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Mims’ Union Omaha Shows Its Steel On Unbeaten Run

By CAMERON KOUBEK - cameron.koubek@uslsoccer.com, 09/10/20, 10:45AM EDT

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First-year club has not dropped a single point from a winning position so far this season


Union Omaha Head Coach Jay Mims celebrates a win with defender Damia Viader. | Photo courtesy Union Omaha

As with any brand-new club, no-one quite knew what to expect of Union Omaha at the start of the 2020 League One season - especially such an abnormal season at that. But seven games in, Omaha is in second place and narrowly leads Greenville Triumph SC as the club with the most points per game, establishing itself as a serious title contender under Head Coach Jay Mims.

Omaha’s start to life was inauspicious, a stagnant 0-0 draw away against New England Revolution II. Since then, the Owls have won four, drawn two and lost none. That seven-game unbeaten run to start the season matches North Texas SC’s run to begin the 2019 season (North Texas lost its eighth game last year, but went on to win the title).

Mims’ system isn’t a high-flying one, but to call it hyper-defensive would be inaccurate. It’s true that Omaha’s strength at the back is the team’s foundation. The Owls have allowed five goals in their opening seven matches, and North Texas was the lone team to score multiple goals against them.

Even more impressive has been Omaha’s ability to play with the lead and effectively see out results. Only once in seven matches has Mims’ team conceded an equalizing goal, but even then the side still pulled out a 2-1 victory against FC Tucson on August 29 to preserve its record of not having dropped a single point from a winning position thus far. Mims emphasizes this tactically, along with preparing his team for a variety of different scenarios before each match.

“I write out six or seven different scenarios that could happen in a game or to end a game - whether it’s tied, whether we’re down, whether we’re up, who is on the field and why they are on the field and what type of formation they’re in,” said Mims when asked what has led to his team’s staunch defending late in games. “Depending on the opponent that we’re playing against and what I’ve seen on the tape, we look at how they play and how that team finishes a game, whether they are down a goal or up a goal.

“Preparation is probably the biggest key. If you are good at doing that, it doesn’t mean that you are going to be successful. But if you are not prepared, you won’t be successful.”

Omaha’s defensive efficiency was personified in the team’s 1-0 win against Orlando City B last Sunday.


The team thanks its supporters group The Parliament after a home win / Photo courtesy Union Omaha

The Owls went ahead on a well-worked goal just before halftime, then became very difficult for OCB to break down - not by sitting in a low block and putting sheer numbers behind the ball, but by avoiding unnecessary risks, choosing wise moments to pressure the ball and keeping the opposition honest by getting bodies forward at opportune times.

At the other end, Omaha’s offense has been by committee rather than individual brilliance. Seven different players have scored the Owls’ nine goals this season, a testament to the variety of talented weapons the team boasts in all areas of the pitch.

“I think we’re pretty aggressive in our midfield, especially wide in the midfield,” said Mims of how his team has found that attacking balance. “We talk about transition moments and we practice it a lot for the midfielders, trying to make the right decision and especially around the goal. For our team, we know that goals can come from different areas and be chipped in from different positions, whether it’s a center back or a full back or wide midfielders. I think that’s a positive.

“On the flip side, we would like to have someone that has seven, eight, nine goals like a primary goal scorer. It hasn’t happened yet, but we still have a lot of season left so maybe we can have one of the forwards catch fire a little bit and get his confidence up.”

If the team does have a leading scorer in the making, it’s Ethan Vanacore-Decker. The 25-year-old forward assisted on four goals and bagged two of his own during the month of August. He also created 10 chances and completed 79.3 percent of his passes.


Vanacore-Decker (left) and Mims (right) in discussion during a hydration break / Photo courtesy Union Omaha

“The good start would have to be thanks to the coaches, getting myself and teammates in a position where we can do some damage,” said Vanacore-Decker. “As for me having a good month, you know, just getting the ball in good places. Finding my teammates that are open and if they happen to score when I pass it to them and I’ve happened to score when they pass it to me too, it was all good.”

At the moment, Los Búhos occupy the second playoff spot in the League One table. Omaha is four points behind league leaders Greenville, but has played two fewer games than Triumph SC. Omaha will hit the midway point of its season on Friday, when the side travels to Georgia to take on South Georgia Tormenta FC.

A win in Statesboro would close the gap to first place to a single point, and give Omaha the record for longest unbeaten start to a League One season. But Mims isn’t focused on running down first place, or even winning a title at this point.

“We don’t really pay attention to records or streaks and I don’t think our guys do either,” said Mims. “I think every game we just try to compete whether we win, lose or tie. My biggest goal is that we have to be prepared and that’s my job – to make sure our team is prepared, to make sure our team is confident and make sure we set up the team the right way and then manage the game. Our team’s job is to play hard and compete and I don’t think we ever talk about results. We just talk about competing and working hard and being committed.”

Though the team has bought into Mims’ approach both in tactics and mentality, Vanacore-Decker admits he has allowed himself to think a bit further into the future.

“I’m feeling good and gaining more confidence as the season goes on,” said Vanacore-Decker. “Hopefully, I can start to score and assist on a couple more goals and help the team win as much as I can, and we make it to the end and have a final at Werner Park. That would be pretty cool.”


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