North Carolina FC Bested by Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC, 2-1

Cary, N.C. — North Carolina FC fell to the visiting Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC, 2-1, on Saturday night. Oalex Anderson added his first goal of the season during the contest, and Irvin Parra and Daniel Robles each added a goal apiece to secure three points for the visiting side. Between the two sides, ten yellow cards were administered, indicative of the physicality of the match through the full 90 minutes.

“I thought we were competitive throughout the game,” said Head Coach John Bradford following the match. “It took us a little while to get going after the first ten minutes, and I thought we were the better team for the vast majority of the first half and created more dangerous chances in the second half. It’s disappointing to not at least get a draw. We have a good mentality about us, being able to stay in the game, carve something out and get it back, so I was pleased with that.”

The Hailstorm drew first blood in tonight’s contest, capitalizing on a free kick opportunity from outside the eighteen. Parra was on the receiving end of the set piece, redirecting a header into the upper 90 and narrowly missing the fingertips of Will Pulisic’s diving save attempt. His second of the season, Parra’s goal gave the visitors a 1-0 advantage in the 18th minute.

Anderson responded with a goal for the home side just five minutes later, intercepting a drop pass from a Hailstorm defender, taking a touch out in front and burying the equalizer past Colorado goalkeeper Thomas Olsen to deadlock the score at 1-1. Later, in the 80th minute, midfielder Daniel Robles netted a go-ahead goal for the Hailstorm, and the 2-1 scoreline held through the remainder of the match despite several chances for NCFC to equalize a second time.

Tonight’s match completes the slate of contests scheduled during the month of April, and the squad will have the opportunity to hunt for three points on the road against FC Tucson next weekend.