Jordan McAlpine
SPORTS EDITOR
Welcome back to another year, Maverick fans! It’s been a crazy last 18 months across collegiate athletics, but with a busy fall ahead, it’s shaping up to be an exciting fall semester of Maverick sports. Here’s a look at what you can expect:
Men’s soccer
Last season featured a different look as the NCAA soccer season was shifted to the spring. However, the Omaha men’s team capped off a successful season with an NCAA Tournament win over UNC Greensboro before falling to Stanford. The Mavericks finished the spring season at 7-3-1, and the NCAA tournament win was their first in program history.
Women’s soccer
Similar to the men’s side, the Omaha women also had their season pushed back to the spring. The Mavericks put together an 8-5-5 record and made it all the way to the Summit League Championship, but ultimately fell just short. They’ll return 11 starters from last season, and that depth and experience should be a real strength. The Omaha women open their 18-game regular season slate on Aug. 19 against Northern Iowa.
Volleyball
Just like both soccer programs, Matt Buttermore’s team also reached the Summit League tournament last spring. The Omaha volleyball team finished the spring at 13-6, including a 10-1 stretch to close out the regular season. The Mavericks fell 3-0 to top-seeded Denver in Sioux Falls, but will bring back much of last spring’s roster. That includes Claire Mountjoy, Sami Clarkson and Omaha Female Athlete of the Year Sadie Limback.
Hockey
Mike Gabinet’s group reached the NCAA tournament last season for the first time since the spring of 2015, but fell to Minnesota in the opening round. The Mavericks got off to one of their best starts in recent years at 8-3-1 and finished the 2020-21 season 14-11-1, good for fourth in the NCHC standings. This season, they hope to take it a step further.
The Mavericks bring back nearly everyone from last season’s roster and have also added one of the top transfers in college hockey—Brannon McManus from Minnesota. The hockey season begins on Oct. 2, as the Mavericks welcome Lake Superior State University to Baxter Arena.
Men’s basketball
This winter might have a different look, as the Mavericks have lost several key players from last year’s group. An injury-plagued Omaha team finished last season 5-20, but head coach Derrin Hansen hopes the new year will give his group a fresh start. The Mavericks have added several pieces, including Wichita State transfer Isaiah Poor Bear-Chandler and Akol Arop from Nebraska.
The men’s team will open the season on Nov. 9 against Hastings College. That game will take place at Ralston Arena. Their first game at Baxter Arena will come against SIUE on Nov. 30, the first of 13 games in their home barn.
Women’s basketball
March is one of the craziest times of the year in college basketball, which was especially the case last spring. The Mavericks were the final team to clinch a spot in the Summit League Tournament under first-year head coach Carrie Banks, but her group came together at the right time.
Omaha took down top-seeded South Dakota State with an improbable 52-40 upset win, and followed it up with a win over Western Illinois before running out of gas against South Dakota in the championship game. The Omaha women don’t open their season until Dec. 20, at St. Thomas. Their home opener will come 10 days later on Dec. 30 against Kansas City.
Cross country and both men’s and women’s golf will also be in action this fall. Their seasons begin Sep. 3 and Sep. 13 respectively.
