 In an early season battle between two regionally ranked teams, Arnezha Astwood and his University of Omaha Men’s Soccer teammates dropped their first match of the 2024 season, 2 - 0 at Grand Canyon University.
With triple digit temperatures in Phoenix at kickoff, Grand Canyon (#2 in Far West Region) came out typically hot against previously unbeaten Omaha (#7 in West Region). Grand Canyon has been a strong offensive team in the opening half and that trend continued as they scored in the 14th minute of the match when Solo Bidanessy drove one past Nathanael Sallah, assisted by Jorge Lopez and Bright Nutornutsi.
Just four minutes later, Nutomutsi dazzled with one of the most spectacular goals of the season thus far, juggling and whipping home his fifth goal of 2024, 19 minutes into the match. Grand Canyon led 2 - 0, the first two goal deficit Omaha faced this season.
Omaha's defense tightened up after the early Grand Canyon goals. Out shot 7-5 in the first half. Omaha finished with 9 shots on goal to 4 for Grand Canyon, including three by Omaha freshman Bradley Takamo, who had strong chances turned aside in the 57th and 59th minutes.
Omaha best chances may have been a series of tries in deep in the 81st minute, including one shot from 10 yards out by Junior Casillas and two that followed from Theo Klein.
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