LEADING OFF 
The unbeaten Omaha men's soccer team (4-0) travels to Phoenix for a non-league match against Grand Canyon University (2-1)  Friday night at 9 p.m. CT, The game will be televised on ESPN+. The Mavericks return home Monday night to host Houston Christian at 7 p.m. CT.

QUICK KICKS 

• The Mavericks are 4-0 for the first time since 2017 when they claimed the Summit League title and earned an NCAA bid. 
• The Mavericks received votes in the United Soccer Coaches National Rankings this week, making them one of 14 schools just outside the nation's Top 25.
• They are ranked 7th in this week's West Region poll, dropping one spot from week one (6) despite a pair of 1-0 victories over San Francisco and Loyola Chicago.
• With a sweep of their recent home stand, Omaha has claimed three straight wins on the Caniglia Field pitch for the first time under head coach Donovan Dowling.
• Defender Naz Astwood is the first Omaha Maverick to receive conference honors. After leading the Mavericks to those shutout wins and scoring the game winning goal against Loyola Chicago, the senior from Bermuda was named Summit League Peak Defensive Performer of the Week. It is his first career weekly league honor.
• Theo Klein remains the sharp end of the spear for a deep Omaha attack. His team-leading three goals and eight points rank 16th in NCAA DI through two weeks. 
• A Summit League Preseason Player to Watch, Theo Klein continues to climb in the Mavericks career record books. Already the school's all-time leader in penalty kick goals (9), the senior from Strasbourg, France has moved into sole possession of the number three spot in career points (39), trailing only Mark Moulton (49, 2013-16) and Vance Rookwood (45, 2011-14).  He now trails only Rookwood (19) in career goals at 16. 
• Omaha's other Preseason Player to Watch, senior goalkeeper Nathanael Sallah also continues to forge his name in Mavericks annals. Last year's Summit League Tournament Most Valuable Player now ranks thirds in career saves (124), trailing only Joseph Ghitis (172, 2013-17) and Josh Christensen (146, 2011-15).  He is second in career shutouts (12), four behind Ghitis. He stands second only to Ghitis in goalie matches started, goalie matches played and goalie minutes played. 
• Their four game win streak is the longest of Donovan Dowling's head coaching career.
• Omaha's .609 shot accuracy (shots/shots on goal) ranks ninth in NCAA DI.
• In four matches, four different players have been credited with game-winning goals: Naz Astwood (Loyola), Theo Klein (San Francisco), Mathis Pilon St-Louis (Florida Atlantic) and Brett Perkins (Oakland). 

SCOUTING THE ANTELOPES

• Grand Canyon (2-1) also received votes in the United Coaches National Rankings and are ranked second in the Far West Region behind Seattle University.
• Forward Bright Nutornutsi made school history when he was named WAC Offensive Player of the Week for the second consecutive week after his two-goal showing at Duke on Friday. He is the first GCU player in the program's Division I era to score four goals through the season's first two games.
• After stunning Duke Friday 3-2, Grand Canyon fell 2-1 at Elon Monday night for their first loss of the season.  
• Of GCU's seven goals through three games, five have been tallied in the first half of play.  
• After their win over ther Blue Devils, GCU is 4-2-2 over opponents nationally ranked or receiving votes in the United Soccer Coaches poll since 2021.

MAVERICKS-LOPES HISTORY

• September 4, 2023, the Mavericks overcame a 1-0 halftime deficit to win their first game of the season 2-1 at Caniglia Field. Wawa Palga and Ede Gramberg scored for Omaha, as the Mavericks out shot GCU 21-13. 
• Omaha has claimed three straight wins in the series, the only loss coming in their first meeting in 2013.
• After their win over ther Blue Devils, GCU is 4-2-2 over opponents nationally ranked or receiving votes in the United Soccer Coaches poll since 2021.