WINDSOR, Colo. — Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC extended their unbeaten run to 12 with a 3-1 victory over the Richmond Kickers at Future Legends Field on Saturday. The win also gives them a five-point lead at the top of the USL League One table.
As they did against Charlotte earlier in the month, Hailstorm (10-1-5, 35 points) had to come from behind for the win as Richmond (6-6-7, 25 points) scored first when Hailstorm defender Leo Folla deflected a cross into his own net in the 17th minute, giving the visitors a 1-0 advantage.
“We talked about how Richmond were dangerous getting crosses into the box,” Hailstorm head coach Éamon Zayed said. “So it wasn’t the best start for us.”
Hailstorm equalized just after halftime when Arthur Rogers’ corner found the head of defender Lucky Opara, who scored his first Hailstorm goal to make it 1-1. The assist for Rogers was his league-leading eighth of the season.
The hosts took the lead for the first time in the 72nd minute, when substitute Marky Hernández turned the ball into the back of the net after a goal mouth scramble for his second league goal of the season, making it 2-1.
“I’ve been knocking on the door the last three or four games, but I finally got it in,” Hernández said.
Hailstorm sealed the win in the 83rd minute when Billy King made it 3-1 by finishing a majestic team move cutting in on his left foot and firing past Richmond goalkeeper Akira Fitzgerald for his sixth goal of the season. Noah Powder also earned his first Hailstorm assist on King’s goal.
“I just trusted him to get the ball over to me which he did, thankfully. When I got the ball it was just me 1-v-1 with the defender and the first thing on my mind was cut in and get a shot away and luckily it went in,” King said.
The two-goal cushion provided Hailstorm with some very welcome breathing room, and they were able to see the match out from there, getting their sixth win in seven home games.
“When you go up one, anything can happen,” Zayed said. “I always feel when we go up by two I can relax a little bit.”
Hailstorm will look to extend their unbeaten run to 13 in their first matchup of the season against North Carolina FC away from home on Wednesday, with kickoff scheduled for 5 p.m. Mountain times and fans can watch the match live on ESPN+.
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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.