Northern Colorado leaves Chattanooga with a hard-fought point.
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – The temperature was in the triple digits at kickoff when Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC faced Chattanooga Red Wolves SC. It was the third time that these two clubs have seen each other this year, each winning one of the previous meetings.
The Red Wolves were the first to test a keeper this evening, just a few minutes in. It was the USL League One Player of the Month for June, Juan Galindrez, that received a ball in over the top of the Hailstorm defense. Taking a touch and firing it on goal, but Johan Peñaranda made the foot save.
A similar chance came from the opposite side of the pitch for Galindrez but center back pairing Rob Cornwall and Brecc Evans shut the chance down before there was even a shot.
Northern Colorado had a scare less than 10 minutes into the second half. A free kick was given for Chattanooga on the edge of the penalty box, the kick was close to the bar calling for Peñaranda to tip the ball over. However, when Peñaranda sat up he immediately grabbed his leg with concern. The Hailstorm were without a backup keeper due to Thomas Olsen’s red card in the previous match on Sunday. Peñaranda was treated and stayed in the match.
Newly signed midfielder Jackson Dietrich came on to make his debut in a Hailstorm uniform. Dietrich spent the 2021 season playing for Chattanooga. “I was out for eight months. Everyone welcomed me with open arms, and I really enjoyed getting back out there and playing, that’s where I belong. It’s amazing to be back,” said Dietrich.
Both teams kept trading near misses down the stretch. But it was halftime substitute Stefan Lukic that nearly found the winner late in the game. He cut into the box from the end line, cutting the ball onto his right and back to his left, before taking aim at the top corner. Keeper Carlos Avilez was able to save his side a point with his glove.
It would all end square at zero. Just the seventh nil-nil scoreline of the USL League One season, and the second of the evening. Peñaranda kept his team-leading second clean sheet of the season, making seven saves in the process. “I’m just thankful I can make some saves to help the team, and get us a good point in Chattanooga,” said Peñaranda on his performance.
“Excellent point on the road, with a clean sheet that we’ve been looking for. Special shoutout to Johan, who was excellent in goal. Thought Owen Damm was excellent at right back. But a real gritty team performance on the road,” said head coach Éamon Zayed.
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