USL Jägermeister Cup Final Preview

WINDSOR – Northern Colorado Hailstorm host Forward Madison in the inaugural USL Jägermeister Cup Final on Saturday night. The match is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. MT.

Hailstorm are coming off four straight home games. They got two big wins over Greenville and Lexington before losing a nail bitter to rivals Union Omaha and drawing Chattanooga. They have found balance offensively though, which gives manager Éamon Zayed confidence:

“Ethan Hoard has stepped up. He has 20 goal contributions. He’s in his rookie year. In Ethan’s rookie year, he’s outperforming Trevor Amann in his rookie year. Bruno Rendon is someone we’ve relied on in the Jägermeister Cup. Over the last 6-8 weeks, we’re starting to see what I asked for (in preseason).”

The third year coach wanted more balance in terms of who was scoring. Hoard and Rendon have been good. They’ve recently been joined by Billy King, Real Gil, and others.

The Flamingos are unbeaten in their last five games. Their last loss was July 27 vs Hailstorm. That match ended 1-0 off an early goal from King.

“They have the best defensive record in the league. The most clean sheets. Defensively they’re very sound. They play a back three who are quite strong. Breaking them down, that’s something we’ve worked on. We are quite similar. If you look at our defensive structure, their defensive structure. We have Ethan Hoard, they have Christian Chaney. It’s a really strong match up,” Zayed told Burgundy Wave.

Either way, history will be made tonight. In their sixth season, Madison has not made it past a semifinal in the USL League One Playoffs. They’ve never finished above fourth in the regular season. Hailstorm are in their third year, having finished third last year and made a semifinal. Someone is winning their first silverware in this game.

“It’s three years in the making. We’re one better than last year because we’re in a final competing for a trophy. If we win it, it’ll be history for Northern Colorado. First professional trophy for our club, first for Northern Colorado ever. First trophy that a Colorado professional team has won since 2010,” Zayed said.

There is some uncertainty about Hailstorm with reports about delays in their stadium construction and the financing behind that. League sources have affirmed to Burgundy Wave the club will not be folding after this year.

“It’s been a difficult season. We’ve stuck together as a group of players and staff. To come out of it with a chance to win silverware. I’m so proud of the team,” Zayed said, continuing, “I don’t know what is going to happen. We concentrate on what we can affect. Saturday night, on the pitch. I’m here to coach. That’s all I can affect. I’ve loved my three years so far in Northern Colorado. I’ve loved being a part of the state of Colorado. I want to be here next year.”

We’ll see what happens, this weekend, next month, and come the offseason.

Photo Credit: John Babiak

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