Northern Colorado Hailstorm announces roster additions, preseason matches

BY JADYN WATSON-FISHER

Northern Colorado FC’s 2023 roster is shaping up with the addition of signees and contract extensions of players from 2022

McClain Clarke, 18, from Broomfield signed a two-year deal with the Hailstorm after working with the team during 2022 practice sessions He looks forward to friends and family attending matches and to getting to learn from his older teammates

“He came up and trained with us for part of last season and showed a lot of quality and ambition,” Hailstorm coach Éamon Zayed said in a statement “He epitomizes our philosophy here of trying to find talented youth locally. I think he’s one for the future with the Hailstorm.”

The club added 25-year-old goalkeeper Edward Delgado

Known as Lalo, he previously played with Phoenix Rising and Las Vegas Lights FC

With the Lights, Delgado recorded a save percentage of 64% of shots faced He played at Westmont College in California, winning 66% of his starts, earning 22 clean sheets and saving 80% of shots faced. He ranks in the program’s top 10 for eight different statistical categories

“Goalkeeping was a position where we wanted to add strength, for sure, ”

Zayed said. “He and Johan (Peñaranda) are fantastic goalkeepers They’re gonna compete for that number one spot, and hopefully next year that position will be solid ”

Valentín Sabella from Spain comes to Windsor, as well. He helped the Florida Soccer Soldiers upset Charlotte Independence in the U.S. Open Cup in 2019, scoring the game-tying goal that led to its victory via penalties.

Billy King comes to northern Colorado from Scotland, where he played in the top two divisions King turned pro at 18, spending time with multiple clubs in his 10-year career

King played for the Heart of Midlothian in his first four seasons During the 2014-15 season, he helped the team win the Scottish Championship after recording 13 assists and eight goals. He added a second championship with Rangers FC after being loaned to the club

He added the Football

Association of Ireland cup in 2021 He played for St Patrick’s, which is in the country’s top division He scored 12 goals in his three seasons.

“I finally got my man, ” Zayed said “He has a fantastic pedigree and background. What he brings is not just level of experience, but quality He’ll add assists and goals from that position, which I felt we lacked last year I’m expecting big things.”

Northern Colorado welcomes Enock Kwakwa to the roster to bolster the midfield.

Kwakwa spent seven years in Sweden, playing in its top leagues, and helped his team finish in the top-4 four seasons in a row

Though Kwakwa focuses on defense, he scored two goals and added three assists

Most recently, he was with the Charleston Battery on the USL Championship level

Bruno Rendon joins the Hailstorm’s defensive attack in his second season Rendon previously played with the AC Syracuse Pulse MLS teams showed interest, but Rendon felt like he had a future with the Windsor club

Lucky Onyebuchi Opara signed with the team earlier this month after spending several seasons in Latvia and was on loan for half a season in the Swiss Super League

Finally, Ryan Wittenbrink signed his first deal with the Hailstorm two weeks ago He played at Indiana, with 10 goals and nine assists in his final season with the Hoosiers

Wittenbrink participated in the NCAA College Cup, scoring the winning goal in the semifinals, and earned a spot on the College Cup AllTournament team

FC Dallas picked Wittenbrink in the 2023 MLS SuperDraft but he did not sign with them His manager, however, contacted Zayed about the young player. Zayed signed him quickly

The team also renewed contracts with Marky Hernández, Nortei Nortey, Arthur Rogers and Leo Folla

Hernández played in 23 games last season, adding 206 successful passes He was hampered by injuries last season, and Zayed hopes the team can get a full year out of the midfielder this year.

Nortey returns to Windsor for a second season He had two goals, including a gametying goal against South Georgia Tormenta

Folla played in 21 matches, starting 16 He had eight blocks, second on the team, and 32 clearances. His lone goal came on a set piece opportunity vs Richmond

Lastly, the club re-signed League One Defensive Player of the Year Arthur Rogers Rogers broke the league’s single-season record for chances created, with 80

He added 289 crosses, as well, breaking the previous record of 211

“Arthur was fantastic for us last year He’s the MVP here,” Zayed said “We’re amped to have him back.”

The team plays in seven preseason matches, but only one is open to fans.

They can see the new squad at Denver University on Feb. 24. The game is at 5 p m at Diane Wendt Sports Fields, and no tickets are needed. Fans cannot attend the other matches, including several at the Future Legends Complex bubble dome.

The club officially opens its season on the road on March 25 at Chattanooga Red Wolves FC Its first home match is set for May 27 against Central Valley Fuego FC