LEADING OFF
The Omaha Mavericks officially kick off their 2024 season this Thursday at 6 p.m. in Rochester, Michigan against the Oakland University Golden Grizzlies. Their first home match is Sunday at 6 p.m. against Florida Atlantic.
QUICK KICKS
• The Mavericks are playing for the first time since 2023's historic run to the Summit League Tournament title and the third NCAA post-season appearance in Omaha's NCAA DI history.
• Omaha finished 8-8-4 and third in the Summit League regular season standings at 3-3-2.
• The roster has a solid mix of returnees (12) and newcomers (12). The class breakdown entering the season is 12 seniors, four juniors, three sophomores and seven freshmen.
• Among the returnees is senior forward Theo Klein, whose six penalty kick goals were the most in NCAA Division I in 2023 and an Omaha school record for PK goals in a season. He also holds the school career record with that total. A 2023 All-Summit First Team selection, the senior from Strasbourg, France broke five school records (Penalty Kicks Made, Career Penalty Kicks, Team Penalty Kicks Made in a Season, Career Points per Match, Career Goals per Match). He was named to the United Soccer Coaches All-West Third Region Team.
• Goalkeeper Nathanael Sallah is making his way to the top of several school records following a season that saw him lead the conference in Total Saves (57) and Save Pct. (0.792). The senior from Hamburg, Germany enters the season ranked second in Omaha history in Wins (14), Shutouts (11) and Goalie Matches Played (34).
• Returnees earning All-Summit honors include Klein (First Team), Sallah (Honorable Mention), and Junior Casillas, who was named Honorable Mention and selected to the All-Newcomer team.
SCOUTING THE OAKLAND GOLDEN GRIZZLIES
The Golden Grizzlies are coached by Oakland Hall of Honor inductee Paul Doroh after finishing 2023 as interim head coach. A member of the Oakland coaching staff since 2016, he officially takes charge of a program that fell one win shy of the Horizon League Championship last season.
The Golden Grizzlies finished the 2023 season 8-9-2 but topped the table in league play with a 6-3 mark. The top seed in the Horizon League tournament, Oakland fell to Green Bay 1-0 in the championship match played in Rochester.
GRIZZLIES TO WATCH
Oakland has a young roster with 17 newcomers, ten sophomores, eight juniors and five fifth year/seniors. Sophomore midfielder Carson Ballagh and sophomore defender Noah Roka were both named to the 2023 Horizon League All-Freshman Team. Junior defender Jace Foster was named Horizon League All-League First Team. The Grizzlies are anchored by their two senior captains, goalkeeper Alex Flowers and midfielder Gabriel Baylon. Flowers made four appearances for Oakland, tallying 22 saves. Baylon is a fifth year senior who has played in 35 matches for his hometown team.
SERIES HISTORY
The Mavericks and Golden Grizzlies are meeting for the third time, with Omaha claiming a 3-1 win at Caniglia Field in 2022. The victory was the first of Donovan Dowling's head coaching career, and several current Mavericks played big roles in the win. Mathis Pilon St-Louis took seven shots, three on goal, netting the game-winner. It was the first goal of Pilon St-Louis' Omaha career. Theo Klein also assisted on a goal. In net, Nathanael Sallah earned the victory. The teams met one other time, in 2012, when Oakland claimed a 2-1 overtime win in Omaha. The matchup on Thursday will be the first held in Rochester.
SCOUTING THE FLORIDA ATLANTIC OWLS
Florida Atlantic of the American Athletic Conference opens their season Thursday in Omaha against Creighton University. Picked to finish fifth in the AAC, FAU finished the 2023 season 6-8-3 and 2-5 in league play.
OWLS TO WATCH
The Owls top two returning attackers, senior forward Noah Kvifte and sophomore forward Oliver Moller-Jensen were named to the AAC Preseason All-Conference team. Kvifte paced the Owls with seven goals including three game winners. Moller-Jensen scored on his first collegiate career shot last season against Lipscomb. Among the newcomers, graduate senior Nacho Alfaro will likely carry the load in goal after starting 39 games in three seasons for Iona. Another transfer expected to have an impact on the attack is forward Mamadou Diarra. The senior netted 28 goals in two seasons for NAIA Southwestern College.
SERIES HISTORY
This marks the first meeting between Omaha and FAU in men's soccer.
