PHOENIX, Ariz.- In an early season battle between two regionally ranked teams, the Omaha Mavericks dropped their first match of the 2024 season, 2-0 at Grand Canyon University.
With triple digit temperatures in Phoenix at kickoff on Friday night, GCU (#2 in Far West Region) came out typically hot against previously unbeaten Omaha (#7 in West Region). GCU has been a strong offensive team in the opening half and that trend continued Friday night as they scored in the 14th minute of the match when Solo Bidanessy drove one past Nathanael Sallah, assisted by Jorge Lopez and Bright Nutornutsi.
Just four minutes later, Nutomutsi dazzled with one of the most spectacular goals of the season thus far, juggling and whipping home his fifth tally of 2024, 18:03 into the match. The Antelopes led 2-0, the first two goal deficit the Mavericks faced this season.
Omaha's defense tightened up after the early GCU tallies. Out shot 7-5 in the first half, the Mavericks rebounded to top GCU 17-13 for the game. Omaha finished with 9 shots on goal to 4 for GCU, including three by Mavericks freshman Bradley Takamo, who had strong chances turned aside in the 57th and 59th minutes.
The Mavericks best chances may have been a series of tries in deep in the 81st minute, including one shot from 10 yards out by Junior Casillas and two that followed from Theo Klein.
The GCU (3-1) win is the first in the series since 2013, ending Omaha's (4-1) three-game win streak against the Antelopes.
The Mavericks return home Monday night to host Houston Christian (1-4) at Caniglia Field at 7 p.m. CT. The Huskies lost Friday night at Drake in Des Moines, 1-0.
