October 8, 2022 – United Soccer League One (USL1) – Union Omaha News Release
PAPILLION, Neb. – Make it three USL League One playoff appearances in three years for Union Omaha as the Owls’ 1-1 draw Saturday night was enough to punch their ticket into the postseason.
The Owls returned to Werner Park in a monumental match-up for their playoff hopes. Omaha and South Georgia entered the night separated by just a point in the standings. A win for either side clinched an official birth into the USL League One playoffs presented by Hisense, although the Owls had the benefit of also being able to clinch with a draw.
Omaha spent much of the opening of the game applying pressure in Tormenta’s half, recording its first on-target attempt in the 16th minute, when JP Scearce rose above the crowd to try and put the Owls up with one of his signature headers, but a Tormenta defender was able to get a head to it and keep it out of goal.
Luis Gil put on a show in the 19th minute, dribbling in between the split legs of a Tormenta defender to set up a one-on-one meeting with TJ Bush in goal, forcing the Tormenta ‘keeper to make a tight save.
The Owls received an early advantage in the 22nd minute, when Owen Green was given a straight red card after a takedown on Noe Meza, putting the home side up a man.
The foul set up a free kick that bounced around the box off of several Owls’ feet before Conor Doyle came through with a solid second effort and was able to blast a low strike into the back corner of the net to give Omaha the early lead. It was the captain’s second goal for the club and the first-ever in league play.
“What a great goal,” Union Omaha Head Coach Jay Mims said. “He’s had that chance and it’s been deflected before or just missed, so for Conor to get his goal, I think we’re going to see more to come here.”
“In a game like this, it was nice to be able to step up and put one in,” Doyle said.
Ryen Jiba made a brilliant save of his own in the 29th minute to preserve the team’s lead, using a header to deflect a shot from Fuad Adeniyi that was otherwise in the back of the net.
Always an aerial threat, Scearce forced another close save from Bush in the 43rd minute. Following the attempt, Kevin Piedrahita made a diving pounce to deny a fiery shot from Gabriel Cabral and keep Tormenta off the scoresheet. Omaha went into the half still clutching its 1-0 lead and having never lost when leading at the break.
Out of the half, Scearce earned the first caution for the Owls in the…