OMAHA, Neb. – The Omaha men's soccer team continued its home dominance Saturday evening with a 3-0 win over Summit League foe Fort Wayne.
The Mavericks are now 6-0-0 at home this season and have outscored opponents 15-5 in these games. Saturday's win improved UNO to 7-2-1 overall and 1-0-1 in Summit League play while dropping IPFW to 3-6-0 overall and 0-1-0 in league play.
Omaha got right to business, creating an early change in the fourth minute of play when an Emir Alihodzic shot hit the right post before bounding out of play. Six minutes later, Mark Moulton's shot just skipped wide of the goal.
Fort Wayne answered Omaha's challenge with three shots in a span of 4:28, but Maverick goalkeeper Joseph Ghitis made two saves.
The Mastodons had a great scoring chance following a foul call against the Mavericks. Austin West drilled a free kick that nearly found the back of the net, but Ghitis tipped the ball over the cross bar to preserve the tie.
Omaha finally got on the board in the 40th minute. Michael Jaime whipped a cross into the penalty box from the left side of the field. Moulton and a Mastodon defender battled for the cross, but the ball seemed to get past the pair. The referee deemed the IPFW defender had undercut Moulton and awarded a penalty kick to UNO. Moulton stepped up and slotted the shot into the side netting for a 1-0 Omaha lead.
The Mastodons tried to level the score shortly after the start of the second half. IPFW's Spencer Brown had an open look on Ghitis in the opening minute of the second half, but was denied the equalizer.
The Mavericks scored on their first shot of the second half. In the 58th minute, a Lalo Gamboa pass split a pair of Fort Wayne defenders and found the shooting foot of Fazlo Alihodzic. Alihodzic cut back and put a shot on goal that was deflected by an IPFW defender and trickled into the goal for a 2-0 Omaha lead.
UNO added an insurance goal in the 76th minute. Logan Mendez played a corner kick that found Gamboa at the top of the penalty area. Gamboa flicked the kick to Jesus Perez who headed the ball past the Mastodon goalkeeper for a 3-0 Omaha lead.
In the 83rd minute, Fort Wayne's Oscar Uyamadu hit the post with a shot, but it was cleared out of danger by the Omaha defense.
Uyamadu had one final chance to get IPFW on the board in the 84th minute, but Ghitis again was up to the task and made the save.
Omaha and Fort Wayne each got off 11 shots for the game, but UNO owned a 5-3 advantage in the second half.
Ghitis made a career-high seven saves in earning the shut-out victory. IPFW's Raphael Kotzock made one save, while allowing three goals.
The Mavericks will host Western Illinois in their next match on Saturday, Oct. 10. Game time is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Caniglia Field.
Maverick Notes
- Omaha has won 12 straight home games dating back to last season. This is the longest current winning streak in NCAA Division I men's soccer.
- Wofford has won 11 straight home games dating back to the 2013 season, which is the second longest winning streak.
- Denver has a 22-game unbeaten streak, but tied IUPUI 1-1 on Friday to snap their winning streak.
