By Owen Godberson
Omaha came into their Friday the 13th match still searching for their first win of the 2019 campaign. The Mavericks played host to the Michigan Wolverines, who had received Top-25 votes and had the returning Big 10 player of the year in senior forward Jack Hallahan.
Against almost everyone’s expectations, Omaha broke the deadlock in the ninth minute when junior forward Diego Gutierrez found space on the left and picked out the run of Aaron Uribe. The junior forward, who transferred in from Air Force over the summer, hardly broke stride as he headed it past the Wolverine goalkeeper for the 1-0 advantage.
From there, it was mostly Michigan getting forward to try and find the equalizer. After a missed penalty on the 60’, they finally found their goal in the form of a Derrick Broche header. The assist came from Hallahan in the 74’.
Until the end of the two overtime periods, both teams had a few chances to win it. Michigan put the pressure on in double overtime but was denied brilliantly from the junior goalkeeper Jeremy Pollard to earn the Mavericks a hard-fought draw. The Australian shot-stopper, in goal for the injured Ugo Tritz, finished the evening with seven saves and a strong case for man of the match.
Following their 1-1 draw with the Wolverines, the Mavericks are next in action on September 16 when they take on local rivals Creighton in the latest edition of the “Dodge Street Derby”. That match can be heard live from Morrison Stadium on MavRadio.fm.
