UNO sophomore defender Danielle Archuleta scored her first goal of the season in the 72nd minute to help the Maverick soccer team beat Missouri Southern 1 - 0 on Sept. 25. After a slow start to the season, the Mavericks are now 3-4-1 overall and 3-2-1 in the MIAA conference.In the Mavs' Sept. 23 game, midfielder Becca Swanson's tied the Southwest Baptist University Bearcats with her third goal of the season in the 84th minute. The 1-1 score held up through two overtimes, giving UNO its first tie of the season.

Swanson's third goal of the season, however, also broke a different tie, when she tied for the team lead at two goals along with forward Bri Exstrom, freshman Megan Kingston and freshman Monica Bosilevac. Swanson is a junior and Exstrom is a sophomore transfer from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Kingston and Bosilevac are two of 10 freshmen on the Maverick soccer team, which has only two seniors, four juniors and five sophomores. For those keeping track at home, that adds up to 11 upperclassmen and 10 freshman - to say this team is young would be an understatement.

As with any team, chemistry is important and takes time to develop, but it looks like the Mavericks are building some. Until then, they will have to win with their defense. They gave up 52 shots in their four losses, compared to 11 in their three wins. Goalkeeper Lauren Fox, one of the two Maverick seniors, has had 37 saves, two shutouts and allowed only 1.12 goals per game. Thanks to Fox and the defense, the Mavericks have stayed competitive in every game. All of UNO's losses have been by a single goal.

This is a team full of potential, though they are without a certified offensive star. They have scored a total of 12 goals by seven different players.

The Mavs are currently a little over a third of the way through conference play, two games behind undefeated conference leaders Truman State University and the University of Central Missouri. Consequently, the Mavs' two conference losses came to Truman and Central Missouri. They will meet Truman again at the UNO Soccer Field on Oct. 14, and will play against Central Missouri in an away game a week later. Until then, however, they are going to have to keep winning. Hopefully they can get a little luck, as well.