LEADING OFF
The (5-2-1, 0-0-0) Omaha men's soccer team meets Oral Roberts University (3-2-3, 0-0-0) in the Summit League opener for both clubs at Case Soccer Complex in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Saturday night at 7 p.m. CT.
The match will be televised on The Summit League Network. The Mavericks then return home to host Summit League foes St. Thomas (10/2) and Kansas City (10/5) before their final non-league match of the regular season against Creighton University at Caniglia Field (10/9).
The Mavericks are currently ranked 8th in the United Soccer Coaches poll for the West Region. Omaha previously received votes in the national rankings this season as well.
In the Summit League Preseason Poll, Omaha was picked to finish second behind Denver. Oral Roberts was projected to finish third.
Omaha claimed the most recent meeting between the two schools, one of the most dramatic victories in Mavericks DI history, 1-0 in the Summit League Tournament semi-finals a year ago. The Mavericks went on to claim the tournament title and the NCAA bid that goes with it.
Omaha is undefeated in seven of eight matches this season, including three straight (9/1, 2-2 vs. Houston Christian; 9/6, 1-1 tie vs. Drake; 9/22, 1-0 win at SIUE).
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.
The Mavericks have been productive in the first half of games, outscoring the opposition 7-3 before intermission. Omaha has outscored opponents 11-8 overall.
Omaha ranks 46th nationally in goals against average (1.0). They rank second in the conference behind Denver (0.89) and are tied for the Summit League lead in fewest total goals allowed (8, w Denver). Senior goalkeeper Nathanael Sallah's 13 career shutouts rank 27th in NCAA DI this season.
The Mavericks' .750 win percentage entering Summit League play trails only Denver (5-0-4, .778).
Offensively, the Mavericks are led by Theo Klein (9 pts, 3 goals, 23 shots, 14 shots on goal), Mathis Pilon St-Louis (4 pts, 2 g, 11 shots, 8 sog) and Wawa Palga 4 pts, 2 g). Klein ranks 27th in NCAA DI this season in accuracy (0.609). As a team, the Mavericks are also quite accurate, leading the conference and eighth in the nation for shot accuracy (0.550).
SCOUTING THE GOLDEN EAGLES
Oral Roberts University has gone unbeaten in its last three games, (9/10, 2-2 tie at Tulsa; 2-2 tie vs. 9/14, Houston Christian; 9/21, 6-0 win over UTRVG). The Golden Eagles boast four Summit League Peak Performers of the Week honorees this season (Omar Mora, conference leading 7 goals and 14 points; Luis Flores, 3 g, 1 a; Jose Estrada, 2 g, 3 a); GK Joao Mesquita, conference leading 0.77 gaa, saves per game (5.0) and save percentage (.882).
OMAHA-ORU HISTORY
Omaha claimed the most recent meeting between the two schools, one of the most dramatic victories in Mavericks DI history, 1-0 in the Summit League Tournament semi-finals a year ago. The Mavericks went on to claim the tournament title and the NCAA bid that goes with it. ORU leads the series all-time (7-9-2), but in conference play the matchup is level (6-6-2). The Mavericks have had success in Tulsa, posting a positive result in 7 of 11 matches (5-4-2).
