WINDSOR, Colo. — Sitting in second place in the USL League One table and riding an eight-game unbeaten streak, Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC will return to where they kicked off the 2023 season and take on Chattanooga Red Wolves SC.
Fortunes for the two clubs have diverged significantly since that 0-0 draw to open the season in March, with Hailstorm FC having just one league loss on the season and Chattanooga 11th in the table and with a new manager in Jimmy Weekley.
“When we went down there we were just getting to know each other,” Hailstorm head coach Éamon Zayed said. “Now Trevor’s on fire, Billy’s on fire, rightly up for Player of the Month, and Val’s last couple of games have been his best football since he’s been at the club.”
Chattanooga goalkeeper Carlos Avilez earned Player of the Week honors against Hailstorm after the teams’ first meeting, getting one of his two clean sheets on the season, and will likely be in goal again with fellow keeper Ricardo Jérez on international duty with Guatemala.
“We just need to keep it solid at the back and we’re sure that the guys up top will score and convert our chances,” Hailstorm defender Leo Folla said.
One thing both Folla and Zayed noted is that all 12 of Chattanooga’s points this season have come at home, with the Red Wolves earning three wins and three draws in eight matches at CHI Memorial Stadium. Hailstorm have also not won in three trips to Chattanooga.
“It’s a fun environment to play in,” Folla said.
Hailstorm and Chattanooga kick off at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday in Tennessee.
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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.