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TAMPA, Fla. – USL League One announced today the home openers for the league’s 2021 season. The 168-game regular season will kick off on Saturday, April 10, making it the first professional men’s league in the United States to begin its new regular-season campaign.

Among the highlights are Greenville Triumph SC’s first home match since lifting the League One trophy, which will see North Texas SC visit the reigning champions on Saturday, May 1 at Legacy Early College in a matchup of the league’s first two title-winners.

Before that matchup, Greenville travels to play regional rivals the Richmond Kickers, who will host their 29th home opener on Saturday, April 24 at City Stadium. Last season’s runner-up Union Omaha begins its second campaign the same day, welcoming South Georgia Tormenta FC to Werner Park.

North Carolina FC will also get an early meeting with new rival Greenville in its opening home game as a member of League One on May 8, with Triumph SC making the short trip north to Sahlen’s Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park. On the same day, FC Tucson will open its 2021 campaign at Kino North Stadium, hosting Forward Madison FC.

On May 22, Chattanooga Red Wolves SC fans will get a first look at the offseason upgrades to CHI Memorial Stadium, including a new Jumbotron, when the Scenic City side plays host to Fort Lauderdale CF. 

The season will officially begin on April 10 as Fort Lauderdale CF hosts the New England Revolution II at Inter Miami CF Stadium. Toronto FC II will play its first home match of the season at Grande Sports World in Casa Grande, Ariz. against North Texas SC on May 22.

Every game of the 2021 League One season will air on ESPN+, with a complete schedule to be announced in the coming weeks.

2021 USL League One Home Openers

·Fort Lauderdale CF: Saturday, April 10 vs. New England Revolution II

·New England Revolution II: Saturday, April 17 vs. Richmond Kickers

·South Georgia Tormenta FC: Saturday, April 17 vs. Fort Lauderdale CF

·Richmond Kickers: Saturday, April 24 vs. Greenville Triumph SC

·Union Omaha: Saturday, April 24 vs. South Georgia Tormenta FC

 North Texas SC: Saturday, April 24 vs. Fort Lauderdale CF

·Greenville Triumph SC: Saturday, May 1 vs. North Texas SC

·North Carolina FC: Saturday, May 8 vs. Greenville Triumph SC

·FC Tucson: Saturday, May 8 vs. Forward Madison FC

·Forward Madison FC: Saturday, May 15 vs. North Carolina FC

·Chattanooga Red Wolves SC: Saturday, May 22 vs. Fort Lauderdale CF

Toronto FC II: Saturday, May 22 vs. North Texas SC

Union Omaha announced today the loan signing of defender, Blake Malone, pending league and federation approval. With this addition, the club’s roster totals 18 players thus far ahead of the 2021 season.  

Blake Malone joins the club on loan from Orange County SC, where he made his professional debut in 2020. Malone was born in Omaha but moved from the area at a young age. In high school, he played for Desert Oasis in Las Vegas, Nev. In 2017, he joined the Seattle Sounders FC academy, where his U-16/17 team won the 2018 U.S. Soccer Development Academy national championship.  In 2019, Malone accepted a scholarship to play for the University of North Carolina Tar Heels. This eventually led to his January 2020 call-up by the U-20 United States men’s national team camp. Malone played in their 2-2 draw against Mexico.  

Pronunciation: [Ma-Lone] 
Position: Defender  
Height: 6’0” 
Weight: 165 lbs   
Born:  March 23, 2001  
Hometown: Omaha, NE 

“Blake is a competitor who will bring a great deal of intensity to the team,” said Head coach Jay Mims. “He is a very committed, young player who has traveled all over the country pursuing his career.  We look forward to assisting in Blake’s development and are excited to see him integrated within our culture.”  

Check out Blake Malone’s introduction video below. 

PAPILLION, Neb. (Thursday, March 4, 2021) – Union Omaha announced today its second goalkeeper ahead of the 2021 season. With this addition, pending league and federation approval, Union Omaha’s roster sits at a total of 17 players.

Kevin Piedrahita joins Union Omaha from Club La Equidad Seguros in Colombia’s first division, where he played from 2017 to 2019. Born in Queens, New York with dual citizenship from Colombia, Piedrahita began his soccer career in 2011 with America de Cali, based in Cali, Colombia. That same year, Piedrahita had his first international appearance with the United States U-20 national team, recording a clean sheet in a 2-0 win over Canada. From 2012 to 2016, Piedrahita played for first-division club Rionegro Águila, based in Rionegro, Colombia.

Phonetic pronunciation of last name: [Pee-eh-drah-eeta|
Position: Goalkeeper
Height: 6’1”
Weight: 176 lbs 
Born:  June 18, 1991 (29 yrs old)
Hometown: Queens, New York, NY with dual citizenship from Colombia

“Kevin brings plenty of experience to our team and I am excited for him to begin his Union Omaha journey,” said Union Omaha Head Coach, Jay Mims. “He has played at a very high level and brings a great deal of maturity and discipline to the club. I am thrilled to have another top-class goalkeeper join us.”

Hear from our new goalkeeper in the video below. 

 

TAMPA, Fla. – USL League One announced on Monday following the league’s Board of Governors meeting that the 2021 regular season will begin on or about May 8 and will feature a 28-game slate running through October and culminating in a six-team playoff to take place in November.

In voting for a flexible start date, the Governors have approved for clubs to begin play as early as April 10th depending on conditions in their local communities. Further details and scheduling announcements will be made in the coming months and the league will continue to monitor the ongoing COVID-19 crisis in the event that alterations to the format need to be made.

 

PAPILLION, Neb. (January 22, 2021) – Union Omaha announced today its first two new signings for the 2021 season.

Conor Doyle joins the club from Chattanooga Red Wolves SC, where he played the 2019 and 2020 seasons. Doyle’s professional career includes both national and international representation. He played for the U.S. National Team at the U-20 and U-23 levels and the Republic of Ireland’s national team at the U-21 level. Doyle had committed to playing for the Bluejays at Creighton University in 2010 before signing his first professional deal with Derby County. From 2010-13, Doyle played for Derby County in the English Championship, also featuring in the FA Cup with the Rams. He then moved to D.C. United, where he helped the team to a U.S Open Cup title and featured in two consecutive CONCACAF Champions Leagues. From 2016-18, Doyle played with the Colorado Rapids, Puerto Rico FC and Jacksonville Armada.

Position: Midfielder
Height: 6’2”
Weight: 178 lbs 
Born:  10/13/1991
Hometown: McKinney, TX

“Conor is one of the most intelligent players I have coached, and I love the fact that he always wants to get better”, said Head Coach Jay Mims. “You have to be self-motivated and passionate to succeed at the professional level and Conor has shown that throughout his career. Although he has great experience in MLS and England, Conor’s humility and selflessness are rare to find and I just appreciate that about athletes. I am excited to start working with him and the rest of the guys.”

Watch video here

Greg Hurst also joins the club from Chattanooga Red Wolves SC. Hurst’s professional career began when he signed his first contract with St. Johnstone FC of the Scottish Premiership following a trial with Everton of the English Premier League. Hurst spent four years with St. Johnstone FC, playing loan stints at Berwick Rangers, East Fife and Forfar Athletic. During that time, Hurst made 46 appearances and scored 11 goals. In 2017, Hurst was a member of St. Johnstone’s Europa League qualifying squad. Hurst moved to Scottish League Two’s Stenhousemuir FC in 2019 prior to joining the Red Wolves.

Position: Forward
Height: 6’1”
Weight: 154 lbs 
Born:  04/08/1997
Hometown: Stirling, Scotland

“Greg is a proven goal scorer in this league as he really excels in and around the box,” said Head Coach Jay Mims. “He is very hungry to improve and develop – there is always room for growth – which is exciting for his future. I am looking forward to having Greg integrated with our team.”

Watch video here

PAPILLION, Neb. (January 21, 2021) – After a successful inaugural season, Union Omaha has opened the search for a new title sponsor on the team’s official 2021 jersey. To lead the process, the club has hired Professional Sports Partners (PSP), a sports marketing consultant based in Houston, Texas.

In 2020, Union Omaha donated the jersey sponsorship to CHI Health and Nebraska Medicine to help build awareness, raise funds and support healthcare workers in the fight against COVID-19. Despite the challenges of the 2020 season, Union Omaha sold out all eight home matches and delivered a championship product on the field. With every game being live streamed to a national audience on ESPN+, Union Omaha’s message of unity reached a large, diverse audience. Now, the club is looking for a jersey sponsor that is eager to match the club’s commitment to the community and its loyal fan base.

“Our fans made Union Omaha the success story of American soccer in 2020 despite the pandemic. We know that with PSP’s Omaha roots, they will do a great job marketing our powerful brand in the community,” said Union Omaha CEO, Gary Green.

PSP is very familiar with the Omaha metro area. In 2018, they led the search for a new naming rights partner at Metropolitan Entertainment Center Authority (MECA), Omaha’s downtown arena and convention center. That project resulted in a new 20-year partnership for the facility. PSP’s CEO, Jason Kohll and Executive Director, Erik Pulverenti are both Omaha natives who are excited to join forces with Union Omaha.

“The Jersey partnership is one of the most valuable in all sports,” Kohll said, “and Union Omaha has built a foundation within the world’s most popular sport that will allow them to become one of the most influential brands in the region. We are excited to find the right brand partner for them.”

PSP’s search for a jersey sponsor begins immediately with the goal of branding the 2021 season jerseys with a new partner. If your business has interest in this opportunity, reach out to Jason Kohll via email: jason@professionalsportspartners.com.

ABOUT UNION OMAHA  
Union Omaha is the eleventh team to play in League One and 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 has just completed its inaugural season and occupies the third tier of the American soccer landscape, below USL Championship (tier two) and Major League Soccer (tier one). Union Omaha will play its home matchers at Werner Park in Sarpy County, also home to the Omaha Storm Chasers of Minor League Baseball. The team is led by Head Coach Jay Mims on the field and Chief Operating Officer, Matt Homonoff in the front office. 

ABOUT PROFESSIONAL SPORTS PARTNERS professionalsportspartners.com