Union Omaha

Soccer club

Union Omaha

Full name| Union Omaha Soccer Club
Nickname(s)| The Owls, Los Búhos
Founded| May 1, 2019; 5 years ago (2019-05-01)
Stadium| Werner Park, Papillion, Nebraska
Capacity| 9,023
Owner| Gary Green
Head coach| Dominic Casciato
League| USL League One
2023| 1st of 12
Playoffs: Semifinals
Website| Club website

Home colors

Away colors

|

Current season

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).

## History

[edit]

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]

Union Omaha made a deep run in the 2022 U.S. Open Cup, entering in the second round and advancing to the quarterfinals as the last remaining third division team in the competition. In April, the Owls defeated Major League Soccer club Chicago Fire FC in a penalty shootout in the third round, becoming the first USL1 team to defeat an MLS team in U.S. Open Cup history.[6] After defeating fellow USL1 side Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC, Omaha played Minnesota United FC of MLS in the Round of 16 and won 2–1. They were the first third division team since Orlando City in 2013 to advance to the U.S. Open Cup quarterfinals.[7][8] The club's run in the competition ended with a 6–0 defeat to hosts Sporting Kansas City in the quarterfinals; approximately 700 fans traveled from Omaha to attend the match at Children's Mercy Park in Kansas City, Kansas.[9]

On January 25, 2024, the club announced their plans to build a dedicated soccer stadium in Downtown Omaha.[10][11]

## Crest

[edit]

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][12] 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.[13]

The star above the crest represents Union Omaha's one USL League One title, and was added following their 2021 title win.

## Stadium

[edit]

Werner Park Entrance

The team plays in Werner Park, a baseball park south west of Omaha in the suburb of Papillion.[1][14][15] The Sarpy County owned stadium was opened thirteen years ago in 2011, and is shared with the Omaha Storm Chasers, the Triple-A  affiliate of the Kansas City Royals. 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.[16] 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.[17]

In January 2024, the team announced plans to build a dedicated soccer stadium in Downtown Omaha with 7,000 seats. The stadium would be part of a planned $300 million housing and entertainment district.[10]

## Sponsorship

[edit]

Period  | Kit manufacturer  | Shirt sponsor

|
|

2020  | Nike | CHI Health (home)
Nebraska Medicine (away)
2021–2022  | XCancer
2023  | Hummel
2024–present  | Centris Federal Credit Union

### Uniform evolution

[edit]

Home: 2020–present

2020

2021–2022

2023

2024

|
|
|

Away: 2020–present

2020–2021

2021–2022

2022–2023

2023–2024

2024-

|
|
|
|

## Players

[edit]

As of August 16, 2024[18]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

| No. | Pos. | Nation  | Player

|
|
|

2  | DF |  HAI | Mechack Jérôme
3  | DF |  USA | Blake Malone
4  | DF |  ITA | Luca Mastrantonio
5  | DF |  ITA | Marco Milanese
6  | MF |  BRA | PC
7  | MF |  USA | Joe Gallardo
8  | MF |  ENG | Nortei Nortey
9  | MF |  BRA | Pedro Dolabella
10  | FW |  CPV | Steevan Dos Santos
11  | FW |  BER | Zeiko Lewis
13  | DF |  USA | Anderson Holt
15  | MF |  USA | Brandon Knapp
| No. | Pos. | Nation  | Player

|
|
|

18  | FW |  USA | Mark Bronnik ([A])
20  | DF |  USA | Charlie Ostrem
21  | FW |  MEX | Aarón Gómez
24  | GK |  GHA | Rashid Nuhu
26  | MF |  USA | Dion Acoff
27  | DF |  SSD | Ryen Jiba
33  | FW |  FRA | Adam Aoumaich
36  | GK |  USA | Wallis Lapsley
70  | MF |  USA | Lagos Kunga
77  | DF |  GHA | Isaac Bawa
99  | MF |  USA | Missael Rodríguez (on loan from Chicago Fire)

1. ^

USL Academy Contract

### Out on loan

[edit]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

| No. | Pos. | Nation  | Player

|
|
|

22  | DF |  USA | Will Perkins (on loan at Huntsville City FC)

## Staff

[edit]

### Current staff

[edit]

Coaching staff

Dominic Casciato  | Head coach
Ladulé Lako LoSarah  | Assistant coach
Vincenzo Candela  | Assistant coach
Front Office
Martie Cordaro  | President
Alexis Boulos  | General Manager

## Statistics and records

[edit]

### Year-by-year

[edit]

As of October 14, 2023
Season  | USL League One | Playoffs  | US Open Cup | Top Scorer

|
|
|
|

P | W | D | L | GF | GA | Pts | PPG | Position | Player  | Goals
2020 | 16  | 8  | 5  | 3  | 20  | 15  | 29  | 1.81  | 2nd  | League Final  | Cancelled |  Evan Conway | 6
2021 | 28  | 14  | 9  | 5  | 44  | 22  | 51  | 1.82  | 1st  | Champions  | Cancelled |  Greg Hurst | 14
2022 | 30  | 10  | 13  | 7  | 34  | 33  | 43  | 1.43  | 5th  | Quarterfinals  | Quarterfinals |  Noe Meza | 9
2023 | 32  | 19  | 7  | 5  | 70  | 41  | 65  | 2.03  | 1st  | Semifinals  | Third Round |  Steevan Dos Santos | 13
Total  | 106  | 51  | 34  | 20  | 168  | 111  | 188  | 1.77  | –  | –  | –  |  Noe Meza | 23

### Head coaches record

[edit]

As of September 7, 2024

* Includes Regular Season, Playoffs, Jägermeister Cup, U.S. Open Cup. Excludes friendlies.

Name  | Nationality  | From  | To  | P  | W  | D  | L  | GF  | GA  | Win%

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

Jay Mims |  United States | May 1, 2019 | December 16, 2022 | 82 | 38 | 27 | 17 | 115 | 82 | 046.34
Dominic Casciato  |  England | January 17, 2023 | Present  | 62 | 37 | 10 | 15 | 124 | 84 | 059.68

### Average attendance

[edit]

Year | Reg. Season | Playoffs

|
|

2020 | 2,500  | –
2021 | 3,354  | 4,414
2022 | 3,911  | –
2023 | 3,030  | 2,217
2024 | 3,206

## Honors

[edit]

* USL League One Playoffs
* Champions: 2021
* USL League One Regular Season
* Players' Shield: 2021, 2023

### Individual honors

[edit]

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
2022  | Rashid Nuhu |  Ghana  | Goalkeeper  | Golden Glove Award
Goalkeeper of the Year Award
All-League First Team
JP Scearce |  United States  | Midfielder  | All-League First Team
2023  | Dominic Casciato[19] |  England  | Coach  | Coach of the Year
JP Scearce[20] |  United States  | Midfielder  | All-League First Team
Alexis Souahy[20] |  Comoros  | Defender  | All-League First Team
Steevan Dos Santos[20] |  Cape Verde  | Forward  | All-League Second Team
Noe Meza[20] |  United States  | Forward  | All-League Second Team
Dion Acoff[20] |  United States  | Defender  | All-League Second Team

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d USLLeagueOne com Staff (May 1, 2019). "Omaha Unveiled as USL League One's Newest Club". USL League One. Retrieved May 1, 2019.
2. ^ WOWT (May 2019). "USL League One comes to Omaha". www.wowt.com. Retrieved June 19, 2019.
3. ^ Smith, Rex (October 29, 2020). "Championship game canceled after multiple Union Omaha players test positive for COVID-19". WOWT. Retrieved October 5, 2021.
4. ^ Shinzel, Gene (October 23, 2021). "2021 USL League One season". Omaha World-Herald. Retrieved October 23, 2021.
5. ^ "Union Omaha wins first USL League One title in Owls' second season". Omaha World Herald. November 20, 2021. Retrieved November 23, 2021.
6. ^ Sigal, Jonathan (April 19, 2022). "Ezra Hendrickson reprimands Chicago Fire FC after US Open Cup exit to Union Omaha". MLSsoccer.com.
7. ^ "Union Omaha advances into the quarterfinals of U.S. Open Cup". June 2022.
8. ^ "Orlando City's U.S. Open Cup History". June 10, 2019.
9. ^ Sperry, Daniel (June 22, 2022). "Sporting Kansas City routs Union Omaha to reach Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup semifinals". The Kansas City Star. Retrieved August 12, 2022.
10. ^ a b "Alliance Sports Announces Vision for Union Omaha With Cutting-Edge Stadium" (Press release). Union Omaha. January 25, 2024. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
11. ^ Crisler, Dan (January 25, 2024). "New soccer stadium, mixed-use district planned for north downtown Omaha". Omaha World-Herald. Retrieved January 30, 2024.
12. ^ Northam, Mitchell (May 2, 2019). "USL League One expanding to Omaha, Nebraska in 2020". Pro Soccer USA. Retrieved June 19, 2019.
13. ^ Ristau, Reece (October 3, 2019). "Introducing Union Omaha: Pro soccer team unveils colors, crest, name ahead of city's USL debut". Omaha.com. Retrieved October 4, 2019.
14. ^ Peters, Chris (May 2019). "Pro soccer is coming to Omaha: New team will begin play at Werner Park in 2020". Omaha.com. Retrieved June 19, 2019.
15. ^ Star, Lincoln Journal (May 2019). "Omaha lands USL soccer franchise, will begin play in 2020". JournalStar.com. Retrieved June 19, 2019.
16. ^ "ROYALS' NEW BALLPARK: Sarpy's funding plan is complex". Omaha World Herald. June 2, 2009. Retrieved June 10, 2009.
17. ^ "2022 US Open Cup Round 4: Union Omaha $25,000 richer after win over Northern Colorado Hailstorm". thecup.us. May 12, 2022. Retrieved May 13, 2022.
18. ^ "Roster". Union Omaha. Retrieved February 6, 2024.
19. ^ "Omaha's Dominic Casciato voted 2023 USL League One Coach of the Year". www.USLLeagueOne.com. USL League One. November 8, 2023. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
20. ^ a b c d e "USL League One Announces 2023 All-League Teams". www.USLLeagueOne.com. USL League One. October 31, 2023. Retrieved November 1, 2023.

## External links

[edit]

* Official website

* v
* t
* e

USL League One

Teams|

* Central Valley Fuego FC
* Charlotte Independence
* Chattanooga Red Wolves SC
* Forward Madison FC
* Greenville Triumph SC
* One Knoxville SC
* Lexington SC
* Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC
* Union Omaha
* Richmond Kickers
* Spokane Velocity
* Tormenta FC

Future teams|

* AV Alta FC (2025)
* FC Naples (2025)
* Portland Hearts of Pine (2025)
* Santa Barbara Sky FC (2025)
* Texoma FC (2025)
* Westchester SC (2025)
* Eugene, OR (2025)

Former teams|

* Fort Lauderdale CF
* Lansing Ignite FC
* New England Revolution II
* North Carolina FC
* North Texas SC
* Orlando City B
* Toronto FC II
* FC Tucson

Seasons|

* 2019
* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024

USL Cup|

* 2024

Miscellaneous|

* United Soccer League
* USL Championship
* USL League Two

* v
* t
* e

Union Omaha - current squad

* 2 Jérôme
* 3 Malone
* 4 Mastrantonio
* 5 Milanese
* 6 PC
* 7 Gallardo
* 8 Nortey
* 9 Dolabella
* 10 Dos Santos
* 13 Holt
* 15 Knapp
* 18 Bronnik
* 21 Gómez
* 22 Perkins
* 23 Schneider
* 24 Nuhu
* 26 Acoff
* 27 Jiba
* 33 Aoumaich
* 36 Lapsley
* 70 Kunga
* 77 Bawa
* 99 Rodriguez
* Ostrem

* Head Coach: Casciato
* Assistant Coach: Losarah
* Assistant Coach: Candela
* Goalkeeping Coach: Estrada
* Video Coach: Nayeri

* v
* t
* e

Sports teams based in Nebraska

Baseball|

Omaha Storm Chasers

Lincoln Saltdogs

North Platte 80s

Football|

NAL
Omaha Beef

Hockey|

USHL
Lincoln Stars
Omaha Lancers
Tri-City Storm

Roller derby|

WFTDA
No Coast Derby Girls
Omaha Rollergirls

Soccer|

USL1
Union Omaha
GPPL
Nebraska Bugeaters FC

Volleyball|

PVF
Omaha Supernovas

College athletics|

| NCAA
Division I|

Creighton Bluejays
Nebraska Cornhuskers
Omaha Mavericks

|

NCAA
Division II|

Chadron State Eagles
Nebraska-Kearney Lopers
Wayne State Wildcats

Main article
Sports in Nebraska
*[No.]: Number
*[Pos.]: Position
*[DF]: Defender
*[MF]: Midfielder
*[FW]: Forward
*[GK]: Goalkeeper
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template