LEADING OFF
After starting the season off 1-0-1 at home, the Mavericks hit the road for the first time in 2024 as they head west to Utah to face Southern Utah this Thursday at 5 p.m. CT and Utah Tech on Sunday at 8 p.m. CT.
QUICK KICKS
• Omaha began its 2024 campaign with a 1-0-1 week at home, tying SIUE 1-1 on opening day before shutting out Lindenwood 2-0 last Sunday.
• After falling behind the Cougars early on Thursday, Reagan Bourgeois sent a free kick right to Regan Zimmers who sent the one-timer straight up the middle for her first goal of the season. This marked the first time in her six-year career that Zimmers recorded an opening day goal.
• Grace Ostergaard made history on opening day as she made her 79th consecutive start, setting a new program record in the Division I era.
• On Sunday, it took less than four minutes for Omaha to take the lead for good as Bourgeois again set things up with a pass to Marissa Gohr at midfield who promptly connected with Lauren Schmidt on the edge of the box. Catching the goalkeeper flat footed, Schmidt got one past her for the first goal of her career.
• Just 12 minutes after taking a 1-0 lead, Gohr recorded her second assist of the afternoon as she found Alyssa Kellar directly in front of the net for the easy goal.
• Making their Maverick debuts this past weekend were freshman Sammie Edwards, Blanch Brethes Vacchiani, Kristin Smari, Martina Ertz, Clare Macklin, and Maja Baun.
• Baun and Mia Reedtz Rehde Olesen evenly split time in goal in both matches. The duo combined for six saves and allowed just one goal last week.
• Overall, the Mavericks dominated time of possession across both matches, outshooting the opposition 21-14 (10-7 on goal) and taking 17 corner kicks vs. just four.
SCOUTING THE SOUTHERN UTAH THUNDERBIRDS
The Thunderbirds are off to an 0-2 start this season after falling 3-1 at UNLV and 2-1 to Nevada last week. As a team, Southern Utah actually outshot their opponents 35-30 (15-12 on goal). Last season, Southern Utah went 3-11-5 with a 3-5-1 record in the WAC.
THUNDERBIRDS TO WATCH
Hailey Hamataka scored SUU's lone goal on opening day, breaking the shutout in the 81st minute. The senior midfielder has four goals and 14 points in her career.
Likewise, freshman midfielder Chelsea Loeser is off to a busy start in her rookie season, playing 157 minutes across both matches and recording seven shots. She picked up the team's only goal at Nevada halfway through the first 45.
In goal for Southern Utah is senior Darya Mosallaei. She has been the only goalie on the field so far for the Thunderbirds, making seven saves while facing a total of 30 shots.
SERIES HISTORY
The Mavericks emerged victorious in both of their matches with Southern Utah, shutting them out 4-0 in last year's season opener and before that blanking them 1-0 back in 2018.
SCOUTING THE UTAH TECH TRAILBLAZERS
Utah Tech played to a 1-1 tie at Weber State on opening day, their one and only game last week. Despite being outshot 14-5 (7-1 on goal), the Trailblazers' defense kept the Wildcats from doing more damage. In 2022, Utah Tech went 8-7-5 with a 3-2-4 record in the WAC.
TRAILBLAZERS TO WATCH
Utah Tech's only goal so far comes courtesy of freshman Bre Koscielski, who also took three of the team's five shots.
Returning this year is the team's second leading scorer from 2023 Lacy Fox. Last season, she notched seven goals and totaled 15 points. The junior forward logged 35 minutes last week.
Junior goalkeeper Brianna Frey came into the season with 69 career saves in 15 games played across her first two seasons. On opening day this year, she faced 14 shots and made six saves against Weber State, playing all 90 minutes.
SERIES HISTORY
Omaha and Utah Tech tied in their one and only meeting last year with a 0-0 match. The Mavericks outshot the trailblazers 10-8 in the contest.
