DENVER, Colo. - The Omaha men's soccer team fell in the Summit League semifinals Thursday night. The No. 9/7 Denver Pioneers netted a first-half goal and held on for the shutout despite a late attempt from the Mavericks that nearly tied the match. Denver advances to the championship match, while this conclude Omaha's 2022 slate.
The Mavericks finish this season's campaign, 8-6-2 overall.
How It Happened
- Both the Mavericks and Pioneers settled in for a defensive battle Thursday night. The first shot on goal didn't come until the 22nd minute of action. Tevin Rochester's attempt at the 21:56 mark was matched by Kengo Ohira in the 34th minute. Both attempts were stopped by the keepers to keep things scoreless.
- Five minutes later, AJ Francois found the back of the net for Denver. He was assisted by Holger Olsson and Dylan Akau in the 39th minute. The Pioneers held on to the lead at the half without a Maverick counter.
- Defense held the second half action at bay until the 71st minute. The Mavericks recorded four straight corner kicks over a two-minute stretch, but they couldn't find the equalizer.
- In the 75th minute, Omaha went down a player following a red card on Dominik Danis. The card didn't stop the Mavericks as their two closest attempts to tie the match came in the following minutes.
- Kenji Mboma Dem set up for a free kick at the 85-minute mark about 25 yards out from the goal. He placed the ball high right for it to barely be punched away by Isaac Nehme for the save of the match.
- Omaha wouldn't take another shot in the final five minutes, and Denver held on for the 1-0 win to advance in the tournament.
Inside the Box Score
- Shots were tied, 6-6 total and 2-2 shots on goal.
- Mboma Dem was the lone Maverick with two attempts, while four others tallied one each.
- Lute Lillo Portero recorded one save in goal.
- The 2022 overall record, 8-6-2 (.562), was the best first year record of a head coach in program history. Jay Mims recorded one win in the program's debut year, while Bob Warming finished just under .500 at 7-8-1.
- Omaha's eight wins this year was the most in a single-season since 2017 when the squad went 10-6-3.
