Greenville Triumph vs Union Omaha: The Story Within the Game

If you happened to flip through the channels on your cable box yesterday afternoon, for the first time ever on ESPN2, you would have seen live coverage of USL League One. Greenville Triumph and Union Omaha played to a fairly tame 1-1 draw, with a handful of highlight reel moments.

This was the first nationally televised division three professional soccer game in the U.S.

That’s pretty cool in its own right. Especially if you recall parts 1 and 3 of “Moment or Movement.” This game could be another launchpad to discuss the soccer movement in the U.S., or I could give the recap of the game because that would be interesting too. But this blog is about stories. And the story within this game might be the best new rivalry in American sports.

Flashback, three years ago, March 29, 2019. The newly formed USL League one kicked off its inaugural match. It only seems fitting that one of the teams involved was Greenville. Since that match, the Triumph have shown all the early makings of a dynasty. In year one they earned the third seed in the 4-team playoffs, advanced to the final, but lost 1-0. Their starting goalkeeper Dallas Jaye earned Goalkeeper of the Year, Golden Gloves, and All-League first team honors. In addition, two other Greenville defenders earned roles on the first team as well.

Enter year two. Greenville, hungry and focused after the bitter shortcoming of 2019 was determined to make 2020 count. They retained the core of their roster and added important pieces, including All-League second team defender Brandon Fricke to the rotation.

However, with any new season, there are changes. Roster moves, rule changes, and for a growing league---expansion teams. This is where Union Omaha enters the conversation. Founded in May of 2019, Union’s inaugural USL League One season began in 2020. Albeit a little later than scheduled.

A season that was slated to begin on March 27, USL League One announced on March 13 that due to the COVID-19 pandemic the season would be delayed. After several pushbacks and modifications, the announcement came in July. The schedule would be a modified and expedited 16-game regular season. The playoffs, after taking the top four teams in bracket format a year prior, would be just one game. One Championship game. The final. One versus two, to decide who shall reign supreme in USL League One.

Now, with more time to ruminate on last year’s loss Greenville came out of the gates on fire. They started their first six games undefeated, winning five of them. Pretty impressive right?

Elsewhere, Union Omaha showed no intentions of using the “it’s our first year at the professional level” excuse as they remained unbeaten in their first eight games, winning four. The excitement around both teams continued to build, and soon it became clear, the Week fifteen matchup in Greenville between the two would be must see D3 soccer TV.

Coming into the match Greenville sat atop the table with a 10-2-2 (W-L-D) record, riding another six game unbeaten streak. Omaha entered sporting a 6-3-5 record on a three game unbeaten streak of their own. Showing no fear, Union Omaha escaped the fortress that was Greenville’s home stadium with a late 2-1 victory. It would be Greenville’s only home loss of the season.

The regular season would finish the next week, and wouldn’t you know, first and second respectively in the standings, Greenville on 35 points and Union Omaha on 29. The two hardest teams to beat were on a collision course to meet in the League One Final. Not only that, but Omaha, the fearless, fast-paced, new kids on the block, who had already gotten the better of the league leaders, were coming to challenge for some silverware. Meanwhile Greenville looked to get revenge for the losses, two weeks prior to Omaha at home, and one year prior in the 2019 final. The stage was set.

Would the final chapter be one of redemption for Greenville, coming so close the year before and doing their part all regular season to get another crack at the title? Or would it be a Cinderella story of the upstart team that put together a winning formula on the first try?

As it turns out, it was never written. Like so many others, the game fell victim to COVID-19. Just days before the highly anticipated rematch, the game was cancelled due to multiple positive COVID-19 tests in the Omaha locker room. Left with no alternative Omaha forfeited the match and the league awarded the title to Greenville on account of their regular season record.

While this is the way soccer leagues work in most other countries, with the best team at the end of the regular season hoisting the trophy, the teams and players couldn’t help but feel a sense of anticlimax.

For Greenville there was no definitive crowning moment to such an impressive start-finish campaign. There was no redemption in the final. There was no proving themselves on the biggest stage.

For Omaha, there is still a sense of robbery. No final game, against a team they’d already beat. No chance to dethrone the regular season champs. What if Greenville had been made to forfeit due to COVID-19? Would the outcome be the same?

Greenville would also go on to collect Defender (Fricke), Goalkeeper (Jaye) and Coach of the Year honors. They would also boast five first-teamers and one second team accolade. Omaha saw two players grace the first team and two the second.

To be fair, in a season made so dramatic and bizarre by the pandemic, the bizarre ending does feel rather apt. And as far as drama goes, that brings us back to yesterday.

Although it wasn’t exactly the Final, the history between these two teams was evident leading up to the game and on the pitch. Both teams have a chip on their shoulder. Omaha’s as the potential champions stolen by poor luck, and Greenville as the two-year powerhouse that still has question marks next to its legitimacy. Both teams want their respect.

And about this season? Well, there aren’t many signs to think these two clubs won’t meet again in October. Both came in with unbeaten records, and left with them intact. Will Omaha follow the Greenville blueprint and achieve redemption? Can Greenville silence the doubters with a trophy this season and cement their League One legacy? Or will there be more unforeseen drama as the season unfolds?

One thing seems certain, though. Whether it’s their proximity in quality or the standings, or the historic non-moments between them, this rivalry promises to be one for the long haul, and good for the game.