WINDSOR, Colo. — Looking to avenge their only multi-goal loss of the season, Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC got out to a fast start and cruised to a 3-0 victory over Greenville Triumph SC Sunday at 4Rivers Equipment Stadium.
A pair of goals in the first 10 minutes of the match set the tone as Hailstorm extended their unbeaten run in all competitions to six, with five of those matches being wins.
“I talked with the team about getting a good start and it was a great start, two goals up in 10 minutes,” Hailstorm head coach Éamon Zayed said.
Midfielder Chelo Martinez got Hailstorm on the board in the fifth minute when Billy King’s through ball put him one-on-one with Greenville keeper Christian Garner and he cooly slotted home his first USL League One goal in a Hailstorm shirt.
It took just another five minutes for Hailstorm to double their lead when striker Ethan Hoard flicked on a ball for winger Real Gill, who dribbled past a Greenville defender to score his second goal of the season.
“From the start of the game I just do what I do, dribble, go at the defender, and I saw the space open up and was like, yeah, take the chance,” Gill said.
Gill continued to make an impact in the match, winning a Hailstorm penalty in first half stoppage time, but Hoard missed from the spot, leaving the 2-0 scoreline in place at the half.
However, Hoard would not be denied his goal. He got on the end of a Lucky Opara cross in the 70th minute, heading in at the back post for his 11th goal of the season and a 3-0 Hailstorm lead.
“We just trained balls into the box in training the other day, so as soon as Lucky picked up his head to go to the back post. He served it and I headed it in.” Hoard said.
Hailstorm have now won 11 of their last 18 matches in all competitions, with just two losses in that stretch. Zayed said he hopes the team is peaking at the right time.
“Let’s ride the momentum, because this is the business end of the season,” Zayed said.
Hailstorm will be looking to ride the momentum into Fresno, Calif. on Friday when they take on Central Valley Fuego FC in the final match of USL Jägermeister Cup group play. Kickoff is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. Mountain time and the match can be streamed live on ESPN+.
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The home of Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC, 118-acre Future Legends Complex will feature 6,500-seat TicketSocket Park, 2,500-seat 4Rivers Equipment Stadium, 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.