For the third straight year, USL League One’s Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC has won their opening match of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. The visiting Hailstorm dispatched Tulsa Athletic, the reigning NPSL champions, 4-1, at Athletic Community Field at Hicks Park on Tuesday night in the First Round of the 2024 US Open Cup.
Coming off the bench, Ethan Hoard put in a dominant 28 minutes of action, collecting a goal and an assist to salt the match away for Northern Colorado.
“It was a good performance. We had to change a couple of things to suit us, to suit the pitch,” said Northern Colorado head coach Eamon Zayed. “I respect every single opponent we play and I knew that had the potential to cause us issues, even going back to their Cupset last year.”
Forcing a flurry of saves from Bryson Reed in the first 10 minutes of the match, Northern Colorado started on the front foot and never relented. McCain Clarke provided excellent service for the visitors both from the run of play down the right side as well as from the corner.
Though the A’s defense stood tall for nearly the entire first half, they would unfortunately find themselves in a 1-0 hole after a 43rd minute goal from Lucky Opara. A scramble in the box eventually saw the ball fall to the feet of Johnny Fenwick who squared it to Opara who calmly slotted it between Reed’s legs for the opening goal.
“I knew the first goal was going to be key,” explained Zayed. “Luckily, we got it right before halftime. That was massive – probably changed the flow of the game.”
Despite a bright start from the hosts, Northern Colorado weathered the early second-half chance from Tulsa before doubling their advantage through captain Irvin Parra. Clarke’s threat down the right side again proved the distance as he whipped a cross to the near side that Parra then nodded home to the back post.
“McCain’s best attribute is his delivery,” said Zayed. “McCain has a great right foot. He’s been waiting for his chance…Delighted for him.”
In the 65th minute, the Hailstorm found another goal. A pair of 62nd minute subs connected on the goal, with Ethan Hoard slotting a ball to Marky Hernandez. Hernandez’s shot took a slight deflection that wrong-footed Reed to make the lead 3-0.
With the game well in hand, Hoard pushed the visitors ahead 4-0 in the 85th minute. Clarke knicked the ball off a Tulsa player’s foot to spring a fast break, pushing the ball ahead to Isidro Martinez down the right wing. Martinez whipped the ball in to Hoard who was all alone in the middle of the box, curling it past Reed for Northern Colorado’s final goal of the match.
“Ethan is a big guy, he’s also quick,” Zayed said. “ was delighted for him – good to get the goal.”
Not to be denied a goal on the evening, Tulsa put the finishing touches on the scoreline in the 88th minute from a scorcher of a free kick by Rio Mello from 35 yards out.
The win moves Northern Colorado to 4-2-0 all-time in Open Cup play, including 3-0-0 in their opening-round contests and 1-0 against NPSL sides. Tuesday was Northern Colorado’s first time playing in the First Round. Their next match will be April 2-3 with the opponent still to be determined by draw after the conclusion of the First Round.
Tulsa Athletic moves to 3-5-1 all-time in US Open Cup competition. The club is now 2-3-1 in First Round matches, and 0-1-0 against USL-1 sides.