UNO soccer field earns FIFA 2-star certification

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June 25th, 2014

Omaha, NE – As recent World Cup TV ratings will show, the game of soccer is on the rise here in the States.

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And Maverick head coach Jason Mims said seeing the U.S. national soccer team play a match on the University of Nebraska at Omaha’s campus is a real possibility. UNO’s AL F. Caniglia Field, has been recognized with a FIFA 2-Star certification. Only three other soccer fields in the United States have a two-star ranking.

Mims said this opens a lot of doors for UNO, nationally and around the world. FIFA inspects all fields across the world that are up to inspection standards.

“FIFA will inspect the top fields in the world,” Mims said. “Basically a FIFA certified field is great, a one-star certification is even better. There aren’t many teams that can say they have a one-star certification. So for UNO to get a two-star FIFA certified field, I think we are one of just a few fields in North America who have that.”

Mims said UNO is ahead of the curve in the U.S. as their artificial turf contains more than the run of the mill soccer pitch. Typical American fields contain rubber from recycled tires. UNO also utilizes sand, coconut and cork, which are more typical of a European pitch.

Head Coach Jason Mims gives his team orders. (Photo Courtesy UNO Athletics)

Head Coach Jason Mims gives his team orders. (Photo Courtesy UNO Athletics)

Mims said as exciting as gaining the FIFA 2-star certification is, he is just as eager to begin the upcoming season. UNO’s schedule was recently finalized and released, and it includes such soccer heavy weights as UCLA and Stanford.

“Anytime you get UCLA on your schedule in any sport, it’s a pretty hard match-up,” Mims said. “Stanford, a team that was just training with the U.S. National team a couple weeks ago before they left for the World Cup. The U.S. got a few scrimmages with them and trained with them. Stanford has a couple of really talented national team players. So that will be a challenge.”

Mims also scheduled an exhibition match with Nebraska’s club team. The University of Nebraska at Lincoln doesn’t have a sanctioned men’s soccer team. Mims said the Mavs will take on Nebraska’s Club team at South High School.

“It means a lot because we will only be a couple days into preseason so whoever we play, it will be a challenge for us,” Mims said. “We also want to continue the South Omaha Classic and we want to continue and grow that each year. I thought it would be great to get a local team to play us.”

The Mavs finished last year with a 6-9-1 overall record. With less than two months before the start of the 2014-2015 season, Mims said his team better be ready to be tested from the start.

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