OMAHA, Neb. – Omaha women's soccer is set to open the 2017 regular season with a pair of games in Washington, where they will face Eastern Washington on Friday, Aug. 18 at 6 p.m. (CT) and Gonzaga on Sunday, Aug. 20 at 8 p.m. (CT).
About the Mavericks
Omaha finished the 2016 season with a 5-11-3 record and a 3-4-1 mark in Summit League play. The Mavericks return six starters from a season ago, including their top three scorers.
Senior
Carlie Cook led the team in points (15) and goals (six) last season. Senior
Lydia Holtmann tallied 10 points (four goals, two assists) while junior
Emily Romero had a team-best five assists.
The Mavericks also return
Erin Dimon (senior) and
Sophia Roux (sophomore). Roux earned a spot on the All-Summit Newcomer team in 2016.
Senior
Jessica Bollinger helped anchor a UNO defense that produced four shutouts in 2016. Sophomore goalkeeper
Erin Bunker appeared in four games with three starts last season and posted a 1.39 goals-against average with 13 saves.
The Mavericks welcome 12 newcomers in freshmen
Bailey Cascio,
Andrea Daves,
Sarah Doran,
Emily Fontana,
Sydney Randall,
Maggie Tulay and
Lauren Witte and transfers
Erinoelle Clifton,
Susie Dineen,
Haley Johnson and
Jaden Thiem.
Scouting the Eastern Washington Eagles
- 2017 Record: 0-0-0 (0-0-0 Big Sky)
- The Eagles were selected to finish first in the Big Sky Preseason Poll.
- EWU will open the season against Omaha on Friday and host South Dakota on Sunday.
- Last season: 13-5-4 (5-3-2 Big Sky)
- The Eagles finished fifth in the Big Sky regular season before winning the Big Sky postseason tournament.
- EWU fell 3-1 to No. 2 seed USC in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament.
- Key Returners (nine returning starters from last season)
- Chloe Williams: 2-time Big Sky Offensive Player of the Year, First Team All-Big Sky, NSCAA All-Pacific Region Team, selected to the TopDrawer.com Preseason Soccer Best XI third team, 36 points (15 goals, six assists)
- Aimie Inthoulay: All-Big Sky Honorable Mention, 14 points (1 goal, 12 assists)
- Jenny Chavez: First Team All-Big Sky, NSCAA All-Pacific Region Team, 11 points (5 goals, one assist)
History vs. Eastern Washington
Omaha enters Friday's contest 0-0-1 all-time against Eastern Washington. Last season, the two teams played to a scoreless draw at Caniglia Field. EWU outshot UNO 19-10 overall and had a 10-4 advantage in shots on goal. Omaha goalkeeper
Haley Shelton made 10 saves in the game.
Scouting the Gonzaga Bulldogs
- 2017 Record: 0-0-0 (0-0-0 West Coast Conference)
- The Bulldogs host South Dakota on Friday before welcoming Omaha on Sunday.
- Gonzaga and Saint Mary's tied for eighth in the 2017 West Coast Conference women's soccer preseason poll.
- Defeated Mount Royal (Alberta) in an exhibition match, 9-0, on Aug. 11
- Last season: 6-10-2 (2-7-0 West Coast Conference)
- Gonzaga finished ninth in the WCC regular season standings.
- Key Returners (seven returning starters from last season)
- Callie Best: 5 points (2 goals, one assist)
- Savannah Van Citters: 5 points (1 goal, three assists)
- Madeline Gotta: Earned All-West Coast Conference honorable mention honors, 2 points (2 assists)
History vs. Gonzaga
Sunday is the first meeting all-time between Omaha and Gonzaga.
Last Time Out
Omaha lost to No. 17 Arkansas 3-0 in an exhibition game last Thursday to open the 2017 season.
The Razorbacks opened the scoring in the 24th minute when Reid Sibley fired a shot from 15 yards out that found the right side of the goal. Sibley then scored an unassisted goal in the 34th minute to put Arkansas ahead 2-0 at the half. In the second half, Parker Goins scored an unassisted goal in the 54th minute to make the score 3-0.
Susie Dineen,
Abby Meader and
Cydney Skinner each had a shot for Omaha.
Erin Bunker made three saves on the evening.
Up Next
Omaha returns home to face Northern Iowa on Friday, Aug. 25 for the regular season home opener. The Mavericks and the Panthers will kick off at 8 p.m., with live stream and stats available through OMavs.com.
