I have mentioned above.

Needless to say, I am beyond disappointed that the CAS has decided against a promotion/relegation system for US soccer as a whole, but I believe that if the USL could adapt such a system, it would boost them in popularity, and it would help us Owls reach that next big step in our new club.

Meet the Owls: Forwards

On Jan. 14, Union Omaha announced the first batch of signings that will be competing in the 2020 inaugural season. 13 players consisting of local talent, USL experience and international success represent this group of players. 

Four forwards were signed on Jan. 14 along with one more who signed on Jan. 31. For now, here are your five forwards that will represent the Owls this season. 

Evan Conway

Conway finished his illustrious goal scoring career with University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 2019. He bagged 6 goals to lead the Panthers along with adding 5 assists. The six-foot-one-inch forward tied for the third most goals in USL League 2 side, Ventura County Fusion, in 2019. He added 9 goals in 12 games for the Fusion. 

Conway’s length will be a problem for defenses this season which is evident in this video. He gains good position on the back of the defender and meets the ball in the air with an aggressive header which finds the back of the net. Conway’s clinical finish in this video and his other highlights showcase the talent from the forward. 

Elma Nfor 

The Bamenda, Cameroon native comes to the Owls from USL League One’s Lansing Ignite. Nfor finished with four goals on the season. Ex-Ignite player and now Owls midfielder, Xavier Gomez, and Nfor already have a strong partnership on the field. Their familiarity with each other should prove to be successful especially in transition. 

Nfor’s impressive top shelf goal gained him an ESPN Top 10 appearance on Sportscenter in 2019. His shot rockets off of his right foot as he goes for the acrobatic finish. Nfor’s athleticism and pace will be tough for defenders to track especially against the run of play. 

Juan Mare

Mare comes to Omaha via USL League One club, Chattanooga Red Wolves SC. Mare finished 2019 with 16 appearances for the Red Wolves, but he could not find the back of the net or create an assist during the season. Previously in 2018, Mare rounded out the Real Monarchs squad in the USL Championship. He played in 21 games while scoring two sound goals. 

Mare’s goal in 2018 earned him consideration for USL goal of the week. He stops just outside the box and hits a rocket towards the back post. This shot shows the quality that he possesses. More time as a starter might give him more opportunities to score where in the past he has been featured as a substitute for his club. 

Ethan Vanacore-Decker

Last season, Vanacore-Decker played for Swope Park Rankers (now Sporting KC II) in the USL Championship. He scored 4 goals in 29 appearances for Swope Park while creating 10 key passes and adding an assist to his name. 

Vanacore-Decker’s late goal could not change the outcome of the game for Swope Park, but it did show his skill. The right-footed flick towards the back post, upper 90 was well executed especially for a first touch. This type of confidence to try a shot of this magnitude is refreshing. 

Elvir Ibisevic

The most recent player to sign for the Owls. Ibisevic joined Union Omaha last week on Jan. 31. He is also the second player to come from University of Nebraska Omaha where he played under Coach Jay Mims. The last two seasons has seen Ibisevic depart for Europe where he gained valuable experience. In 2018 and part of 2019, he played for NK Celje in Slovenia’s first tier football league. Ibisevic was transferred to Chemie Leipzig in Germany’s fourth division of professional soccer on September 2, 2019. 

Ibisevic’s first professional soccer goal came from his time with NK Celje. He calmly puts the ball in the back of net after a miscue from the keeper. Many fans know of his quality from his time with the Mavericks, but the skill and knowledge that was gained during his stints in Europe will be priceless for the Owls.  

Getting to know UO pt 2

We at Who Gives a Hoot want you to get the insider info on our supporters and members of the Union Omaha front office. To get you an insight, we’ve asked each group four of the same questions as well as one unique to the front office and one unique to supporters for a total of FIVE fun answers. ENJOY!

Meet the Owls: Sousa & Hauswirth

Union Omaha announced three new signing on Jan. 31. Midfielder Ferrety Sousa, defender Luke Hauswirth and forward Elvir Ibisevic. These three singings will be joining a squad that is primed for their inaugural season. 

Sousa and Hauswirth will be previewed as Ibisevic will be highlighted with the rest of the forwards next week. 

Ferrety Sousa

Sousa joins the Owls after one season with USL Championship team, the Las Vegas Lights. Sousa’s explosiveness and athleticism will be on full display as he holds down the right wing of the midfield. Sousa appeared in 14 games and started in 9 contests for the Lights. He scored 1 goals and 2 assists while completing over 82 % of his passes. 

Sousa’s lone goal of the season was a beauty. He slips behind the defense and finishes towards the back post. His joy for the game is evident in his back flip celebration while his fluid play will add to an already strong roster. 

Luke Hauswirth 

The right back saw the field 24 times while starting 21 games for FC Tucson of USL League One last season. Hauswirth is a player that likes to play box-to-box, but he did not record a goal or assist. Although, he did create 12 chances for his squad. He had a 74% passing accuracy during this stint while leading the backline of FC Tucson to 5 clean sheets. 

The 5-foot-11-inch right back is fearless defending this corner. He meets the ball and gets it out of his box. This no-nonsense play is appreciated from a right back that is zonal marking at the front post. Strong defense, such as this, during set pieces is a good sign of quality from an outside back. 

Meet the Owls: Midfield

On Jan. 14, Union Omaha announced the first batch of signings that will be competing in the 2020 inaugural season. 13 players consisting of local talent, USL experience and international success will represent Union Omaha on the field. 

Over the next couple weeks, a detailed description along with videos will be used to showcase the talent of the new players of Union Omaha including any new signing that may pop up from now until match day 1. 

This week, the midfield of Tobias Otieno, Christian Molina, Kobe Perez, Austin Panchot and Xavier Gomez will be featured

Tobias Otieno

Otieno comes to Union Omaha from Kenyan Premier League powerhouse Gor Mahia FC. Otieno’s hometown of Kisumu is located on the western half of Kenya on Lake Victoria. The 21 year old will be playing his first football outside of his home nation for the very first time. 

The midfielder is a box-to-box player capable of playing defense as well as attacking in a change of possession. He has a strong touch and is capable of finding the open striker in a holding position. 

Otieno delivers a perfect half volley pass to his forward. A change of possession led to the ability to huff the ball up the field to the attacker. Otieno was fearless in attempting a difficult ball up the pitch. His athleticism and experience in the Kenyan Premier League will be pivotal to Union Omaha’s 2020 success.                                   

Christian Molina

5-foot-4-inch, Molina, comes to the Owls with a strong pedigree. Molina gained accolades from the Mid-America Conference for his skills leading Northern Illinois Huskies. Molina scored a goal and had three assists during his 2019 campaign. 

Molina finds open space to for his teammates to find him outside the box. He turns and passes a perfectly weighted ball to his teammate. His teammate is able to finish a top shelf finish and Molina is credited for the assist. 

Kobe Perez

Last year, Perez played in 17 games for South Georgia Tormenta FC 2 where he bagged 3 goals and 3 assists. The Mercer University graduate has great touch along with a great defensive work rate especially in a high pressing team. 

Perez pressures the opposing team after they struggle to get out of their own box after a short goal kick. Perez picks the ball off of the weaker defender and uses his skill to get past the keeper for the chip finish. Perez will be a nice option offensively for Coach Mims to choose from. 

Austin Panchot

Panchot is one of the winningest players on the Union Omaha roster. He played his college soccer at Indiana University where he participated in two College Cup runs. Last year, he played for USL Championship club, North Carolina FC. Panchot saw the field five times during the season. He completed over 80% of his passes in his midfield role. 

Panchot’s goal may not seem spectacular, but it is. His header was the decisive goal for the Hoosiers victory over Notre Dame in the Elite 8. This goal sent Indiana into the College Cup for the second straight year. Panchot knows how to win and to build a winning culture, you need players that win to win. 

Xavier Gomez

The most famous of the new signings for the Owls. Gomez will be welcomed back to the city where he played his college soccer like a king. Gomez played for Coach Mims during his college days at University of Nebraska-Omaha until his final season in 2017. Last year, Gomez was the star player for USL League One team, Lansing Ignite. He played in 28 games where he scored 3 goals and added 5 assists while creating the third most chances on his team. 

Gomez’s in-swinging ball towards the back post is magnificent. He made this assist in Lansing’s first game of the season in 2019. The height and power coming from his right leg just out of the box will make any attacker’s mouth water while making the defense shiver. Gomez’s quality on free kicks is going to be a thing of beauty for the Owls in 2020.