TULSA, Okla.- Omaha men's soccer opened Summit League play with a 1-0 loss at Oral Roberts in a battle that foreshadows a tight race to the league title this season.
The Golden Eagles (4-2-3, 1-0) scored the game's only goal in the 67th minute when Benjamin Morgan redirected a blocked shot against a stingy Mavericks defense (5-2-2, 0-1) that has allowed an average of one goal per game this season. Omar Mora was credited with an assist.
Omaha's leading goal scorer, Theo Klein's penalty kick with 6:53 remaining was stopped by Joao Mesquita (4 saves) and Klein twice drove shots towards the goal in the final minute as the Mavericks wouldn't go down without a fight. Klein finished with a game and season-high five shots.
The first half was a defensive measuring match with very little offense as Omaha had four shots and Oral Roberts two. Each team was credited with a shot on goal. One of Omaha's best tries came off the foot of Mathis Pilon St-Louis. Starting after missing the previous game due to concussion protocol, the senior from Montreal struck the crossbar in the 20th minute. The Mavericks outshot the Golden Eagles in the game (11-4 shots, 9-4 shots on goal).
The second half was a physical exchange between two teams expecting to challenge for the league title. Seven yellow cards were shown in the second half (ORU 4 YC, Omaha 3 YC) while 15 of 26 combined fouls for the match were committed in the second half.
The 8th ranked team in the United Soccer Coaches West Region rankings, Omaha was shut out for the second time this season. The Mavericks have lost four straight regular season road games against the Golden Eagles, but beat ORU 1-0 in the semi-final of the Summit League Tournament a year ago in Tulsa.
Omaha continues the Summit League slate next week with two home games, Wednesday, October 2 against St. Thomas. They host Kansas City Saturday, October 5. Both matches at Omaha's Caniglia Field kick off at 7 p.m.CT and can be seen on the Summit League Network. The Mavericks have not lost at home this season.
The Mavericks will close out the homestand against cross-town foe Creighton in their only remaining non-league game of the season, October 9 at 7 p.m. CT. Tickets for all Omaha home games can be purchased online through OMavs.com/tix.
