Goals from MacKinnon and Castro push Greenville ahead
Greenville, SC (April 6, 2024)– Lyam MacKinnon continued his hot streak as the Greenville Triumph Soccer Club topped Northern Colorado Hailstorm in a resounding 3-1 victory. Greenville remained undefeated through four league matches this season and currently sits atop the League One table.
The game began with both teams showing determination despite extra-time matches earlier in the week. In the 18th minute, Brandon Fricke displayed defensive heroics with a crucial block to deny the Hailstorm a clear scoring opportunity. As the match progressed, both sides struggled to find their rhythm. Just before halftime, the match swung in Greenville’s favor as Northern Colorado conceded a penalty after a foul at the top of the box. Lyam MacKinnon lined up at the spot and delivered an expertly placed the ball to the top corner to give Greenville a deserved 1-0 lead heading into halftime.
The second half saw Greenville assert their dominance in the match. A full team effort in the 53rd minute led to Greenville’s second goal, as Leo Castro capitalized on a crowded penalty box, converting a cross from Chapa Herrera. Just moments later, MacKinnon secured his second brace in as many games, slotting home a precise finish assisted by Zion Scarlett in the 57th minute. Despite a sneaky goal from Northern Colorado in the 65th minute, Greenville maintained their composure. Christian Garner’s agile save in the 84th minute ensured Hailstorm’s comeback hopes were dashed, as Greenville finished out an extended stoppage time to earn a 3-1 victory.
“I think positivity and the want to win within this team is so high right now,” said defender Evan Lee. “Rick tells us all the time he knows how badly we want to win, so he doesn’t add any pressure to us and we have a really mature group. We might be young, but we have a very mature group and I think the leaders on our team have been phenomenal this year. Brandon [Fricke] has been unbelievable in the locker room, as have Leo, Sebastian and Tyler. It’s been a great start.”
Greenville heads to Charlotte on Friday, April 12, to kick off a stretch of three matches in nine days. The club will return to Paladin Stadium on Saturday, April 27, to face the Richmond Kickers in the opening match of the USL’s new in-season tournament, the Jägermeister Cup.
Rick Wright, head coach, on how they were able to gut out a two-win week following the Open Cup win on Tuesday: “We rest well and we take advantage of our Performance Partners as far as getting therapy and rehabilitation. When we come to the game, we’ve got a very defined game plan and they’re sticking to it.”
On what makes him happiest about the hot start to the season: “Well, winning is always better than losing, but at the same time I think they have adopted the fact that we do have a great process, a great culture and they believe that we’re doing the right thing. When they’ve got belief, anything is possible – someone’s going to win a championship this year why not us?”
Evan Lee, defender, on the key to the team’s hot start in his sixth season with the club: “I think positivity and the want to win within this team is so high right now. Rick tells us all the time he knows how badly we want to win, so he doesn’t add any pressure to us and we have a really mature group. We might be young, but we have a very mature group and I think the leaders on our team have been phenomenal this year. Brandon [Fricke] has been unbelievable in the locker room, as have Leo, Sebastian and Tyler. It’s been a great start.”
Lyam MacKinnon, forward on the team culture: “This team has unbelievable mentality, you can see it every day in training. We have great leadership. Guys that have been here before understand the culture and they give it to us, the younger guys, and we try to learn it and keep it up.”
