Hailstorm Look to Stay Unbeaten in 2023 against Richmond

April 13, 2023 – United Soccer League One (USL1) – Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC News Release

WINDSOR, Colo. – Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC will look to keep their unbeaten record in USL League One play intact as they travel to the capital of Virginia to take on the Richmond Kickers at 4 p.m. Mountain time Saturday.

Richmond finished at the top of USL League One last season with 51 points and also led the league with 54 goals. They lost in the playoff semifinals to Chattanooga Red Wolves SC.

“We struggled against them last year. They’re a good side,” Hailstorm FC captain Rob Cornwall said.

The main man for the Kickers is still forward Emiliano Terzaghi, who has won both the USL League One Golden Boot and Most Valuable player awards in each of the last three seasons. Terzaghi scored in each of Richmond’s three games against Hailstorm FC in 2022, but has yet to find the back of the net in USL League One play in 2023. He did net a pair of goals in his team’s 3-2 win over Cleveland SC in the second round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.

“He’s a fox in the box,” Hailstorm head coach Éamon Zayed said. “He’s one of those guys that could do absolutely nothing for 89 minutes and then pop up and score the winner.”

The task of keeping Terzaghi off the scoresheet will fall in large part to Hailstorm goalkeeper Lalo Delgado, who has kept clean sheets in each of his first two USL League One games and has allowed just one goal in five hours of game time in all competitions this season. Delgado is the only goalkeeper in USL League One with multiple clean sheets this season.

“It’s good motivation,” Delgado said of facing the reigning MVP. “He’ll bring out the best in us and I’m excited to see the guys perform.”

Richmond has seen a changing of the guard in goal this season, as two-time USL League One keeper Akira Fitzgerald has mostly given way to Denver native Will Palmquist. Palmquist has started three of Richmond’s four games this season, keeping his first career clean sheet in the league in a 1-0 win against Greenville on March 25. He won Save of the Week in Week 3 this season.

Palmquist will face a diverse Hailstorm attack that has seen five different players find the back of the net this season. Additionally, five of the team’s six goals in 2023 have come from substitutes.

“Guys are coming off the bench and making an impact. They’re pushing for starting places,” Zayed said. “It will be a tight game. Richmond don’t give up a lot. So it might be that sub that makes…