Union Omaha

Full name	Union Omaha Soccer Club
Nickname(s)	The Owls, Los Búhos
Founded	May 1, 2019; 3 years ago (2019-05-01)
Stadium	Werner Park, Papillion, Nebraska
Capacity	9,023
Owner	Gary Green
Head coach	Vacant
League	USL League One
2022	5th of 12 Playoffs: Quarterfinals
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

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]

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][10] 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.^[11]

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

Stadium

Werner Park Entrance

The team plays in Werner Park, a baseball park south west of Omaha in the suburb of Papillion.^[1][12][13] The Sarpy County owned stadium was opened eleven 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.^[14] 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.^[15]

Sponsorship

Players

As of December 22, 2022^[16]

No.	Pos.	Player	Nation
6	MF	Chavany Willis	Jamaica
7	FW	Noe Meza	United States
8	MF	Joe Brito	United States
12	MF	Eddie Gordon	United States
17	MF	JP Scearce	United States
20	MF	Luis Gil	United States
24	GK	Rashid Nuhu	Ghana
26	MF	Dion Acoff	United States
27	MF	Ryen Jiba	South Sudan
28	DF	Shaft Brewer Jr.	United States
30	MF	Yoskar Galván-Mercado	United States

Staff

Current staff

Coaching staff
Vacant	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	Champions	Cancelled	Greg Hurst	14
2022	30	10	13	7	34	33	43	5th	Quarterfinals	Quarterfinals	Noe Meza	9

Head coaches record

As of December 16, 2022

• 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	December 16, 2022	82	38	27	17	115	82	046.34

Average attendance

Honors

• USL League One playoffs
  • Winners: 2021
• USL League One regular season
  • Winners: 2021

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
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

References

External links

• Official website