This Weekend
The Omaha men's soccer team visits California this weekend for a pair of games against Pac-12 foes. The Mavericks play at Cal on Friday, Sept. 16 at 6:30 p.m. (CT) before playing at Stanford on Sunday, Sept. 18 at 9 p.m. (CT).
Maverick Quick Kicks
- Omaha was picked to finish second in the 2016 Summit League Preseason Poll.
- The Mavericks welcome 11 new players into the fold in 2016 including seven freshmen, two transfers and two redshirt players.
- Omaha returns 13 letterwinners, including eight starters from last season.
- UNO enters the match with an overall record of 2-1-3.
- The Mavericks have tied three straight games (Creighton, DePaul and Penn).
- Fazlo Alihodzic has a team-best 10 points on four goals and two assists.
- Alihodzic, Lalao Gamboa and Elvir Ibisevic each have two assists to lead the team.
- Goalkeeper Joseph Ghitis has played every minute for the Mavericks this season.
- Alihodzic and Ghitis have each won Summit League Player of the Week accolades this season.
- Jason Mims is in his sixth season as head coach.
Scouting the Bears
Cal enters Friday's match with a 1-2-1 overall record this season and received votes in the latest NSCAA Coaches' Poll. The Bears dropped two games against ranked teams over the Labor Day weekend. Cal dropped a 2-1 decision at No. 5 Indiana before falling 5-0 to No. 4 Notre Dame.
Nick Lima leads the Bears with six points on three goals. Jonathan Klinsmann is 1-2 on the season with a 2.10 goals-against average and a .571 save percentage.
Head coach Kevin Grimes is in his 17th season leading the Bears and has a 174-107-39 overall record.
Series History
Friday's meeting will be the first between Omaha and Cal.
Cardinal Connections
Stanford enters Sunday's match with a 1-1-3 overall record and ranked 25th in the latest NSCAA Coaches' Poll. The Cardinal will host Ivy League foe Harvard on Friday night before hosting Omaha on Sunday.
Drew Skundrich leads the Cardinal six points on three goals. Andrew Epstein is 1-1-3 so far this season and has a 0.87 goals-against average and .688.
Jeremy Gunn led the Cardinal to the 2015 national title and has a 51-21-14 record over five seasons. Gunn is in his 18th year overall as a head coach and sports a 238-82-45 career mark.
Series History
Stanford won the only previous meeting with Omaha on Aug. 31, 2014. The Cardinal topped the Mavericks 2-1 in overtime.
Giddy about Ghittis
Through six games this season, Joseph Ghitis leads the NCAA in total goalkeeper minutes played. Ghitis has played in 600 minutes so far this season.
Alihodzic in the National Rankings
Fazlo Alihodzic is currently 13th nationally in total goals (4) and total points (13). Alihodzic is averaging 0.67 goals and 1.67 points per game this season for UNO.
League Leaders
As a team, Omaha is second in the Summit League with nine assists and 39 corner kicks. The Mavericks are third in goals scored (10) and shot percentage (.154).
Fazlo Alihodzic is atop the league in points (10) and is tied for the lead in goals scored (four). Joseph Ghitis leads the league with 17 saves and ranks in the top five in save percentage, goals allowed and goals-against average.
