DENVER, Colo. - The top-seeded Omaha men's soccer team will go for a Summit League title, as the Mavericks moved past No. 4 seed Eastern Illinois, 3-1, on Thursday afternoon at CIBER Field in Denver. The Mavericks improved to 10-4-4 on the season.
UNO advances to a conference championship final for the first time in program history. The Mavericks will face No. 2 seed Denver on Saturday, Nov. 12, at 2 p.m. CT.
Fazlo Alihodzic, the Summit League's Offensive Player of the Year, put Omaha on the board in the 12th minute. Alihodzic's free kick from 25-yards out weaved its way through the Eastern Illinois' defense and into the left side corner to put the Mavericks up, 1-0.
Less than 15 minutes later, Joel Kazhila won a loose ball in the offensive third and sent a pass to Mark Moulton. Moulton beat his defender and sent in a cross that found Elvir Ibisevic who placed his header inside the near post to extend Omaha's lead to 2-0.
Omaha increased its lead to 3-0 in the 62nd minute when Moulton put a service into the box that found Noor Hamadi who headed the chance home for his second goal of the season.
The Panthers Jonathan Huerta cut Eastern Illinois' deficit to 3-1 with a 74th-minute goal.
With his goal on Thursday, Alihodzic moved into first-place on Omaha's all-time list for single-season points with 24.
In net for the Mavericks, Joseph Ghitis picked up his ninth win of the season.
Omaha had a 16-5 lead in shots, including a 5-2 advantage in shots on goal, and took all seven corner kicks.
Scoring Summary
Eastern Illinois 0 1 - 1
Omaha 2 1 - 3
Individual Scoring
Fazlo Alihodzic (Omaha) at 11:15 (unassisted)
Elvir Ibisevic (Omaha) at 25:28 (Mark Moulton; Joel Kazhila)
Noor Hamadi (Omaha) at 61:54 (Mark Moulton)
Jonathan Huerta (Eastern Illinois) at 73:30 (unassisted)
Goalkeeper Saves
Mike Novotny (Eastern Illinois) – 1
R.J. Hill (Eastern Illinois) – 0
Team (Eastern Illinois) – 1
Joseph Ghitis (Omaha) - 1
