(List compiled by MavRadio Sports staff: Owen Godberson, DK Kellum, Harrison Popp, Stephanie Zambrano and Brandon McDermott)
1. Matchup: Omaha Mavericks vs. Creighton Bluejays (Men’s Soccer
Date & Time: Tuesday, September 26th at 7:00 p.m.
Location: Al F. Caniglia Field
Summary: What else is there to say? This rivalry, while still young, is starting to heat up both on and off the field. From hard tackles, to thrilling matches, and dueling student sections, UNO and Creighton could be on course to be the most intense rivalry in all of college soccer. The newest edition of the Dodge Street Derby will be a game in which all Maverick fans should attend. Not only could this match-up do great things for the confidence of the Mavs, a win against your crosstown rivals leaves fans optimistic about the rest of the season and the future of the program.
2. Matchup: Omaha Mavericks vs. Nebraska Cornhuskers (Volleyball)
Date & Time: Saturday, September 16th at 7:30 p.m.
Location: Baxter Arena
Summary: It’s UNO vs. UNL — so, you’d think it’s a rivalry game. But, if you know anything about big-time volleyball, then you know the Cornhuskers are one of the premier programs in the nation and you’ll also know that the Mavericks still trying to find their way after a move to D-I in 2011. It will be a David vs Goliath type of battle where in state bragging rights will mean so much. UNO had a rough season in 2016 going 8-22 and finishing 7th in the Summit League. They will have their work cut out for them facing a great UNL team that went 27-2 and lost in the NCAA semifinals against Texas and will come into the 2017 season ranked #2.
3. Matchup: Omaha Mavericks vs. Virginia Tech Hokies (Men’s Soccer)
Date & Time: Sunday, August 27th at 6:00 p.m.
Location: Al F. Caniglia Field
Summary: Coached by Michael Brizendine and led by Senior Marcello Acuna the Hokies will be in town to face the Omaha Mavericks in late August. Virginia Tech will be ready to go and energized, as they will be fresh off a match-up against highly ranked Creighton. Virginia Tech had their struggles on the road last season going (5-4-2), which Omaha will be looking to expose.
4. Matchup: South Omaha Classic – Omaha Mavericks vs. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (Men’s Soccer)
Date & Time: Sunday, August 13 at 6:00 p.m.
Location: Al F. Caniglia Field
Summary: Notre Dame comes to Caniglia Field to play the Men’s soccer squad and it is #4 on the best fall games this year? That says something about the men’s schedule and the great games for Mavs’ fans. The Fighting Irish made the NCAA tourney last year as the 13 national seed, making it to the third round before losing 3-1 5to Louisville. The only common opponent for the Mavs and Irish is Bradley – a team UNO beat 4-0 last year, meanwhile Notre Dame lost 1-0 to the Braves. It’s Summit League title (and NCAA Tournament) or bust for UNO this year, after losing in a last minute goal to eventual Summit champ Denver who made it to the Final Four in the NCAA’s in 2016. This match with Notre Dame will go a long way in figuring out just who the Mavs will be in 2017.
5. Matchup: Omaha Mavericks vs. Denver Pioneers (Women’s Soccer)
Date & Time: Sunday, October 15th at 1 p.m.
Location: Al F. Caniglia Field
Summary: Over the last few seasons, Omaha and Denver have been two of the best athletics programs in the Summit League. Last season however, the women’s soccer teams both struggled, with Omaha going 5-11-3 and the Pioneers going 8-9-2, meaning the 2017 season is a vital time to recover and try to reverse their fortunes. New UNO Coach Tim Walters will need to put together a great first season and picking up a win against Denver will be a particularly sweet moment if it comes to fruition. The team will need a rowdy crowd to motivate them to victory, making this game arguably one of the most important games of the season for Maverick fans to attend.
6. Matchup: Omaha Mavericks vs. Kansas State Wildcats (Women’s Volleyball)
Date & Time: Saturday, September 16th at 5:30 p.m.
Location: Baxter Arena
Summary: The Wildcats are coached by Susie Fritz and led by sophomore Elle Sandbothe and will be in town to face the Omaha Mavericks in mid-September. Facing Omaha will be the least of Kansas State’s worries, as they will have to face Nebraska the very next night. Mavericks will be looking to overwhelm the Wildcats on the road as they were (5-5) last season.
7. Matchup: Omaha Mavericks vs. Grand Canyon Antelopes (Men’s Soccer)
Date & Time: Friday, August 25th at 6:00p.m.
Location: Al F. Caniglia Field
Summary: UNO begins its soccer season at home against Grand Canyon University. The Mavericks will be coming off a great season in 2016 with a 10-5-4 record and will host the Summit League Tournament in 2017. GSU didn’t have the best season in 2016 with a 7-9-3 record and should be a good opening game for UNO to get a good feel about this team before they play national power Virginia Tech.
8. Matchup: Omaha Mavericks vs. Denver Pioneers (Volleyball)
Date & Time: Tuesday, October 3rd at 7:00 p.m.
Location: Baxter Arena
Summary: The Mavs play Denver for the sixth time since moving to the Summit League in 2011. The Mavs have something to prove in this match as they are 0 and 5 with only winning one set in the past five years against the Pioneers. The match will take place on in Baxter Arena, with the time to be decided later on.
9. Matchup: Omaha Mavericks vs. South Dakota Coyotes (Volleyball)
Date & Time: Sunday, October 8th at 5:00 p.m.
Location: Baxter Arena
Summary: South Dakota is coming of a 2016 campaign where they claimed the Summit League regular season title before being taken down by the eventual Summit tourney champs, Denver. The 25-7 record was best in the conference and the Coyotes were led by Summit Player of the Year Audrey Reeg, who graduated in the spring. They do return senior Brittany Jessen who earned Setter of the Year in the conference as well as Omaha native Elizabeth Loschen who notched Freshman of the Year in the Summit. Where does that leave the Omaha Mavericks in Omaha in October when South Dakota travels to Baxter Arena? Time will tell. UNO is led by the small senior class of setter Sydney O’Shaughnessy and middle blocker Amanda Conlin. The Mavs finished 7th out of 9 teams last year in the conference. There is nowhere to go but up from here. The Mavs-Coyote match will be vital to UNO’s confidence and recruiting efforts heading into 2018.
10. Matchup: Omaha Mavericks vs. Bradley Braves (Men’s Soccer)
Date & Time: Sunday, September 10th, 2017
Location: Al F. Caniglia Field
Summary: The UNO Mavericks take on the Bradley Braves in their fourth match in the past four years. The Mavs enter the match with a record of 3-1-0 all-time against the Braves. UNO has outscored Bradley 10 to 4 in that same time. The Braves have much to prove in 2016 as they lost to the Mavs 4-0 in 2016. Can the Braves put up a better fight against the Mavs? Come to Caniglia in September to find out!
