Leading Off
The Omaha Mavericks return home to Caniglia Field for a contest against the UT Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros on Saturday, Sept. 16 at 7 p.m. The Mavericks are coming off a 2-2 draw with Drake.
Omaha heads into this match with a 2-3-1 overall record on the campaign.
Follow the Match
The links to live stats on Omavs.com and the match will be streamed on ESPN+.
Quick Kicks
• Omaha had their first tie of the season on Wednesday in Des Moines against the Drake Bulldogs.
• The team had their first penalty kick opportunity of the season after
Wawa Palga was fouled in the box.
Theo Klein took the kick, and scored his first goal of the year and put the Mavericks at 1-1 on the PK.
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Ede Gramberg scored the second goal with an assist from Palga. Gramberg has now scored goals in the last three matches and Palga has a three-game assist streak.
•
Lute Lillo Portero had a career high eight saves against Drake.
• The Mavericks broke four records and tied two in the 7-0 victory over Chicago State. Including team points (27), team goals (7), team assists (13), and individual assists in a match (
Abdi Adan-3).
Junior Casillas tied the individual points record (7) and individual goals (3).
• Casillas recorded his first goal of the season, and completed a hat trick in just 39 minutes. He also recorded his first assist on the second goal. He had three shots and shots on goal for a perfect 1.00 shot percent.
• Casillas was the first Maverick since Elvir Ibisevic in 2017 to score a hat trick.
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Luke Smith, and Adan were also among the Mavericks to recorded their first goals of the season.
• The seven Mavericks to record their first assists of the season include: Perkins, Klein, Cuevas, Smith, Astwood, Casillas, Berteau and Adan.
• Gramberg leads the team in points with eight.
• Casillas and
Ede Gramberg, both with three, are tied as team leaders in goals.
• Lago, Palga and Adan, all with three, are tied as team leaders in assists.
•
Theo Klein leads the team in shots with 12.
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Lute Lillo Portero has made 23 saves on the season. He currently holds a .676 save percent and 2.07 goals against average.
• The Mavericks were tabbed third in the Summit League preseason poll for the second year in a row. They sit behind Denver and Oral Roberts, respectively.
• Defenders
Gonzalo Cuevas and
Kyle Reese were selected as this year's players to watch.
• Cuevas was named to the All-Summit First Team and All-Newcomer Team. He started in 15 matches where he helped post five shutouts. He was the team leader in assists and netted one goal last season.
• Reese earned All-Summit League honorable mention honors. He started in 14 games and helped post five shutouts, and held opponents to a 1.44 goals against average.
• Omaha added 10 newcomers during the off season, replacing nine Mavericks from the prior year.
• Tied games will result in a draw following regulation. Overtime will not be played in the regular season.
Digging In:
Scouting the UTRGV Vaqueros
The Vaqueros have a 3-3-0 overall record on the 2023 campaign. UTRGV shutout Xavier 2-0 on Monday night. The Vaqueros ended last season with a 7-7-3 overall record and went 4-4-1 in conference play.
Vaqueros to Watch
• Keaviano Francis leads UTRGV in goals (3), points (6), and shots (12).
• Kgodiso Sukati is the second on the team with goals (2), points (4), and shots (5).
Vaqueros Goalkeeping
UTRGV's leading goalkeeper Alexis Gonzalez has played in four matches, making 20 saves and averaging nine goals against. He holds a 1-3-0 record and a .690 save percent.
Series History
Omaha will also enter this match at a an even 1-1-0 all-time series record with UT Rio Grande Valley. The Mavericks played the Vaqueros last season where they fell 4-1 on the road.
