Owls notch club-record fourth straight win to stay undefeated in August
WINDSOR, CO. (August 12, 2023) – Two first-half penalty kicks and a late Pedro Dolabella goal propelled Union Omaha to another three points on the road against Northern Colorado Hailstorm Saturday.
It was all eyes on Windsor with a high-profile top-four matchup in the League One standings, with each team taking a win in the two previous meetings of the season. The Owls were looking to extend their hot streak after winning seven of their last nine matches, including a three-match homestand the week prior. Northern Colorado, however, came in aiming to get back on track after sputtering to a three-match losing streak following its scorching start to the season.
The Owls were given a golden opportunity to pull ahead in the 35th minute, thanks to a handball call in the box off a Hailstorm defender. Joe Gallardo stepped up and calmly slotted the ensuing penalty up to put Omaha up 1-0 for his third goal of the year.
Northern Colorado was quick to equalize, however, with Lucky Opara swiftly answering in the 38th minute.
Steevan Dos Santos earned the Owls another penalty kick in the 44th minute, with reigning League One Team of the Week selection JP Scearce converting for his 6th score of the year to bring Omaha back up 2-1 before the half.
The Owls were on the prowl again the 69th minute looking for some added insurance, forcing the Hailstorm goalkeeper to make two tough saves, with Luca Mastrantonio putting a solid header on frame before Scearce took a strike on-target.
Omaha would get its third of the night in the 80th minute, when Dolabella blasted the ball home off a corner kick from Doyle to give the Owls the 3-1 advantage with ten minutes left of play.
The hosts grabbed another to cut into the deficit and pull within one, with Opara finding a late goal in the 87th minute.
In the end, the Owls were able to hold on and take all three points home from Colorado. The win gave the Owls the series win against the Hailstorm and their first-ever win in Windsor, as well as the fourth-straight triumph for the team for the first time in club history.
“Very happy to get the win on the road against a very good Northern Colorado side,” Scearce said. “It wasn’t the prettiest win for us, but we did just enough to get the three points and that’s all that matters. We have to keep the momentum going and get ready for Chattanooga next weekend.”
“Very pleased to get the win against a title contender here in Northern Colorado,” Dolabella said. “We know how hard they are to beat, a tough team.”
“Good win tonight. Really proud of the guys to hang on and fight till the end to get the three points,” Union Omaha Head Coach Dominic Casciato said. “Obviously took our chances and played some good stuff in the first half. The second half was more about fighting, sticking together and hanging on, which we did, so super proud of the guys.”
Omaha will be back home to take on Chattanooga Red Wolves, looking for its sixth straight win at Werner Park, Saturday, August 19 for Hispanic Heritage Night presented by Supermercado.
ABOUT UNION OMAHA
Union Omaha, the 2021 USL League One Champion, is the only professional soccer team in the state of Nebraska. USL League One is a United States Soccer Federation-sanctioned professional men’s soccer league that occupies the third tier of the American soccer landscape, below USL Championship (tier two) and Major League Soccer (tier one). Union Omaha plays its home matches at Werner Park in Sarpy County, also home to the Omaha Storm Chasers of Minor League Baseball. The team is led by General Manager Peter Marlette in the front office and by Head Coach Dominic Casciato on the field.