LEADING OFF
Omaha (6-6-3, 1-4-1) men's soccer plays their final road match of the Summit League regular season, squaring off with the St. Thomas Tommies (4-9-2, 1-6-0) in St. Paul, Minnesota Saturday at 1 p.m. CT.
The match will be televised on The Summit League Network.
The most recent meeting between the teams was October 2 in Omaha when the Mavericks topped the Tommies 2-1 at Caniglia Field.
A once promising season stalled in the month of October for the Mavericks. Omaha has just one positive result since downing St. Thomas (1-1 tie with KC October 5), going five straight matches without a win.
The Summit League is one of the toughest in NCAA DI. According to the college soccer Massey Ratings, the Summit League plays the third toughest schedule in the country, trailing the ACC and Big Ten. The Mavericks' slate ranks 79th in difficulty nationally and second toughest in the Summit League behind #9 Denver (5) and Oral Roberts (58).
Omaha's season has been about defense. Prior to their 3-2 loss at Kansas City last week, the Mavericks ranked 65th nationally (1.143) in goals against average. They stand just behind Denver in the Summit League and are second in the conference in fewest goals allowed (19). Senior goalkeeper Nathanael Sallah's 13 career shutouts rank 32nd in NCAA DI among active players.
Offensively, the Mavericks are led by senior Theo Klein (11 pts, 4 goals, 3 assists, 42 shots, 20 shots on goal), senior Mathis Pilon St-Louis (6 pts, 3 g, 22 shots, 13 sog), senior Wawa Palga (5 pts, 2 g, 1 a, 14 shots, 10 sog) and sophomore Italo Jenkins (6 pts, 3 g, 14 shots, 9 sog).
In NCAA DI rankings this week, Klein ranks 48th in shots per game (2.8) and 50th in shots on goal per game (1.33) As a team, the Mavericks are accurate, second in the conference to ORU and 48th in the nation for shot accuracy (0.448).
Klein's 17 career goals are just two shy of the Mavericks career mark of 19 held by Vance Rookwood (2011-2014). Klein and Mathis Pilon St-Louis each have six career game winning goals at Omaha, two fewer than Rookwood.
Theo Klein and Thore Boehm have started all 14 games this season. Boehm's 66 career matches played are the most among active Mavericks. Boehm, Klein and Sallah are captains.
The Mavericks fell from the United Soccer Coaches West Region poll earlier this season, despite their strong showing against other teams ranked in their regions: (1-1 tie vs. Kansas City, #7 in West; 1-1 tie vs. Drake, #6 in West; 1-0 win over SIUE, #10 in North). Omaha has been ranked as high as #6 in the West this season, when they also received votes in the national poll.
The Mavericks started the regular season 4-0 for the second time in school history and the first time since 2017, when they opened the season 6-0 en route to regular season and post-season Summit League titles, including the school's first Division I NCAA bid.
Omaha has one more game after St. Thomas, Senior Day on 1/9 at Caniglia Field against Denver.
Tickets for the remaining home match are available at Omavs.com/tix.
SCOUTING THE TOMMIES
St. Thomas is playing their final game of the season. The Tommies snapped a six game losing streak 10/19 at Kansas City when they stunned the Roos 2-1 on a pair of goals from Faris Colic (6 g, 2, 14 pts). Goalkeeper Moritz Krenc has faced - and turned aside - the most shots in the league. His 85 total saves come at an average of 5.67 per match are the most in the Summit League this season.
OMAHA-ST. THOMAS HISTORY
The Mavericks lead the all-time DI series 3-1, with three straight wins. Omaha downed the Tommies in their most recent meeting.
The Mavericks controlled much of the match, outshooting the University of St. Thomas 16-6, limiting them to just one shot in the second half. Omaha had seven shots on goal, and St. Thomas only two.
Omaha trailed 1-0 when UST's Charlie Hoelscher scored 37:36 into the match on the team's first shot on goal. But the Mavericks kept attacking in waves, and in the final minute of the opening half, a well connected play gave sophomore Theo Jenkins the chance to drive home his first career goal with the Mavericks at 44:01. He was assisted by freshmen Mikey Stukenholz and Maguire Perkins.
In the 76th minute, Omaha's leading scorer, senior Theo Klein, came through with an assist from Martin Lago. Klein's fourth goal of the season and second game-winner moved him closer to the top of Omaha's DI career records in both categories.
