Match Preview: Union Omaha vs. Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC
April 30, 2024 - United Soccer League One (USL1)
Union Omaha News Release
If it's there for the taking, Union Omaha want it. And in their unquenchable thirst for both league and cup, a new competition has appeared on the docket. This is the first match of the USL Jägermeister Cup, an in-season tournament with all twelve League One teams getting into a World Cup-style fracas. Home-and-aways will be played against Hailstorm, Central Valley Fuego, and Spokane Velocity, meaning the Owls will rack up a lot of westbound miles.
CHILLED
The good news is that the Owls have carried on their regular-season unbeaten streak into 2024, adding some cup wins on top of it. However, what they've lacked against non-USL2 opposition is the same high-flying attack that carried them to the Players' Shield by the end of last season. Much of that comes from the recent absence of Steevan Dos Santos, not just in his finishing but the physicality that acts as an outlet for the rest of the team. Their crossing accuracy against Charlotte last time out was a mere 27.3%. Other attackers have gotten solid minutes to build match sharpness as a result, such as Lagos Kunga and the budding Adam Aoumaich, but literally and figuratively, Big Steeve has big shoes to fill. Without him, the Owls' attack has recently been on the rocks.
GLASS HALF-EMPTY
Many of the troubles from prior square-offs aren't in the forecast for this match (unlike weather puns, naturally). While Omaha has consistently been starting a few new signings each match, even with a couple early absences, Hailstorm lost the crux of their attack this winter, and remain winless in the league as a result. Trevor Amann and his 26 goals went off to join former Owl Damià Viader in Sacramento, while Arthur Rogers' 11 assists are gone to the USL Championship, while defender Rob Cornwall returned to Ireland. Oh yeah, and stalwart midfielder Nortei Nortey, second only to Rogers in all-time minutes for the Hailstorm? He's now on the Owls.
SERIES HISTORY
It's a tale of two seasons when it comes to Union Omaha's record against Northern Colorado. The Owls struggled against the Hailstorm in the latter's 2022 debut season, only able to scratch out two draws before conceding a 2-0 defeat late in the year. Of course, Omaha did beat them in the Round of 32 in that year's Open Cup en route to the quarterfinals, so it evened out in the end. 2023 saw a better tally despite Hailstorm's offensive explosion and rise up the standings; while NoCo pelted the Owls with two goals in each match, Union won two of the three face-offs by a 3-2 scoreline.
ABOUT NORTHERN COLORADO HAILSTORM FC
Hailstorm FC have only two seasons under their belt, but they've held their own as Colorado's third professional soccer club. After narrowly missing the playoffs on a tiebreak in their inaugural season, they impressed in 2023 with the best goal differential in the league. Opposing teams were hardly able to weather the onslaught from the aforementioned Amann and Rogers. They went on to shellac Forward Madison 4-1 in the playoffs before the storm faded to eventual champs North Carolina FC. Fun fact: former Owl Ethan Vanacore-Decker scored NoCo's first league goal.
United Soccer League One Stories from April 30, 2024
- Hailstorm Ready for a Shot at Glory in Omaha - Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC
- Match Preview: Union Omaha vs. Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC - Union Omaha
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