May 2, 2024 – United Soccer League One (USL1)
Union Omaha News Release
PAPILLION, Neb. – Union Omaha started their USL Jägermeister Cup campaign with a tempestuous battle that ended up being their second shootout in three matches. It would be their second shootout win, too, with a second goalkeeper, Wallis Lapsley, providing the dramatics this time.
With three matches in seven days, Union Omaha gave players like Lapsley and Anderson Holt a chance in the starting lineup. One of those was Chicago Fire loanee Missael Rodriguez, whose quickfire brace shell-shocked the Hailstorm just before the halftime whistle.
The performances from those coming in were good enough for Head Coach Dominic Casciato to simply start rattling them off post-match. ‘Obviously Missa getting two goals stands out,” he said. “A big shout-out to Brandon Knapp making his first professional start, and then I thought Anderson Holt as a young center-back making his first professional start was simply outstanding. And obviously Wallis coming up big with three saves there in the shootout was great.”
In contrast to their last match, the Owls looked more threatening on set-pieces, especially early on when Luca Mastrantonio grazed the crossbar. They had the run of it in the early goings, but the tide started to shift around 15 minutes in.
The waves broke a couple minutes later. Haruki Yamazaki, a member of the Hailstorm for two days, played a speculative ball up the left flank. Luca Mastrantonio stepped up to intercept, but his lay-off to Brandon Knapp on the half-volley was nipped by Ethan Hoard. Hoard was three moves ahead in that chess game, because he first-time sent Bruno Rendon in on goal with Mastrantonio out of position. While he’s usually a right back and has spent time at center back even, Rendon looked entirely comfortable marauding down the left flank, taking one long touch to bear down on goal, a delicate one to steady himself against Lapsley, and a third to tuck it into the far corner.
Rendon would nearly have a second on a whipped cross from the other side, but Luca’s pressure helped him slot it wide… even if it should have been 2-0.
That would come back to haunt the Hailstorm when Missael Rodriguez took over. Aaron Gomez was sent into space by Knapp, and he in turn spotted Ryen Jiba streaking down the left flank. The former El Paso star hit Jiba on the switch of play while NoCo converged on the right, allowing him space to steady himself and fire a first-time cross to Missael in…