Ice & Fire Cup round two.
WINDSOR, Colo. – Central Valley Fuego FC will make the trek to play Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC just as they did last month, this time in a new venue. The last meeting between the two saw a 4-1 Hailstorm victory at Jackson Stadium, the largest margin of victory for Northern Colorado to date.
Central Valley enter this week as one of the coldest teams in USL League One having picked up just four points in their last five contests. Fuego has been shutout in their previous two matches, against Greenville Triumph SC and South Georgia Tormenta FC. Villyan Bijev has been their standout this season leading the team in goals and chances created, and is tied for the most assists as well.
Keeper Ofek Antman will be looking to do better than his last trip to Northern Colorado, as he was the keeper the Hailstorm put up four goals against. In 13 games he’s made 43 saves and kept four clean sheets. Fuego has converted three of those clean sheets into wins, only drawing against FC Tucson.
Arthur Rogers has been one of the biggest components this season for Northern Colorado. Rogers recently made his second Team of the Week this season. He is the only Hailstorm player to have started every match this season in Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup and USL League One action. Despite being a defender, his 31 chances created leads the league in the category.
Northern Colorado has the chance to move into third place if they secure a win and Tormenta FC lose to the Greenville Triumph.. Hailstorm have only been beaten once this season at home, picking up eight points in the five home matches thus far. The club has also won four of the five games they’ve scored two or more goals in.
Kickoff is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. MDT at Canvas Stadium in Fort Collins, Colorado. Expect the temperature to be in the mid-80s at kickoff with partly cloudy skies. The game, as with all USL League One games this season, will be broadcast on ESPN+.
Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC will play its home matches in the 6,500-seat TicketSmarter Stadium at the Future Legends Complex, the premier destination for sports and events in Northern Colorado. Tickets for home matches in the month of July are now available online. Home matches in July will be played at Colorado State University’s Canvas Stadium.
Opening in 2022, the 118-acre Future Legends Complex will feature two stadiums, multiple baseball diamonds and multi-purpose fields, an indoor sports arena, lodging, and retail; and will host guests for major sports tournaments, events, leagues, and more.