Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC (8-8-10, 7th Place) vs Union Omaha (10-11-5, 2nd Place)
All competitions: NCO (10-8-11) vs OMA (14-11-6)
Severance High School – Severance, Colorado
9:00 PM (CDT) ESPN+
Union Omaha makes their first trip to the state of Colorado for USL League One action tonight as the Owls take on the Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC tonight at 9 PM CST on ESPN+.
The Hailstorm have only won three in their last ten games, yet still remain in the hunt for the playoffs. The club has often played the role of the wildcard in League One with unpredictable results from surprising upsets to disappointing dropped points. The club has called Severance High School their home since August 2nd, but have not yielded great results in their new confines. In five games played at the high school, the club has won two games and lost three.
Northern Colorado has played eight midweek games and seven of them were played at home. Their overall record in midweek games is three wins, one draw, and four losses. The Hailstorm have not won a midweek home game since Thursday, June 30th. Since then, the club has played four midweek games, lost all of them, and were outscored 2-6 in the process.
Union Omaha has seen more success in their midweek matches, only losing once in five games. The only loss in that run of time came at the hands of recent visitor, the Richmond Kickers, who came from behind to win the game. The Owls only other away game to take place in the middle of the week was a 0-0 draw at Forward Madison on July 26th.
When Hailstorm takes the field, they’ll do so with a cast of characters that go about their business quietly, yet can make some noise when they want. Irvin Parra leads the team with 11 goals, only 5 behind the current Golden Boot leader. He has 50 shots on the season, with 25 of them on target. All 11 of his goals have happened inside the box, so Union Omaha’s defense will have to be keenly aware of Parra and his whereabouts at all times.
Other players on the team that Union Omaha should be mindful of include midfielder Arthur Rogers, who leads the team with 8 assists and 67 chances created (more than the next two teammates combined). Trevor Amann, often seen advancing up the field, has 5 goals, 3 assists, and has 18 shots on goal in 38 total shots. Amann was also voted Player of the Week in Week 23 for his hat trick against North Carolina FC. Lachlan McLean, the TikTok superstar, was voted alongside Amann as a member of the Team of the Week in Week 23.
The drama in Omaha has taken on a new level in recent weeks, but the Owls have looked to have a resurgence in their energy. Their confidence on the ball, passing, and productive possessions have seemed to increase in the last few weeks and the team looks dangerous on offense. Noe Meza still leads the team in goals (8), assists (4), shots (40), and shots on target (14). JP Scearce isn’t far behind Meza, having scored seven goals this season. Mid-season signing Corey Hertzog has made his presence known on the field, scoring three goals, having the highest conversion rate of any teammate (27.3%), and having the fewest minutes between goals (177). Goalkeeper Rashid Nuhu has been his usual self and when I say usual, I mean exceptionally good. In 23 appearances this season, Nuhu has 9 clean sheets and leads the Golden Glove race.
Since Hailstorm is new to League One, there haven’t been many games between the two clubs. With that said, Hailstorm and Union Omaha will end the regular season having played each other more than any other teams in the league because of the US Open Cup game earlier this season. The first game between the two clubs came by way of the Open Cup, not a league game. Hailstorm and the Owls have played three games, with Union Omaha winning one and the other two finishing as a draw. In league play, both games ended in draws. Today will be the first time Union Omaha has played at Northern Colorado, so we’ll see how much of an effect elevation has on the Owls.
Tonight will be a great opportunity to put some pressure on first-placed Richmond, create some distance from third-placed Greenville, and allow the Owls to gain some confidence as the team heads into the final stretch of the regular season. Whether you’re at a watch party, streaming at home, or lucky enough to be in the stadium tonight, wear the colors and be loud for the Owls. They deserve every bit of our support, so let the team know they’re loved and supported ahead of tonight’s game. As always…¡Viva Búhos!
Who Gives A Hoot? 