CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Despite having more than twice as many shots as their hosts, Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC came away with just the one point and a 0-0 draw against Chattanooga Red Wolves SC.
“Really happy with the clean sheet, we’re going to take the positives from this,” Hailstorm head coach Éamon Zayed said.
Hailstorm FC (0-0-1, 1pt) took the initiative straight from the opening kick and had a trio of corners within the first five minutes, but failed to convert. Trevor Amann kept up the pressure a few minutes later with a shot in the ninth minute that was saved by Chattanooga (0-0-1, 1pt) goalkeeper Carlos Avilez.
“I thought we started off really, really well,” Zayed said. “We did everything but score.”
Perhaps the best chance of the night from either side came when Hailstorm FC defender Brecc Evans went close from a corner kick in the 28th minute, but it was turned away by Avilez.
“It was a really good opportunity,” Evans said. “The goalie made a good save on the line.”
Chattanooga had their first serious threat in the 35th minute, but Northern Colorado goalkeeper Lalo Delgado saved at his near post. It was the first of Delgado’s four saves on the night en route to keeping a clean sheet on his Hailstorm FC debut.
“I’m very proud that I was able to do my part along with the defenders,” Delgado said.
Hailstorm FC ended the first half with a 6-1 advantage in shots.
The big chances were not as plentiful in the second half. Substitute Stefan Lukic had Hailstorm FC’s best chance after the break in the 68th minute, but his stinging effort was saved by Avilez.
“I think overall the guys felt disappointed, possibly could have come away with three points,” Zayed said.
Two of the standout performers for Northern Colorado on the night were fullbacks Arthur Rogers and Lucky Opara. Rogers, the 2022 USL League One Defender of the Year, picked up right where he left off with five chances created and a team-high 38 passes completed. Opara, meanwhile, led Hailstorm FC with four aerial duels won and contributed to the attack with three shots.
Hailstorm FC will look to pick up their first win of the season next week when they take on defending champions South Georgia Tormenta FC at 5:30 p.m. Mountain time on Saturday, April 1 in Statesboro, Ga.
Featured Image credit: Jim Myers and Chattanooga Red Wolves