This Weekend
The Omaha men's soccer team hosts two teams at Caniglia Field this weekend, welcoming DePaul on Friday, Sept. 9 at 7:30 p.m. and Penn on Sunday, Sept. 11 at 2 p.m.
Maverick Quick Kicks
• Omaha enters the match with an overall record of 2-1-1 following a 1-1 double overtime tie against Creighton on Monday.
• Fazlo Alihodzic and Joseph Ghitis were named Summit League Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week on Tuesday.
• Alihodzic leads the Mavericks with six points. He dished out a career-high two assists last Friday against Drake and added a goal.
• Ghitis leads Omaha in goal with a 2-1-1 record and one shutout on the season. He has a 0.95 goals-against average and a .750 save percentage.
• Head coach Jason Mims is in his sixth season with the Mavericks. Mims guided UNO to a share of the 2014 Summit League regular-season title.
Defining DePaul
DePaul enters the game coming off a pair of wins at the Chicago Classic last weekend. The Blue Demons defeated Albany 3-0 last Friday and Northern Kentucky 4-1 on last Sunday.
Stijn van der Slot comes into the game leading the Blue Demons with two goals and two assists. Philipp Koenigstein and Erik Rodriguez both own two goals apiece.
Goalkeeper Quentin Low has a 0.73 goals-against average and a .769 save percentage this season.
Head coach Craig Blazer is in his 16th season at the helm of the DePaul program.
Series History
The Mavericks and Blue Demons will meet for the second time in series history. Last season Omaha took a 3-2 victory in a non-conference match.
Quaker Takes
Penn enters the game with a 0-0-2 record and plays at Creighton Friday night before Sunday's match at Caniglia Field.
Sam Wancowicz, Arty Kouzine and Alec Neumann each have scored a goal this season to lead the Quakers.
Goalkeeper Etan Mabourakh is 0-0-2 on the season with a 1.23 goals-against average and a .800 save percentage.
Head coach Rudy Fuller is in this 19th season leading the men's Quaker soccer program.
Series History
Sunday's meeting will be the first between Omaha and Penn.
Alihodzic, Ghitis Earn Player of the Week Honors
Senior midfielder Fazlo Alihodzic was named Summit League Men's Soccer Offensive Player of the Week while Maverick teammate and senior goalkeeper Joseph Ghitis was named league Defensive Player of the Week for their performances Aug. 29 - Sept. 5.
Alihodzic earned his second career Offensive Player of the Week award after totaling six points on two goals and two assists during the week. On Friday, he factored into all three Omaha scores with a goal and a pair of assists in a 3-0 win over Drake. The senior midfielder also accounted for the Mavericks' lone goal in a 1-1 tie against No. 8 Creighton.
Ghitis earned his second career Defensive Player of the Week award by posting a 0.45 goals-against average and a .875 save percentage while recording a 1-0-1 record during the week. He made two saves for his first shutout of the season in the win over Drake. Ghitis totaled five saves including stopping a penalty kick to secure a 1-1 tie against No. 8 Creighton.
Mavs Move Up in Regional Poll
The Omaha men's soccer team jumped up two spots in the latest NSCAA Men's Soccer West Region Poll announced Tuesday. The Mavericks' move came after topping 2015 NCAA National Tournament qualifier Drake, 3-0.
Denver sits atop the regional poll and is ranked 13th nationally while fellow Summit League member Oral Roberts is sixth in the latest regional poll.
All About Alihodzic
Fazlo Alihodzic had a career Labor Day Weekend for the Mavericks playing a role in all four goals.
Alihodzic had two assists and a goal in Omaha's 3-0 win over Drake last Friday. On Monday, he scored the only UNO goal in a double overtime tie at No. 8 Creighton.
Looking Back at Last Weekend
Friday, Sept. 2 vs. Drake
Fazlo Alihodzic had a goal and two assists helping Omaha beat Drake, 3-0.
The Mavericks wasted little time in scoring their first goal of the game. Seth Rinderknecht outjumped two Drake defenders and headed home Alihodzic's corner kick in the second minute of the game.
Midway through the second half, Alihodzic intercepted a pass in the Bulldogs' defensive third. He was able to evade a defender and slip his shot under the goalkeeper for a 2-0 Omaha advantage in the 68th minute.
In the closing moments of the game, Alihodzic and Elvir Ibisevic worked to set up the game's final score. Ibisevic found an unmarked Alihodzic just outside the penalty area. Alihodzic directed a pass through the middle of the penalty area to Emmanuel Hamzat who buried a shot from 12-yards out for a 3-0 Maverick lead.
Omaha and Drake each had seven shots with Omaha holding a 4-3 advantage in shots on goal. Each team has six corner kicks.
Ghitis logged all 90 minutes in goal, picked up two saves and a shutout.
Monday, Sept. 5 at No. 8 Creighton
In a grueling 110 minutes of play, Omaha battled crosstown rival Creighton to a 1-1 tie on Monday night at Morrison Stadium.
Omaha broke the deadlock in the 13th minute. Fazlo Alihodzic curled a free kick from 25-yards into the near post to put the Mavericks up, 1-0.
Creighton tied the game early in the second half. Ricardo Perez received a pass from Noah Franke and was able to get around Omaha goalkeeper Joseph Ghitis. Perez tucked a well-placed shot into an empty net.
Ghitis logged all 110 minutes between the posts and picked up five saves.
League Leaders
As a team, Omaha is first in the Summit League in goals scored (seven). The Mavericks are second in assists (seven), corner kicks (21) and shot percentage (.226).
Fazlo Alihodzic leads the league in points (six) and tied for the lead in goals scored (two). Alihodzic is tied for second in assists (two).
Joseph Ghitis is tied for second with 12 saves and ranks in the top five in save percentage, goals allowed and goals-against average.
