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Northern Colorado’s youthful exuberance or Forward Madison’s experience – which wins out?

By NICHOLAS MURRAY - nicholas.murray@uslsoccer.com, 09/26/24, 6:10PM EDT

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The Hailstorm have been guided to the USL Jägermeister Cup Final by breakout stars, while Madison is hoping its experience can win the day

In terms of roster construction, there might not be two teams more different than Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC and Forward Madison FC.

For the Hailstorm, an eye for emerging talent has become a hallmark for Head Coach Eamon Zayed and his staff, giving players who might not otherwise have found a spot in the professional ranks their break.

For the Flamingos, a foundation of experienced heads has been central to Head Coach Matt Glaeser’s turnaround of side that was the toast of the league off the field but went three seasons without a playoff appearance on it before his arrival.

So, what – and who – might make the difference when these teams square off in the 2024 USL Jagermeister Cup Final this Saturday night at 4Rivers Construction Stadium (9 p.m. ET | ESPN+)?

Let’s break it down.

The Teams by the Numbers


Currently in his ninth professional season, Forward Madison FC's Christian Chaney was one of a trio of 30-year-olds who started the club's Jägermeister Cup Semifinal. | Photo courtesy Justin Nuoffer / Forward Madison

The simplest way to look at the two sides is through their lineups for the Semifinals two weeks ago. The Hailstorm’s lineup – while slightly above its overall average squad age – sat at an average of 25.4 years old and had only two players aged 28 years old or over. The Flamingos? Their average age at kickoff was 27.7 years old, and seven players were at least 28 years old.

How about this, too? Over the full Jägermeister Cup tournament, seven players have seen action for the Hailstorm who are younger than the youngest ‘Mingo to feature – Wolfgang Prentice, who will be 24 years, 156 days old when the Final arrives on Saturday. That group of seven includes three breakout stars we’ll get to in a minute for Northern Colorado.

The Flamingos’ experience, meanwhile, is reflected in the number of seasons its players have racked up in their careers. Led by goalkeeper Bernd Schipmann – currently in his 12th campaign – the Flamingos prospective lineup averages 6.9 seasons of experience, with Prentice currently in his fourth campaign as a pro at the bottom of the scale.

By comparison, there are four Hailstorm players with three or fewer seasons of professional experience, while the side averages 5.7 seasons of experience overall – a number skewed by veterans Billy King and Enock Kwakwa, each in their 13th campaigns.

Breakout Stars vs. Established Veterans


23-year-old Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC forward Ethan Hoard has scored six goals and four assists to lead his side to the Jägermeister Cup Final. | Photo courtesy Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC

Go deeper into the individual numbers, and the split between the contributors that have powered their teams to the final becomes clearer. Here are three players that have grabbed the spotlight for each side who also serve as avatars for the club’s broader philosophy.

NCO – Bruno Rendón (24 / 3rd season): While nominally a full back, Rendon leads the tournament with eight goals, averaging a finish every 72.8 minutes. The Cuban has been superb in front of goal, with a shooting accuracy rate of 77.8 percent, shot conversion rate of 36.4 percent, and tournament-high Goals Added mark in the group stage of +5.09 per American Soccer Analysis.

NCO – Ethan Hoard (23 / 1st season): The youngest player to feature in the Semifinals, Hoard has recorded six goals and four assists in a brilliant 1-2 punch with Rendon. He’s also regularly set up premium opportunities for his teammates – his five Big Chances Created lead the tournament, and account for half his 10 chances created.

NCO – Haruki Yamazaki (23 / 1st season): The Japanese defender has been exceptional on the back line when it comes to winning possession. He leads outfield players with 52 recoveries – 12 more than his closest rival – and ranks second in interceptions with 14. He’s been creative as well with 10 chances created.

MAD:  Timmy Mehl (29 / 6th season): After bouncing between the Championship and League One, Mehl has become a key component to the Flamingos back line. During the Jägermeister Cup, he’s led the tournament with 19 interceptions, notched 16 clearances, and helped set the side’s passing tempo with 367 passes completed at an 87.6 success rate.

MAD: Christian Chaney (30 / 9th season): Chaney showed flashes of what he could do early in his career, including stops in the USL Championship at Sacramento Republic FC and Fresno FC in his native Northern California, but he’s found a home with the Flamingos. With three goals in the Jägermeister Cup and 21 across all competitions in two seasons with Madison, it’s all come together for the veteran.

MAD: Devin Boyce (28 / 5th season): Boyce knows what it means to win silverware in League One after being part of Union Omaha’s 2021 title-winning side, and he’s been a creative presence in this year’s Jägermeister Cup. His 21 chances created lead all players in the tournament while he ranks second to the Hailstorm’s Hoard with four Big Chances Created.


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