May 29, 2022 – United Soccer League One (USL1) – Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC News Release
PAPILLION, Neb. – Weeks after seeing each other in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, Union Omaha and Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC had their first of three league matches this season. Northern Colorado put out an unchanged lineup from their victory over the Charlotte Independence. This trip to Omaha was the last away match for the Hailstorm in the long nine game stretch to start their history.
The match had a slow start with hardly any chances coming for either side. In the 18th minute Brecc Evans got on the end of an Arthur Rogers free kick and was able to put the first shot on target for the Hailstorm, unfortunately right at Omaha keeper Rashid Nuhu. A number of chances came and went the rest of the first half. Despite those chances, the score stayed 0-0 into the break.
Ten minutes into the second half the best opportunity to that point showed up when Omaha rang a shot off the crossbar from well outside the box. The woodwork was able to keep the ball out of the net and keep it nil-nil. Omaha seemed to gain some momentum when they made a triple substitution, but the storm was weathered after a couple of corners were sent in. Fort Collins native Destan Norman made a run forward for the Hailstorm that sparked some life leading to some crosses but came to nothing in the end.
The complexion of the match seemed to shift when Stefan Lukic was brought on to the pitch. His first touch after coming on almost set up Irvin Parra for a long range goal, but Nuhu made a diving save. This shift quickly dissipated and the match was destined to end scoreless, it marks the first of such in Hailstorm history. This was the first clean sheet in Johan Peñaranda’s career. The team is back in action on June 8 for the first time ever in Northern Colorado, the match will be held at the University of Northern Colorado’s Jackson Stadium.
Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC will play its home matches in…