| 2021 season | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Head coach | Jay Mims | ||
| USL League One | 1st (first regular season title) | ||
| USL1 Playoffs | Winners (first championship) | ||
| Top goalscorer | League:  All: Greg Hurst (14 goals)  | ||
| Highest home attendance | 5,221 vs. GVL (11/20) | ||
| Lowest home attendance | 2,722 vs. TOR (9/11) | ||
| Average home league attendance | 3,496 | ||
| Biggest win | OMA 6-1 TUC (11/13) | ||
| Biggest defeat | -1 goal (5 times) | ||
| 
 | |||
The 2021 Union Omaha season was the second season in the soccer team's history, and their second season in the third division of American soccer, USL League One. Union Omaha played the majority of their home games at Werner Park, located in Papillion, Nebraska, United States, with one game played at Creighton University's Morrison Stadium.
Union Omaha finished the regular season in first place, finishing with the league's best goal difference, earning home field advantage and a first-round bye in the USL League One Playoffs.[1] Union Omaha finished the season winning their first ever championship, beating defending champion Greenville Triumph SC 3–0 in the final.[2]
Roster
Following the completion of Union Omaha's inaugural season, head coach Jay Mims announced 14 players would return for the 2021 season.[3] The team's first new signings were announced on January 22, as Conor Doyle and Greg Hurst were signed as free agents from the Chattanooga Red Wolves.[4] Goalkeeper Kevin Piedrahita and defender Blake Malone joined the team as a free agent and on loan, respectively, before the start of training camp.[5][6]
- As of August 11, 2021
 
| No. | Position | Player | Nation | 
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | MF | Emir Alihodžić | |
| 3 | DF | Damià Viader | |
| 4 | DF | Jaime Ponce | |
| 5 | MF | Tobias Otieno | |
| 7 | FW | Ethan Vanacore-Decker | |
| 8 | MF | John Murphy | |
| 9 | FW | Greg Hurst | |
| 10 | MF | Nicolas Firmino | |
| 11 | FW | Evan Conway | |
| 12 | MF | Austin Panchot | |
| 13 | DF | Daltyn Knutson | |
| 14 | MF | Christian Molina | |
| 15 | FW | Elma N'For | |
| 16 | DF | Jacob Crull | |
| 17 | MF | JP Scearce | |
| 18 | DF | Blake Malone (on loan from Orange County SC) | |
| 19 | FW | Ricardo Rivera | |
| 20 | MF | Devin Boyce | |
| 22 | MF | Conor Doyle | |
| 24 | GK | Rashid Nuhu | |
| 25 | DF | Ferrety Sousa | |
| 28 | DF | Illal Osumanu | |
| 30 | MF | Yoskar Galván-Mercado | |
| 33 | GK | Kevin Piedrahita | 
Competitions
Exhibitions
| March 19, 2021 Preseason 1 | Minnesota United | 1–1 | Union Omaha | Blaine, Minnesota | 
| Stadium: National Sports Center | 
| March 24, 2021 Preseason 2 | Phoenix Rising FC | 1–2 | Union Omaha | Chandler, Arizona | 
| 12:00 PM MST | Dadashov  | 
PHX Report | Scearce  Hurst  | 
Stadium: Wild Horse Pass Stadium | 
| March 27, 2021 Preseason 3 | Phoenix Rising FC | 1–2 | Union Omaha | Chandler, Arizona | 
| 11:00 AM MST | Rodríguez  | 
PHX Report | Vanacore-Decker  N'For  | 
Stadium: Wild Horse Pass Stadium | 
| April 17, 2021 Preseason 4 | Union Omaha | 2–1 | Sporting Kansas City II | Papillion, Nebraska | 
| 2:00 PM CST | Scearce  | 
SKC II Report | Rešetar  | 
Stadium: Werner Park | 
| August 4, 2021 Midseason 1 | Union Omaha | v | Bellevue University | Papillion, Nebraska | 
| 6:00 PM CDT | Stadium: Werner Park | 
USL League One
Standings
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | 
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Union Omaha (C, X) | 28 | 14 | 9 | 5 | 44 | 22 | +22 | 51 | Qualification for the semi-finals | 
| 2 | Greenville Triumph SC | 28 | 12 | 9 | 7 | 36 | 29 | +7 | 45 | |
| 3 | Chattanooga Red Wolves SC | 28 | 11 | 11 | 6 | 37 | 29 | +8 | 44 | Qualification for the play-offs | 
| 4 | FC Tucson | 28 | 11 | 7 | 10 | 44 | 42 | +2 | 40 | |
| 5 | Richmond Kickers | 28 | 11 | 7 | 10 | 35 | 36 | −1 | 40 | 
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) total wins; 3) total goal differential; 4) total goals scored; 5) points earned against top four Conference finishers; 6) disciplinary points; 7) drawing of lots.
(C) Champions; (X) Regular Season Champion
Results summary
| Overall | Home | Away | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | 
| 28 | 14 | 9 | 5 | 44 | 22 | +22 | 51 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 23 | 12 | +11 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 21 | 10 | +11 | 
Source: USL League One[7]
Results by round
Match results
| April 24, 2021 1 | Union Omaha | 2–0 | South Georgia Tormenta FC | Papillion, NE | 
| 6:00 PM CDT | Conway  Boyce Nuhu Hurst Scearce  | 
Report | Eckenrode  Phelps Liadi Billhardt  | 
Stadium: Werner Park Attendance: 2,786 Referee: Mark Allatin  | 
| May 7, 2021 2 | Fort Lauderdale CF | 0–2 | Union Omaha | Fort Lauderdale, FL | 
| 6:30 PM CDT | Saavedra  | 
Report | Conway  Alihodžić Viader  | 
Stadium: DRV PNK Stadium Referee: Gabriele Giusti  | 
| May 12, 2021 3 | New England Revolution II | 0–1 | Union Omaha | Foxborough, MA | 
| 4:00 PM CDT | J. Buck  Presley Dulysse  | 
Report | Scearce  Hurst  | 
Stadium: Gillette Stadium Attendance: 150 Referee: Adam Kilpatrick  | 
| May 16, 2021 4 | Greenville Triumph SC | 1–1 | Union Omaha | Greenville, SC | 
| 3:00 PM CDT | Lomis  Pilato  | 
Report | Firmino  Scearce  | 
Stadium: Legacy Early College Field Attendance: 2,058 Referee: Elton Garcia  | 
| May 26, 2021 5 | Forward Madison FC | 1–0 | Union Omaha | Madison, WI | 
| 7:00 PM CDT | Sukow  Fuson  | 
Report | Knutson  Sousa  | 
Stadium: Breese Stevens Field Attendance: 1,919 Referee: Nabil Bensalah  | 
| June 2, 2021 6 | Toronto FC II | 1–1 | Union Omaha | Casa Grande, AZ | 
| 9:00 PM CDT | Thompson  Franklin  | 
Report | Firmino  Sousa Knutson  | 
Stadium: Grande Sports World Referee: Jervis Atagana  | 
| June 6, 2021 7 | Forward Madison | 1–2 | Union Omaha | Madison, WI | 
| 5:00 PM CDT | Keegan  Molloy Fernandes  | 
Report | Allen  Hurst Alihodžić Alihodžić  | 
Stadium: Breese Stevens Field Attendance: 2,195 Referee: Laura Chambers  | 
| June 12, 2021 8 | Union Omaha | 4–2 | New England Revolution II | Papillion, NE | 
| 7:00 PM CDT | Sousa  Hurst Boyce Panchot  | 
Report | Knighton  Presley Tsicoulias  | 
Stadium: Werner Park Attendance: 3,677 Referee: Velimir Stefanovic  | 
| June 19, 2021 9 | Richmond Kickers | 1–1 | Union Omaha | Richmond, VA | 
| 5:30 PM CDT | Terzaghi  Otieno Anderson  | 
Report | Sousa  Vanacore-Decker Otieno  | 
Stadium: City Stadium Attendance: 2,009 Referee: John Matto  | 
| June 26, 2021 10 | Union Omaha | 1–0 | FC Tucson | Papillion, NE | 
| 7:00 PM CDT | Hurst  Otieno Knutson Firmino  | 
Report | Ferriol  Corfe Fox  | 
Stadium: Werner Park Attendance: 3,315 Referee: Melvin Rivas  | 
| July 3, 2021 11 | Union Omaha | 1–1 | Chattanooga Red Wolves SC | Papillion, NE | 
| 8:00 PM CDT | Hurst  Doyle Scearce  | 
Report | España  Ruiz García Hernández  | 
Stadium: Werner Park Attendance: 3,880 Referee: Samantha Martinez  | 
| July 16, 2021 12 | Union Omaha | 1–1 | Forward Madison FC | Papillion, NE | 
| 7:00 PM CDT | Boyce  N'For  | 
Report | Barriga Toyama  Gebhard Tobin Fernandes  | 
Stadium: Werner Park Attendance: 3,304 Referee: Kevin Fikar  | 
| July 24, 2021 13 | FC Tucson | 1–2 | Union Omaha | Tucson, AZ | 
| 9:00 PM CDT | Bedoya  Dennis Doyle Fox  | 
Report | Sousa  Viader Hurst Murphy  | 
Stadium: Kino North Stadium Attendance: 715 Referee: Gerald Flores  | 
| July 31, 2021 14 | Union Omaha | 1–1 | North Texas SC | Papillion, NE | 
| 7:00 PM CDT | Hurst  Crull Boyce  | 
Report | Kamungo  Waldeck Almaguer Kazu  | 
Stadium: Werner Park Attendance: 3,722 Referee: Chris Ruska  | 
| August 7, 2021 15 | Union Omaha | P–P | Forward Madison FC | Papillion, NE | 
| 7:00 PM CDT | Stadium: Werner Park | |||
| Note: Match postponed due to severe weather[9] | ||||
| August 14, 2021 15 | FC Tucson | 0–1 | Union Omaha | Tucson, AZ | 
| 9:00 PM CDT | Knox  | 
Report | Kone  Otieno Viader Doyle  | 
Stadium: Kino North Stadium Attendance: 859 Referee: Ricardo Fierro  | 
| August 21, 2021 16 | Chattanooga Red Wolves SC | 1–0 | Union Omaha | Chattanooga, TN | 
| 6:00 PM CDT | Capozucchi  Ricketts Navarro Carrera Ruiz  | 
Report | Doyle  Viader  | 
Stadium: CHI Memorial Stadium Attendance: 2,149 Referee: Joshua Belk  | 
| August 28, 2021 17 | Union Omaha | 0–0 | North Texas SC | Papillion, NE | 
| 7:00 PM CDT | Otieno  Malone  | 
Report | Maldonado  Smith Gomes Ferri  | 
Stadium: Werner Park Attendance: 3,311 Referee: Karen Callado  | 
| September 4, 2021 18 | North Carolina FC | 0–3 | Union Omaha | Cary, NC | 
| 6:00 CDT | Martinez  Flick McGuire Jackson  | 
Report | Viader  Alihodžić Rivera  | 
Stadium: WakeMed Soccer Park Referee: William Steffen  | 
| September 11, 2021 19 | Union Omaha | 2–1 | Toronto FC II | Papillion, NE | 
| 7:00 PM CDT | Boyce  Scearce Hurst  | 
Report | Carlini  Singh Petrasso Altobelli  | 
Stadium: Werner Park Attendance: 2,722 Referee: Adorae Monroy  | 
| September 19, 2021 20 | North Texas SC | 2–2 | Union Omaha | Arlington, TX | 
| 6:00 PM CDT | ElMedkhar  Ferri Vargas  | 
Report | Viader  Hurst Conway  | 
Stadium: Globe Life Park Attendance: 603 Referee: Benjamin Meyer  | 
| September 25, 2021 21 | Union Omaha | 0–1 | FC Tucson | Omaha, NE | 
| 7:00 PM CDT | Doyle  Alihodžić  | 
Report | Dennis  Mastrantonio Adams Calixtro Kone Schenfeld  | 
Stadium: Morrison Stadium Attendance: 3,741 Referee: Jervis Atagana  | 
| October 1, 2021 22 | South Georgia Tormenta FC | 0–4 | Union Omaha | Statesboro, GA | 
| 7:00 PM CDT | Micaletto  Nus Jackson Candela  | 
Report | Conway  Viader Osumanu  | 
Stadium: Eagle Field Attendance: 2,045 Referee: Izlen Peksenar  | 
| October 6, 2021 23 | Union Omaha | 4–1 | Fort Lauderdale CF | Papillion, NE | 
| 7:00 PM CDT | Conway  Hurst Boyce Doyle  | 
Report | Stadium: Werner Park Attendance: 3,126 Referee: Melvin Rivas  | 
| October 9, 2021 24 | Union Omaha | 0–1 | Greenville Triumph SC | Papillion, NE | 
| 6:00 PM CDT | Doyle  Otieno  | 
Report | Lomis  Booth Hemmings  | 
Stadium: Werner Park Attendance: 3,884 Referee: Greg Dopka  | 
| October 16, 2021 25 | Union Omaha | 4–1 | North Carolina FC | Papillion, NE | 
| 6:00 PM CDT | Conway  Alihodžić  | 
Report | Mbaye  Blanco Frame  | 
Stadium: Werner Park Attendance: 3,197 Referee: Nabil Bensalah  | 
| October 20, 2021 26 | Union Omaha | 1–2 | Forward Madison FC | Papillion, NE | 
| 7:00 PM CDT | Conway  Hurst  | 
Report | Allen  Trimmingham Rad  | 
Stadium: Werner Park Referee: Abdou Ndiaye  | 
| Note: Match was originally scheduled for August 7 | ||||
| October 23, 2021 27 | Union Omaha | 2–0 | Richmond Kickers | Papillion, NE | 
| 6:00 PM CDT | Hurst  Otieno Sousa  | 
Report | Bolduc  Bolanos Morán  | 
Stadium: Werner Park Attendance: 2,943 Referee: Luis Arroyo  | 
| October 30, 2021 28 | North Texas SC | 1–1 | Union Omaha | Arlington, TX | 
| 7:30 PM CDT | Kamungo  Avayevu  | 
Report | Firmino  | 
Stadium: Globe Life Park Attendance: 821 Referee: Eric Tattersall  | 
USL League One Playoffs
| November 13, 2021 Semifinal | Union Omaha | 6–1 | FC Tucson | Papillion, NE | 
| 4:00 PM CST | Conway  Boyce Crull Viader Panchot Alihodžić  | 
Report | Schenfeld  Dennis Ferriol  | 
Stadium: Werner Park Attendance: 3,607 Referee: Michael Radchuk  | 
| November 20, 2021 Final | Union Omaha | 3–0 | Greenville Triumph | Papillion, NE | 
| 4:00 PM CST | Conway  Hurst Sousa Viader Otieno  | 
Report | Hemmings  Lee  | 
Stadium: Werner Park Attendance: 5,221 Referee: Kevin Broadley  | 
Statistics
Appearances and goals
Numbers after plus–sign (+) denote appearances as a substitute.
| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Total | USL-1 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||||
| 2 | MF | Emir Alihodžić | 29 | 3 | 14+15 | 3 | |
| 3 | DF | Damià Viader | 30 | 7 | 29+1 | 7 | |
| 4 | DF | Jaime Ponce | 1 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | |
| 5 | MF | Tobias Otieno | 25 | 2 | 16+9 | 2 | |
| 7 | FW | Ethan Vanacore-Decker | 11 | 0 | 7+4 | 0 | |
| 8 | MF | John Murphy | 8 | 0 | 0+8 | 0 | |
| 9 | FW | Greg Hurst | 30 | 14 | 27+3 | 14 | |
| 10 | MF | Nicolas Firmino | 25 | 2 | 9+16 | 2 | |
| 11 | FW | Evan Conway | 18 | 13 | 15+3 | 13 | |
| 12 | MF | Austin Panchot | 16 | 1 | 3+13 | 1 | |
| 13 | DF | Daltyn Knutson | 23 | 1 | 22+1 | 1 | |
| 14 | MF | Christian Molina | 9 | 0 | 1+8 | 0 | |
| 15 | FW | Elma N'For | 15 | 0 | 5+10 | 0 | |
| 16 | DF | Jacob Crull | 23 | 0 | 19+4 | 0 | |
| 17 | MF | JP Scearce | 29 | 1 | 27+2 | 1 | |
| 18 | DF | Blake Malone | 13 | 0 | 7+6 | 0 | |
| 19 | FW | Ricardo Rivera | 7 | 1 | 1+6 | 1 | |
| 20 | MF | Devin Boyce | 29 | 5 | 27+2 | 5 | |
| 22 | MF | Conor Doyle | 30 | 0 | 28+2 | 0 | |
| 24 | GK | Rashid Nuhu | 26 | 0 | 26+0 | 0 | |
| 25 | DF | Ferrety Sousa | 29 | 1 | 27+2 | 1 | |
| 28 | DF | Illal Osumanu | 17 | 0 | 15+2 | 0 | |
| 30 | MF | Yoskar Galvan-Mercado | 2 | 0 | 0+2 | 0 | |
| 33 | GK | Kevin Piedrahita | 4 | 0 | 4+0 | 0 | |
- Last updated: November 21, 2021
 - Source: USL League One
 
Disciplinary record
| No. | Pos. | Player | USL1 | Total | ||||
| 2 | MF | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | |
| 3 | DF | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | |
| 4 | DF | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 5 | MF | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | |
| 7 | FW | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| 8 | MF | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| 9 | FW | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | |
| 10 | MF | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | |
| 11 | FW | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | |
| 12 | MF | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| 13 | DF | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
| 14 | MF | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 15 | FW | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| 16 | DF | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
| 17 | MF | 5 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 1 | |
| 18 | DF | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| 19 | FW | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 20 | MF | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | |
| 22 | MF | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | |
| 24 | GK | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| 25 | DF | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | |
| 28 | DF | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| 30 | MF | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 33 | GK | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Total | 56 | 1 | 1 | 56 | 1 | 1 | ||
- Last updated: November 21, 2021
 - Source: USL League One
 
References
- ↑ "2021 Standings". uslleagueone.com.
 - ↑ "Union Omaha wins first USL League One title in Owls' second season". Omaha World Herald. Retrieved November 23, 2021.
 - ↑ "Union Omaha names 14 players to be retained for next season's roster". Omaha World Herald. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
 - ↑ "Union Omaha Signs Conor Doyle, Greg Hurst for 2021". USL League One. Retrieved January 22, 2021.
 - ↑ "UNION OMAHA ADDS GOALKEEPER TO 2021 ROSTER". Union Omaha. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
 - ↑ "Orange County SC loan Blake Malone to Union Omaha for 2021 season". Angels on Parade. Retrieved March 13, 2021.
 - ↑ "2021 USL League One Standings". USL League One.
 - ↑ "Union Omaha Schedule". USL League One.
 - ↑ "Omaha vs. Madison Contest Abandoned". wwww.uslleagueone.com. August 8, 2020. Retrieved August 9, 2020.