October 22, 2022 – United Soccer League One (USL1) – Union Omaha News Release
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – Union Omaha’s unforgettable season came to a close Saturday night with a 1-0 defeat to Chattanooga Red Wolves SC in the USL League One playoffs.
It was the first time in club history that the Owls had to travel on the road for the playoffs, and they came into the night looking to challenge playoff history by becoming just the second team to win on the road since the league’s inception. As proven by Omaha’s incredible U.S. Open Cup run, los Búhos tended to thrive in knockout competitions and would take that experience with them as they looked to defend their title and kept their perfect unbeaten postseason record intact.
Omaha entered the contest not in its best form, but with a clean state to work from in the playoffs against an opponent it had not lost to in the regular season and had, coincidentally, recorded its last victory against. After suffering a tough loss in its regular season finale, Union Omaha Head Coach Jay Mims had his team inspired and hungry to start the postseason off on the right foot.
Indeed it was Omaha with much of the early pressure, the Owls looking like a team on a mission and not letting the Red Wolves out of their own half without a challenge. The first shot came in the 6th minute, with veterans Luis Gil and Corey Hertzog combining on a chance, the latter sending a header wide of the net.
Some great one-touch ball and possession build-up from Gil shortly after sparked the Owls’ first on-target shot with a powerful rocket from Conor Doyle that Chattanooga’s Carlos Avilez was able to bat away. Joe Brito came in hot on the rebound but couldn’t hook his shot in for the score.
Gil was then booked with the first yellow card of the match just ten minutes in for a sliding tackle attempt near midfield.
In the 24th minute, Emir Alihodžić nearly gave the Owls the go-ahead with an almost-stunner of a shot, using one touch to settle the ball before rattling the crossbar with a bash from outside the box. Brito kept Avilez’s busy night going at the half hour mark, with a half-volley attempt off a second ball that forced the goalkeeper off his line.
Hertzog remained consistent on making his way into the scoresheet, getting two more powerful shots off back-to-back just before halftime, with Avilez gathering the first and the second flanking wide of the net. It was an explosive first 45 minutes for the Owls, who were only missing the finisher in…