Union Omaha returns to Caniglia Field this weekend welcoming a reinvigorated North Carolina side, the visitors going on the road for the first time and coming off a win and draw in its last two league competitions. Omaha grabbed a big three points on the road last week with a convincing 2-0 win over Central Valley Fuego FC, the first League One win of the Casciato era. Meza was named to League One Team of the Week, along with Alexis Souahy who helped the defense record its first clean sheet in league play. A month into the season, the Owls are one of four remaining teams still undefeated in USL League One play, a streak North Carolina will be looking to snap Saturday afternoon.
GETTING THE BALL ROLLING
The offensive production is starting to rev up early for los Búhos, who have scored 5 goals in their first three matches across all competitions. Omaha comes into the afternoon boasting the best conversion rate and dribble success rate in the league, along with the fourth-best passing accuracy. The Owls’ two-leading goal scorers from last season have both gotten on the scoresheets early, with JP Scearce scoring his first in the home opener and Noe Meza finding the back of the net last week against Central Valley. New to the team but not to scoring in USL, former Championship star Steevan Dos Santos scored his first two goals in an Omaha uniform last week, while returning midfielder Joe Brito recorded his first two assists of the season. If the Owls can keep the offensive wheels moving and the defense continues to hold its own, Saturday could see the Owls’ first win at home of the regular season.
KINGS OF THE “CUP-SET”
Omaha made history on multiple accounts in its 2022 run, first becoming the first USL League One team to defeat an MLS side as the Owls knocked out the four-time Open Cup champs in a thrilling penalty shootout. Omaha later travelled to Minnesota United FC, walking away with a 2-1 victory in the Round of 16 to become the first third-division side since 2013 and first League One team to ever make it to the quarterfinals. As such, it was only fitting that the first win of the Casciato era came on a brisk Wednesday night at downtown Morrison Stadium, Omaha defeating USL Championship member El Paso Locomotive FC 2-0 for the team’s first “cup-set” of the 2023 campaign. Newcomers Junior Palacios and Dos Santos fit right in, each scoring their first goal for the club to punch the squad’s ticket to the Third Round. The Owls will get the chance to slay another giant when they travel to MLS newcomer St. Louis City SC on Tuesday, April 25.
SERIES HISTORY
The Owls will look to keep their unbeaten record against North Carolina intact as they host the sixth-ever meeting between the sides. The clubs recorded two 1-1 draws in Cary last season, with Noe Meza and Corey Hertzog scoring a goal each, but Omaha was able to pull away with a 4-1 win in the lone contest at Werner Park. The August 20 match was a night to remember for many Union Omaha fans, as Kevin Piedrahita made club history by scoring the fastest goal about 30 seconds in and League One history with the first-ever goalkeeper goal. Hertzog found the back of the net in just his third match for the club and Meza again continued his tear with a brace, making him responsible for three of the five goals scored against the visitors from Carolina last season.
ABOUT NORTH CAROLINA FC
The visitors come into the match even at 1-1-1 and in 6th place in the standings. North Carolina FC has finished at the bottom of the League One standings the last two seasons but looks poised to make a playoff push for the first time after adding a number of prolific signings to the offense in the offseason. North Carolina returns last year’s Golden Boot runner-up and League One First Team selection Garrett McLaughlin, along with adding First Team defender Daniel Navarro and Second Team honorees Mikey Maldonado and Louis Perez.
