Alex Steinwascher scores second goal of the season in second start
PAPILLION, Neb. (August 19, 2023) – Chalk up seven straight unbeaten matches for Union Omaha at Werner Park as the Owls defeated Chattanooga Red Wolves 2-1 Saturday.
The teams came into Saturday’s contest on opposite sides of the standings, with Omaha in 2nd place and Chattanooga in 11th. Despite this, the Owls knew Chattanooga would bring a tough, physical fight to Werner Park as they did in the sides’ meeting in April, when the teams battled to a 3-3 draw at CHI Memorial Stadium.
In just his second start of the year, Alex Steinwascher made a huge impact early for the Owls, taking control of a beautiful pass in the middle of box from Luis Gil and freezing Chattanooga’s goalkeeper to deliver the opening blow in the 10th minute.
Looking for his second goal in as many matches, Pedro Dolabella struck from outside the box in the 26th minute, forcing Carlos Avilez to make his first save of the night.
The Owls carried the 1-0 lead into the half, still undefeated when scoring first and leading at the half.
Omaha native Eddie Gordon put his stamp on the match in the 66th minute, flying down the right wing on the counterattack and sliding a ball into the box to force an own goal off a Chattanooga defender.
An unfortunate foul gave way for Chattanooga to make the score sheet, converting a penalty kick to claw one back in the dwindling minutes of the match. Rashid Nuhu made 4 saves on the night, and the Owls were able to hold off for the final minutes of Chattanooga pressure to seal all three points.
“We’ve spoken about everybody is responsible for the team’s success, so those guys stepping up and contributing to a really important win when it is super important, and I’m really pleased and happy with those guys who continue to work hard every day,” Union Omaha Head Coach Dominic Casciato said.
“It felt good,” Steinwascher said. “I think the win is more important here though, because obviously getting five straight wins is pretty impressive … I mean, at this point, we’re just looking to keep getting wins.”
“We’re just trying to prove everyone wrong,” Nuhu said. “We’re just trying to fight until the last game, so we just got to keep going. We don’t have to focus too much on the standings. We just take it game after game and let it play out like it’s supposed to.”
With the win, the Owls extend their club-record win streak to five and level the all-time series with Chattanooga, now a at 3-3-3. The teams will meet again for the final time this season in September when the Owls travel to Tennessee again.
Omaha heads back to the read next Saturday, August 26 to take on rival Greenville Triumph SC. The Owls will be back home for a double match week starting Wednesday, September 6 against top-of-the-table North Carolina FC for Cancer Awareness Night presented by XCancer.
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.
