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2023 League One Preseason Reports - March 13

By USLLeagueOne.com Staff, 03/13/23, 11:00AM EDT

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Final preparations for number of League One clubs in busy week of preseason action


Final preparations for number of League One clubs in busy week of preseason action | Image Credit: Lexington SC

It's officially match week for a number of League One clubs as they continued their preseason preparations.

Highlighted in the penultimate week of preseason action was Northern Colorado improving its record to 4-1-1 with its +21 goal differential, North Carolina downing in-state rival Charlotte, and South Georgia and Madison claiming 3-0 victories against collegiate competition.

The entire 2023 League One preseason schedule can be found here.

March 11 - Forward Madison FC 3-0 DePaul University (NCAA)

MADISON, Wis. — Forward Madison FC played host to DePaul University in a preseason match at Breese Stevens Field in Madison. The match kicked off under gray, cold skies at 2 p.m. CT, two weeks prior to FMFC’s first match of the USL League One season on March 26 at Union Omaha.

The match got off to a quick start when the Flamingos put pressure on the DePaul defense, forcing a turnover that led to a Jayden Onen goal from right outside the box in the third minute. After going up 1-0, FMFC settled into possessing the ball and controlling the tempo of the match. Eric Conerty and Aiden Mesias were quick to stymie any DePaul attack in the midfield, supplying balls to the Flamingos' attacking third in the process. In the 24th minute, DePaul played a ball down the left wing for a one-on-one chance in the box that Timmy Mehl was able to win, keeping FMFC in front. FMFC doubled its lead to 2-0 in the 42nd minute when Derek Gebhard was able to slot one past the DePaul keeper. The teams entered the locker room with the hosts holding a two-goal lead.

The second half started much like the first with FMFC controlling possession of the ball. In the 70th minute, a corner kick for Forward Madison led to a tap-in goal by an FMFC trialist, putting the Flamingos up 3-0. After the third goal of the match, both teams traded opportunities, but no further goals were scored and the match ended with FMFC winning 3-0.

  • Scoring Summary
    • MAD - Onen 3'
    • MAD - Gebhard 42'
    • MAD - Trialist 70'

March 11 - Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC 2-2 Colorado Rapids 2 (MLS NEXT Pro)

WINDSOR, Colo. — A penalty scored, a penalty saved, and a bicycle kick goal helped Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC pick up a 2-2 draw against Rapids 2 at Future Legends Complex on Saturday in their penultimate preseason tune-up.

Goals from strikers Brandon Rosas and Irvin Parra helped Hailstorm FC overcome a pair of one-goal deficits on the night and take the draw. The result pushed Northern Colorado’s preseason record to 4-1-1.

“It’s given us probably our toughest test of preseason so far,” Hailstorm FC Head Coach Eamon Zayed said. “A test that we needed.”

The teams agreed to play 120 minutes on the night, which helped every Hailstorm FC player see game action.

Parra’s bicycle kick equalizer from a corner in extra time was the highlight of the night, as Hailstorm’s leading goal scorer in 2022 once again found him on the scoresheet in his first 2023 preseason appearance.

“These are the games that you can try things,” Parra said. “It’s not like I’ve never done it before.”

Arthur Rogers got Hailstorm’s first shot on target of the game on a free kick after a Rapids 2 player fouled Jackson Dietrich running with the ball through the midfield.

Rapids 2 opened the scoring in the 26th minute with a goal from Calvin Harris, who latched onto a through ball and beat Hailstorm goalkeeper Lalo Delgado one-on-one.

Hailstorm’s best chance of the first half came right before the halftime whistle, but Rapids 2 goalkeeper Abraham Rodriguez made a fine save on Nortei Nortey from point-blank range. Rapids 2 took their 1-0 lead into the break.

Rosas leveled the score for Hailstorm FC in the 53rd minute from the penalty spot after Donald Benamna was tripped in the box by Rapids 2 defender Michael Edwards.

It took only a few minutes for Rapids 2 to re-take the lead as Hailstorm FC defender Bruno Rendon cleared a cross into his own net for an own goal to give the visitors a 2-1 advantage.

Midway through the second half, Marky Hernández had a chance to tie it again but his shot from distance went just wide of the Rapids 2 goal.

Rosas nearly scored his second of the night in the 76th minute, but his shot from close range went over the bar.

It looked like Rapids 2 would take a 3-1 lead late in the second half but Delgado came up big, saving Oliver Larraz’s penalty to keep the deficit at 2-1 through 90 minutes.

“I was just glad I could do my job and help the team,” Delgado said.

OTHER RESULTS

  • March 10 – One Knoxville SC 0-1 Columbus Crew 2 (MLS NEXT Pro)
    • Scoring Summary
      • CLB - 53'
  • March 11 – South Georgia Tormenta FC 3-0 Stetson University (NCAA)
    • Scoring Summary
      • TRM - Adjei 43'
      • TRM - Murphy Jr. (Khoury) 67'
      • TRM - Trialist (Akale) 71'
  • March 11 – North Carolina FC 2-1 Charlotte Independence
    • Scoring Summary
      • NC - McLaughlin 40'
      • NC- Popp 80'
  • March 11 – Central Valley Fuego FC vs. Loyola Marymount University (NCAA)
  • March 11 – University of Kentucky (NCAA) 3-2 Lexington SC
  • March 11 – Crown Legacy FC (MLS NEXT Pro) 1-1 Richmond Kickers
    • Scoring Summary
      • RIC - Aune 56'
      • CL - 85'

NEXT UP

  • March 15 – Central Valley Fuego FC vs. LAFC2 (MLS NEXT Pro)
  • March 15 – Crown Legacy FC (MLS NEXT Pro) vs. Greenville Triumph SC
    • Matthews, N.C.
  • March 17 - Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC vs. Colorado State University Pueblo (NCAA)
    • Windsor, Colo.
  • March 17 - Chattanooga Red Wolves SC vs. FC Cincinnati 2 (MLS NEXT Pro)
    • Chattanooga, Tenn.
  • March 18 - St Louis CITY2 (MLS NEXT Pro) vs. Union Omaha
    • Washington University Orthopedics High Performance Center; St. Louis, Mo

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