OMAHA, Neb. – Omaha men's soccer hits the road for the final time in the Summit League regular season, facing a crucial match against Denver on Saturday, Oct. 28. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. CT at CYBER Field.
Follow the Match
The match will be broadcast live on Altitude 2 with Conor McGahey on play-by-play and Chris Bianchi providing color commentary. Links to live video and stats will be available on OMavs.com.
Maverick Quick Hits
• Omaha is 8-4-2 overall and 1-0-2 in Summit League play.
• The Mavericks picked up their first conference win last weekend with a 2-0 victory over Western Illinois.
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Elvir Ibisevic leads the team in points with 17 on eight goals and one assist this season.
• Ibisevic has hit the game-winning goals for the Mavericks in three victories.
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Emmanuel Hamzat is second on the team with 13 points on six goals and an assist.
• Hamzat has scored three game-winning goals in 2017.
• Six different players have scored for Omaha this season, while 13 have added assists.
• Goalkeeper
Joseph Ghitis (6-4-2) has started 12 matches and has a 0.96 goals-against average, and a .745 save percentage.
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Ugo Tritz (2-0) has appeared in three games, including two starts, and has a 0.00 goals-against average and a 1.000 save percentage.
Scouting the Pioneers
Denver enters the weekend tilt after a 1-1 draw vs. New Mexico on Wednesday (Oct. 25) in Albuquerque, N.M. The Pioneers are 8-6-1 overall and 3-0-0 in Summit League play. DU is 3-1-1 in its last five matches and sits atop the Summit League with nine points.
Offensively, the squad is paced by forward Andre Shinyashiki, who leads the team in goals (eight), assists (four) and points (20). He is joined by Graham Smith (2G, 4A) and Ryan Barlow (three goals).
Goalkeeper Nick Gardner (8-6) checks in at second in the Summit League in goals against (12) and goals-against average (0.84). Gardner has allowed 12 goals this season and had five shutouts.
Series vs. Denver
Saturday is the sixth all-time meeting between Omaha and Denver. The Pioneers own a 3-1-1 series advantage over the Mavericks. Last season, the two teams tied 0-0 (2OT) in the regular season. Denver then defeated Omaha 2-1 in the Summit League championship match.
Looking at the League
With two weeks left in the regular season, Omaha opens the weekend in third place in the Summit League, with five points. Denver leads the league with nine points, and Western Illinois is in second with six points. Eastern Illinois sits one spot below Omaha with four points, and Oral Roberts is in fifth with three points.
This and That
• Omaha played Creighton in front of a program-high 4,986 fans at Caniglia Field on Sept. 26.
• Through 14 games this season, UNO has started 19 different players. Four different Mavericks have played over 1,100 minutes in defender
Seth Rinderknecht, goalkeeper
Joseph Ghitis and midfielders
Xavier Gomez and
Cole Nelson.
Elvir Ibisevic and
Jacob Weiler each have played over 1,000 minutes.
• Nine players have made their Omaha debuts this year, highlighted by
Diego Gutierrez,
Stevie Siy and
Miguel Gomez combing for 22 starts, two goals and eight assists.
• Outscoring teams 21-12 on the season thus far, Omaha has only allowed four first-half goals and has surrendered 139 shots (51 on frame). UNO is 2-2-1 when it concedes the first goal and 6-2 when scoring first.
Up Next
The Mavericks will close out the 2017 regular season at home when Omaha hosts Oral Roberts on Saturday, Nov. 4. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. at Caniglia Field. The match will also serve as the Senior Game for Omaha's seven seniors.
