PAPILLION, Neb. (Saturday, August 13, 2022) – Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC (6W-7L-8D, 26 points) tied with the Union Omaha (6W-2L-10D, 28 points) 1-1 at Werner Park Saturday night. A late Irvin Parra goal made the difference, splitting the points between the two clubs.
The Owls got started early on a counter-attack in the 12th minute. Noe Meza picked the ball up at midfield and picked out a pass to Corey Hertzog. Hertzog found space to drive forward and pick out Meza running towards the back post. Meza took one touch before putting Omaha in front 1-0.
Northern Colorado was unlucky not to equalize a quarter of an hour later. Forcing Omaha keeper Rashid Nuhu into two saves on back-to-back attacks. Danny Robles found Nortei Nortey inside the area for the better of the two chances. Nortey’s shot got deflected by Nuhu. The deflection was enough to push the ball onto the underside of the crossbar and away from the goal.
Despite holding almost 60 percent of the possession in the first half, the Hailstorm went into the break trailing.
Parra also hit the woodwork in the 70th minute. The forward took a chance from the top of the area and beat Nuhu. However, the crossbar denied the Hailstorm again.
A deflection fell kindly for Trevor Amann ten minutes later. It presented Amann a chance to run into the box where he picked out a cut-back pass to Parra. The striker took the shot first time to level the score. It was Parra’s ninth goal of the season, keeping him in the running for the USL League One Golden Boot.
The Hailstorm are back in action on Wednesday, August 17, when they play host to FC Tucson. The match will kick off at 8:00 p.m. MDT at Severance High School.
Match Quotes:
Head Coach Éamon Zayed
On the match…
“We started off slow. Gave away a sloppy goal, but we came into it after that. Had a couple of efforts in that first half and then came out much stronger in the second half.”
Head Coach Éamon Zayed
On the message to the team at halftime…
“The message to the team was to leave it all out there in the second half. We knew we could play better than that. We knew we could move the ball better. Any time we moved the ball in the first half, we connected some passes together, moved it from side to side, we looked dangerous, and created opportunities. So just more of that in the second half.”
Forward Trevor Amann
On what he saw on the play leading to his assist…
“I made a run and Stefan tried to play the ball which took a deflection right into my path. I saw Irvin peel off his marker, who was stepping to pressure me, and then I knew that I had to find Irvin. He was wide open and led to him scoring.”
Defender Rob Cornwall
On if this draw gives the team momentum leading into next week…
“100 percent this gives us momentum into next week. They’re a good team, I think that’s nine unbeaten for them in a row. It was good to go in and challenge us.”