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EDINBURG, Texas – The HBU men's soccer team kicked off its 2017 season a week late due to Hurricane Harvey and after more than an hour of a lightning delay, falling to No. 21-ranked Omaha at the UTRGV Invitational hosted by UT Rio Grande Valley at the UTRGV Track & Field and Soccer Complex on Friday evening.

The Mavericks (3-0) Elvir Ibisevic, who came into the match with three goals already this season, recorded the first shot attempt, sending a header wide left of the goal during the fifth minute. Less than three minutes later, HBU (0-1) sophomore Malik Key put the first shot on goal, quickly followed by Dominick Faletto's attempt, testing Omaha goalkeeper Joseph Ghitis early.

At the 13:56 mark, a pass from Miguel Gomez found Ibisevic whose header found the net and put Omaha up 1-0. Key had another shot attempt for the Huskies during the 18^th minute and Faletto's attempt during the 27^th minute was the last shot of the half for HBU.

Freshman Gianluca Natera had the first shot on goal of the second half in the 54^th minute but Ghitis was there to make the stop. Husky goalkeeper Chance Pope made his first save of the match during the 61^st minute, stopping a Gomez attempt. In the 70^th minute, Key got another chance but his shot bounced off the post.

Ibisevic attempted a match-high four shots with two on goal. His game-winner was his fourth goal of the season. For HBU, Key had three shot attempts while Faletto took two. Both teams finished with eight attempts with three on goal while Omaha held a 3-2 advantage in corner kicks.

The Huskies will close out the UTRGV Invitational against St. Bonaventure on Sunday at 4:00 p.m.