CHARLESTOWN, Ill. – Mark Moulton and Emir Alihodzic each scored two goals as the Omaha men's soccer team defeated Eastern Illinois at Lakeside Field on Saturday morning, 4-2.
The victory clinched the Mavericks' spot in the Summit League Tournament. Omaha advances to the league's four-team tournament for the first time in program history.
UNO is 9-5-3 overall and 3-2-1 in Summit League play. Eastern Illinois concluded its season with a 3-14 record and a 1-5 mark in league play.
Omaha used the first 15 minutes of the match to get into its normal rhythm without two regular starters. Felipe da Silva and Fazlo Alihodzic had to sit-out against Eastern Illinois due to receiving red cards against Rutgers last weekend.
Moulton put the Mavericks on the board in the 17th minute. Noor Hamadi lofted a cross into the Panther penalty area where Moulton was waiting. Moulton outjumped the defense and placed a header past Panther goalkeeper Mike Novotny for a 1-0 Omaha lead.
Eastern Illinois leveled the score in the 32nd minute. Trevor Kerns pounced on a mishandled ball by the Omaha defense. Kerns placed a shot past UNO goalkeeper Josh Christensen for the equalizer.
Right before the end of the first half, Omaha was able to retake the lead on a penalty kick. The Eastern Illinois goalkeeper came out to challenge Emir Alihodzic in the penalty area. As the goalkeeper went for the ball, he fouled Alihodzic resulting in a penalty kick call. Alihodzic stepped to the spot and placed his kick into the side netting for a 2-1 Omaha lead at the half.
The Panthers would not go down without a fight in the second half. Eastern Illinois tied the match for the second time in the 61st minute. Fabio Collado found an opening in the Omaha defense and rocketed a shot towards Christensen. Christensen was able to parry away the first shot, but the rebound went right back to Collado who tapped it in for the score.
UNO stepped up its attack on the Eastern Illinois defense as it tried to regain the lead. Logan Mendez had a shot saved by Novotny in the 63rd minute. Another Mendez shot went wide in the 67th minute as did a Michael Jaime shot in the 68th minute.
Moulton and Hamadi were able to team up and break the tie in the 72nd minute. Hamadi put a cross into the eight yard box. Moulton was waiting for the pass and placed the header into the back of the net for a 3-2 Maverick lead.
Moulton nearly completed the hat-trick in the 75th minute, but his shot was saved by Novotny. Lalo Gamboa got a shot attempt off a Moulton corner kick in the 84th minute, but it went wide.
Omaha added an insurance goal in the 87th minute. Parker Victor gathered a loose ball in the defensive third and played a ball into the penalty area. The pass found Alihodzic who calmly placed his shot into the back of the net.
The Mavericks outshot the Panthers, 12-4, and placed six of those on-target. Eastern Illinois' Novotny made two saves, while UNO's Christensen made one.
Omaha will advance to the Summit League Tournament next week in Denver, Colo. All games will be played at CIBER Field on the campus of the University of Denver. Seeding information and start times will be released later in the evening.
Maverick Notes
- Omaha wrapped up regular season that saw the program garner its first ever national rankings.
- Mark Moulton and Emir Alihodzic become the fifth and sixth players in program history to have two goals in a match.
- Moulton's 19 points this season on seven goals and five assists is second most for a single season. Vance Rookwood had 22 points on nine goals and four assists last season.
- Alihodzic is three for three this season in penalty kicks. He is a perfect five for five in pk's during his career.
- Josh Christensen earned his 11th career win today, which ties Matt Grosey for most in a career.
- Parker Victor earned his first career collegiate point with an assist.
- Omaha qualifies for the Summit League tournament for the first time in program history. They become the first UNO program to qualify for the tournament after completing the transition to Division I.
- The Mavericks nine wins are the second most in program history. Last season, Omaha won 10 matches.
