Mavericks Look to Build Off First Win
Sep 4, 2013 | Women's Soccer
The Omaha women's soccer team will look to build off its first win of the season when it heads to Northern Iowa on Friday for a 7 p.m. contest. The Mavericks, coming off a complete performance in a 2-0 shutout over North Dakota, will return home on Sunday to host Wyoming at 1 p.m. at the UNO Soccer Field. That game is part of a doubleheader, as the men's soccer team hosts Columbia at 11 a.m. Live stats for both matches this weekend will be available at OMavs.com.
The Teams
The Mavericks are 1-3 after posting their first win of the season, 2-0, over North Dakota last Sunday. Omaha dominated play and got second-half goals from Ava Doetsch and Melanie McCormick to earn the victory. McCormick had an assist as well, giving her a team-leading three points this season. Meaghan Clark made three saves in the win to earn her second-career shutout. Although the Mavericks have been outscored 9-3 in the first four games of the season, they have been holding their own against their competition. The Mavs have only been outshot by one, 47-46, through four games, and are even in shots on goal at 24-24. UNO also has a decisive edge in corner kicks over its opponents, 25-12.
Northern Iowa is off to a 1-3 start as well. The Panthers' lone win came on Aug. 30 against Eastern Illinois, 2-0. In addition to a 2-1 loss at Ball State, UNI was defeated by a pair of Summit League teams, Fort Wayne (2-0) and Western Illinois (2-1). The Panthers' four goals this season have all come from different players. Maggie Riley leads the team with three points (1g, 1a). Allie Brees, Mary Brandt and Morgan Gallagher are the other goal scorers. Nicole Postel has started all four games in net and has a 1.00 goals against average with 10 saves.
Wyoming is 1-1-1 to start the season. The Cowgirls opened with a 4-3 win over TCU on Aug. 23, then tied Montana, 0-0. The Cowgirls fell in overtime to South Dakota, 2-1, at home on Aug. 30. Wyoming plays at Drake Friday evening before stopping in Omaha on Sunday on its way back home. Lucie McDowell (2g, 0a) and Sara Paul (1g, 2a) lead the Cowgirls with four points. Liz O'Reilly has one goal and one assist for three points. Alex Boehm has played every minute in goal and has nine saves and a 1.51 goals against average.
Series History
The all-time series between UNO and Northern Iowa is tied at 1-1. The teams have not met since Oct. 28, 2001, when the Mavs beat the Panthers 3-2 in Omaha.
Wyoming won the one and only game against the Mavs played last year on Aug. 31, 4-2 in Laramie. Jordyn Braun had a goal in the match for Omaha.
Last Time Out
The Mavs put together a complete performance to earn their first victory of the season, 2-0 over North Dakota last Sunday at the UNO Soccer Field. The Mavs played a strong first half going into the wind, then with the wind at their backs took control of the match with two goals in the second half by Ava Doetsch and Melanie McCormick. The Mavericks (1-3) were stout defensively, as North Dakota never truly threatened Maverick goalkeeper Meaghan Clark. In the first half, UNO pushed forward often despite going against the 25 mph wind. Doetsch was active around the goal, putting a shot just wide of the net and a cross that went off the crossbar. With the wind aiding them in the second half, the Mavs broke through at the 58:02 mark. McCormick played a ball down the left sideline to Doetsch, and the freshman worked her way around a defender and put a shot in that deflected off a defender into the left side of the net. It was Doetsch's first career goal and the first lead of the season for the Mavericks. The Mavericks continued to maintain possession on the attack and were rewarded with a second goal in the 67th minute. Monica Bosiljevac was tripped up on the right side of the box for a penalty kick. McCormick took the PK and placed it into the right-side netting to make it 2-0, giving her a goal and an assist on the day. The Mavs finished the match with a 20-10 shot advantage and 6-3 edge in shots on goal. Clark made three saves to earn the shutout. UNO also dominated corner kicks by a 10-2 margin.
Up Next
UNO hosts Montana on Friday, Sept. 13 at 7 p.m. at the UNO Soccer Field.
