Union Omaha
File:Union Omaha logo.svg | |||
Full name | Union Omaha Soccer Club | ||
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Nickname(s) | The Owls, Los Búhos | ||
Founded | May 1, 2019 | ||
Stadium | Werner Park, Papillion, Nebraska | ||
Stadium capacity |
9,023 | ||
Owner | Gary Green | ||
Head coach | Jay Mims | ||
League | USL League One | ||
2021 | USL League One, 1st of 12 Playoffs: Champions |
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Website | [www.unionomaha.com/ Club home page] | ||
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Union Omaha Soccer Club is an American professional soccer team based in Omaha, Nebraska. In 2020, the team made its debut in USL League One (USL1).
Contents
History
In 2019, USL1 awarded a franchise to Alliance Omaha Soccer Holdings to begin play in the 2020 season,[1] with former head coach at the University of Nebraska Omaha, Jay Mims, announced as the club's first manager.[1][2] Union Omaha finished 2020 in second place to qualify for the USL1 championship game. However, the match was canceled due to an outbreak of COVID-19 within the team's roster.[3]
By defeating the Richmond Kickers 2–0 in the second to last match of the 2021 season, the Owls became the USL League One regular-season champions and clinched the top seed for the playoffs.[4] Union Omaha then finished the season winning their first ever championship, beating defending champion Greenville Triumph SC 3–0 in the final.[5]
On April 19th, 2022, Union Omaha defeated Chicago Fire FC of the MLS in a penalty shootout (2(4)-2(5)) in the third round of the U.S. Open Cup to become the first USL1 team to defeat an MLS team in U.S. Open Cup history. Union Omaha defender Alex Touche scored from inside the box in the 122nd minute of extra time to equalize the game at 2-2 and force a penalty shootout.[6]
On May 25th, 2022, Omaha played Minnesota United FC and defeated them 2 - 1 becoming the first third division team since Orlando City in 2013 to go to the U.S. Open Cup quarterfinals.
Crest
The team's name and crest were developed through fan engagement including town halls, workshops, interviews, and online polls to reflect the entire Omaha region.[1][7] In a bid to stay true to the roots of both the state and city, the team announced on October 3, 2019, the new name as a nod to the Union Pacific Railroad, with the great horned owl, a species of owl native to Nebraska, being the prominent focal point of the club's crest. The logo was designed by Matthew Wolff.[8]
Stadium
The team plays in Werner Park, a baseball park south west of Omaha in the suburb of Papillion.[1][9][10] The Sarpy County owned stadium was opened thirteen years ago in 2011, and is shared with the Omaha Storm Chasers of the Triple-A East. The ballpark cost $36 million to construct and is located near 126th Street and Highway 370, less than three miles (5 km) west of Papillion in unincorporated Sarpy County.[11] Werner Park received additional locker rooms, field enhancements, and offices to accommodate the soccer operations. During the 2022 U.S. Open Cup, the team hosted Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC at Caniglia Field, located on the campus of the University of Nebraska at Omaha.[12]
Sponsorship
Period | Kit manufacturer | Shirt sponsor |
---|---|---|
2020 | Nike | CHI Health (home) Nebraska Medicine (away) |
2021–present | XCancer |
Players
- As of April 23, 2022 [13]
- ^ USL Academy Contract
Staff
Current staff
Coaching staff | |
---|---|
Jay Mims | Head coach |
Bobby Murphy | Assistant coach |
Front Office | |
Martie Cordaro | President |
Peter Marlette | General Manager |
Ric Granryd | Director of Soccer Operations |
Statistics and records
Year-by-year
- As of October 24, 2020
Season | USL League One | Playoffs | US Open Cup | Top Scorer | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
P | W | D | L | GF | GA | Pts | Position | Player | Goals | ||||
2020 | 16 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 20 | 15 | 29 | 2nd | League Final | Cancelled | Evan Conway | 6 | |
2021 | 28 | 14 | 9 | 5 | 44 | 22 | 51 | 1st | Champion | Cancelled | Greg Hurst | 14 |
Head coaches record
- As of October 24, 2020
- Includes Regular Season, Playoffs, U.S. Open Cup. Excludes friendlies.
Name | Nationality | From | To | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | Win% |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jay Mims | United States | May 1, 2019 | Present | 46 | 24 | 14 | 8 | 73 | 38 | 52.17 |
Average attendance
Year | Reg. Season | Playoffs |
---|---|---|
2020 | 2,500 | – |
2021 | 3,354 | 4,414 |
Honors
Player honors
Year | Player | Country | Position | Honor |
---|---|---|---|---|
2020 | Evan Conway | United States | Midfielder | All-League First Team |
Damià Viader | Spain | Defender | All-League First Team | |
Ethan Vanacore-Decker | United States | Forward | All-League Second Team Assists Champion |
|
Rashid Nuhu | Ghana | Goalkeeper | All-League Second Team | |
2021 | Damià Viader | Spain | Defender | Defender of the Year All-League First Team League Finals MVP |
Rashid Nuhu | Ghana | Goalkeeper | Goalkeeper of the Year Golden Glove Award All-League Second Team |
|
Greg Hurst | Scotland | Forward | All-League First Team | |
Devin Boyce | United States | Midfielder | All-League Second Team | |
Evan Conway | United States | Forward | All-League Second Team |
References
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External links
- Use mdy dates from May 2019
- Pages with broken file links
- Football kits with incorrect pattern
- Football team templates which use American parameter
- Articles with hCards
- Union Omaha
- USL League One teams
- Association football clubs established in 2019
- 2019 establishments in Nebraska
- Sports in Omaha, Nebraska
- Soccer clubs in Nebraska