WINDSOR, Colo. — Nearly five months into the USL League One season, Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC have their first matchup of 2023 against Greenville Triumph SC on Saturday.
“Yeah it’s bizarre, isn’t it?” Hailstorm FC head coach Éamon Zayed said. “We’ve played 20 games and haven’t played one of the 12 teams in the league.”
Both teams enter the match on the heels of one-goal losses last weekend with Hailstorm dropping a 3-2 decision to Union Omaha and Greenville falling 2-1 to North Carolina FC.
Along with Northern Colorado, Greenville is one of four teams in the league with a double-digit goalscorer as forward Leo Castro has 10 this season. Fellow forward Lyam MacKinnon has contributed seven goals as well, four of which came in a match against Chattanooga in June.
“They utilize their wide players, wingbacks if that’s what they play, getting crosses into their two forwards,” Hailstorm midfielder Nortei Nortey said.
Hailstorm will be looking to snap a four-match losing streak in which they have allowed 13 goals on Saturday, and Zayed said there is one key to doing that.
“If we keep a clean sheet on Saturday night, we’ll win the game,” Zayed said.
Hailstorm and Greenville are scheduled to kick off at 7 p.m. Saturday night at Future Legends Field.
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The home of Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC, 118-acre Future Legends Complex, will feature 6,500-seat TicketSmarter Stadium, 2,500-seat Future Legends Field, multiple baseball diamonds, multi-purpose fields, an indoor sports arena, lodging, and retail; and will host guests for major sports leagues, tournaments, events and more.
More information is available at HailstormFC.com and FutureLegendsComplex.com.