August 14, 2024 – United Soccer League One (USL1)
Spokane Velocity FC News Release
Spokane Velocity FC (1-4-2 in Jägermeister Cup play) falters in a 3-1 loss to Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC (5-0-2) in the Jägermeister Cup, who have now won four straight in the tournament.
Velocity FC remains a longshot to make the knockout stage, and are eliminated from winning the West Group of the tournament.
“We’re not a finished product by any means, so it was an opportunity for us to continue to grow and develop,” said head coach Leigh Veidman.
The trio of goals scored by Northern Colorado are not new to the club during cup play, as they have averaged as many per match, scoring 21 goals in their seven contests. Their 21 goals are eight more than the club with the second most, Union Omaha.
This loss comes off the heels of a spectacular week for Velocity, with Andre Lewis winning USL League One Player of the Week along with four teammates on the Team of the Week. The club also earned a draw and a win on the road.
The first half of the match saw a scoreless effort for both teams. The two clubs combined for three shots on goal, and one close scoring chance for each.
Velocity’s first-half scoring chance came off a Derek Waldeck cross to Kimarni Smith, whose clean header was sent above the goal. Hailstorm’s first-half chance came from a much tougher look that resulted in Marky Hernandez drilling a shot from outside of the box off of the right post.
“The message at halftime was just being a bit more patient, finding the right times to attack, not just forcing it and turning the ball over, because they’re very good at counter attacks as well,” Veidman said.
After a slow paced first 45 minutes, the latter half of the match began with a bang, as two scores came within the first five minutes of second-half play.
In the 46th minute, the Jägermeister Cup’s leading scorer Bruno Rendon sank his seventh goal of the tournament. The score came off of a cross from outside the top left of the box, where Clarke McCain lofted the ball up just high enough for Rendon to elevate above the rest and send the ball past Velocity keeper Carlos Merancio.
Soon after in the 49th minute, Luis Gil took the ball away from a Hailstorm defender off an errant dribble in Northern Colorado’s third of the field. The successful defensive press led Velocity’s captain into a one-on-one with the keeper before he sent the ball to the far right of the net, evening up the score.
“I was just looking for a response,” Gil…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at OurSports Central Outdoor Soccer News…