July 8, 2022 – United Soccer League One (USL1) – Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC News Release
WINDSOR, Colo. – Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC are off to the desert to visit last place FC Tucson. FC Tucson are yet to take any home field advantage, going winless at home to this point in the season. Northern Colorado have had to be road warriors this season having played over half of their away fixtures already.
FC Tucson are the lowest scoring team in USL League One, scoring less than 1 goal per match. Midfielders Louis Pérez and Daniel Bedoya are the key players going forward, having created the most chances by far. Pérez leads the team in goals and assists with two goals and three assists this year.
Carlos Merancio Valdez has started every league match this season. He has kept two clean sheets in 13 contests and made an average of two saves per match. Merancio Valdez, and defenders Luca Mastrantonio and Jake Crull, are the only players at the club to play every minute of the season.
Northern Colorado have picked up six points from their last five matches, with wins over Chattanooga Red Wolves SC and Central Valley Fuego FC. Forward Irvin Parra is only one goal or assist away from reaching double digits in goals plus assists this season. He would be the first player at the club to do so. Parra has contributed a goal and/or an assist in each of the last four matches.
No stranger to the desert heat, Las Vegas native Thomas Olsen has started the last four games for the Hailstorm. Despite only playing in seven of the league games this season for Northern Colorado, Olsen finds himself with the eighth most saves in the league.
Kickoff is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. MST, 8:00 p.m. MDT at Kino North Stadium in Tucson, Arizona. Expect a hot one in Arizona, the high for the day is 106 degrees and it will be in the mid-to-high 90s at kickoff. The game, as with all USL League One, will be broadcast on ESPN+.
Opening in 2022, the 118-acre Future Legends Complex will feature two stadiums, multiple baseball diamonds and multi-purpose fields, an indoor sports arena, lodging, and retail; and will host guests for major sports tournaments, events, leagues, and more.
• Discuss this story on the United Soccer League One message board…
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
