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2022 League One Preview: Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC

By USLLeagueOne.com Staff, 03/31/22, 4:15PM EDT

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Expansion side features plenty of experienced veterans


Expansion side features plenty of experienced veterans | Image Credit: Bohemian FC

WINDSOR, Colo. - One of three clubs making League One debuts, Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC – like fellow expansion side Central Valley Fuego FC – will rely on the leadership and expertise of numerous seasoned veterans. At the helm is Éamon Zayed, who will make his managerial debut in Windsor, Colo. after a storied 20-year playing career saw the Irish-born, former Libyan international score a combined 154 goals for the likes of Drogheda United FC, Indy Eleven, Shamrock Rovers, Persepolis FC and Chattanooga Red Wolves SC among others.

The Hailstorm will be led by inaugural signing, 27-year-old Irish defender Robert Cornwall, who joins Northern Colorado after leading Bohemian FC to UEFA Europa Conference League qualifiers earlier this season. The club’s attack will be reinforced by veteran USL Championship forwards Irvin Parra and Ethan Vanacore-Decker along with former League One goalscorers Lachlan McLean and Marky Hernández.

Former United States youth international Thomas Olsen will suit up between the sticks after spending time in the Championship and overseas in Finland. Zayed’s Hailstorm side will also see a pair of formidable defenders anchor the backline in Leo Folla and Brecc Evans, the latter having been a League One title-winner in 2019 with North Texas SC.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Robert Cornwall - DEF: Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC’s first signing ahead of its inaugural season, Robert Cornwall has left his native Ireland for the first time in his career to pair up with former teammate and new Hailstorm Head Coach Éamon Zayed in Windsor. The 27-year-old center back began his professional career in the League of Ireland Premier Division with Shelbourne FC in 2013 before spending time with Shamrock Rovers FC and Derry City FC between 2014 and 2017. From 2017 to 2021, Cornwall made 133 appearances with Bohemians in the Premier Division, FAI Cup, UEFA Europa League Qualifying and UEFA Europa Conference League Qualifying, totaling five goals and two assists across all competitions. In total, the Irish veteran has appeared in 215 top-flight matches in Ireland.

Irvin Parra - FWD: Veteran USL Championship forward Irvin Parra joins Northern Colorado just one season removed from netting 11 goals for former Championship and current League One side Charlotte Independence. Parra’s career took the Inglewood, Calif. native to Europe where he recorded 18 goals nine assists in 102 appearances for lower-tier German sides FC 08 Homburg, SVN Zweibrücken and 1. FC Kaiserslautern II between 2012 and 2016. From Germany, Parra joined the Seattle Sounders FC organization where he recorded a combined 16 goals and assists in 26 appearances for the Tacoma Defiance and made two starts for the Sounders’ senior team in the 2017 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. From Seattle, Parra went on to suit up for Orange County SC, Las Vegas Lights FC, San Diego Loyal SC and finally the Independence, accumulating 32 goals and 14 assists between the clubs from 2017 to 2021.


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