OMAHA, Neb. - Persistence paid off as the Omaha men's soccer team scored two goals in the final 21 minutes to beat the UNL Club and Alumni team 2-1 before 1,438 fans at the South Omaha Classic at Collin Stadium.
The Mavericks put on a dominating display, outshooting UNL 27-3 overall and 10-1 in shots on goal. But the finishing in the final third of the field didn't come until 69:06 remained when
Jesus Perez picked up a loose ball and slotted it home after
Lalo Gamboa had worked his way into the box.
The goal from Perez tied the match at 1-1. UNL had taken the lead just before halftime on its only shot on goal of the game. Omaha South graduate Charlie Trautman played a ball behind the defense, which Brandon Roarty ran on to, touched around goalie
Josh Christensen, and finished from an odd angle for the 1-0 UNL lead.
But the Mavericks blistered UNL's net in the second half with an 18-1 shot advantage.
Emir Alihodzic notched the game-winner in the 81st minute. Gamboa again carried the ball forward and laid it off for an on-rushing Alihodzic, who fired from 24 yards out into the far corner of the net for the 2-1 final margin.
The Mavericks also had a 9-1 advantage in corner kicks over UNL, which featured a mix of current and past UNL club team players, as well as NAIA All-Americans and other former college players.
The Mavericks head to Los Angeles now to face No. 4 UCLA in an exhibition match on Tuesday at 6 p.m. (CT).
