FRESNO, Calif. – It was a bit of an uncharacteristic victory in USL Jägermeister Cup play, but Hailstorm held on Friday night to win 1-0 at Central Valley Fuego.
They’re unbeaten in seven straight matches this season with six wins during that stretch. Even more impressive, they’re the only team to finish Jägermeister Cup group play undefeated.
“I’m really, really proud of this group and the mentality that we have shown and continue to show,” Hailstorm head coach Eamon Zayed said. “We scored more goals than any other team in the Cup. I think it’s about time this team gets the plaudits.”
Hailstorm entered Friday’s match with the top seed in the Cup secured. A slog of a first half ensued, but the visitors found the back of the net in the 64th minute. After a set piece service found the feet of Davíd Garcia, he toed it home for the game’s only goal.
On the other side, the home team totaled 16 shots. Only five of them ended up on target. Hailstorm weathered a frantic few Fuego chances in the waning minutes to pull out their seventh-straight match unbeaten against their Ice and Fire Cup rivals, dating back to 2022.
“In the second half, we came out and showed a much better version of ourselves and managed to find a win,” Hailstorm defender Johnny Fenwick said.
Friday’s scuffle was the only group play match in which Hailstorm failed to score multiple goals. Still, after such a dominant showing in those eight rounds, Northern Colorado’s confidence is sky high entering the knockout stages, which start with the semifinal on Wednesday, September 11.
“We feel like we’re a real tough team for anyone to play against,” Fenwick said. “We’re full of confidence going into the semis, and hopefully we can bring home some silverware.”
Before they host that Cup semifinal match in Windsor, Hailstorm welcome invading Lexington SC for a league match on Saturday, September 7. Both contests are scheduled to kick off at 7 pm MT.