July 22, 2024 – United Soccer League One (USL1)
Union Omaha News Release
Windsor, Colo. – After a string of big wins, Union Omaha came back to earth with a damp squib of a loss to Northern Colorado Hailstorm.
Much like their prior match against Greenville Triumph, first place was on the line with a win, this time in Group C of the USL Jägermeister Cup. However, Billy King quickly put his side out in front, setting the tone for a frustrating match for the Owls.
“I think we lacked the aggression that you need to have with and without the ball, and the aggression that we look to play with,” said Head Coach Dominic Casciato, going on to say it was something they would look to improve on for their return home.
By contrast, Hailstorm came out with their usual direct play, putting the Owls on the back foot from the get-go. While they ended the match with 42% possession, they consistently seemed to be the more dangerous team on the ball, and their 41.2% crossing accuracy on the night illustrated their ability to get into threatening positions.
Nine minutes in, that threat manifested into an early lead. A towering ball from the defense descended from the mesosphere onto a backpedaling Mechack Jérôme, who could only nod it down to Billy King. The midfielder displayed great composure to take it down, take it past the oncoming Luca Mastrantonio, and make no mistake from there for the opener.
It wasn’t just in possession that Hailstorm menaced their visitors, either. Their pressure kept Union Omaha uncomfortable when trying to build up from the back, yet stayed compact when the Owls did advance forward to keep them from entering the penalty area with any sort of ease. While both teams put up 14 shots on the night, the more telling figure is this: ten of Northern Colorado’s attempts came from inside the box, compared to only five for Omaha.
At the very least, they gained assurance on the ball after a long injury stoppage, with ever-present Hailstorm goalkeeper Lalo Delgado receiving treatment after Steevan Dos Santos collided with him. He had played every minute of the season for them up until then, but late in the match would need more medical attention to the point of being substituted off.
Despite the increased possession, though, the best chance of the half beyond the goal came in the 42nd minute for Hailstorm, when another move in transition saw Billy King whip in a ball that Wallis Lapsley had trouble corralling. However, the onrushing Jake Keegan fouled Lapsley as…