The Chattanooga Red Wolves opened the 2024 home account against Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC on Saturday night in front of a sellout crowd at CHI Memorial Stadium. Chattanooga maintained their unbeaten home opener streak in a yellow-card-riddled 1-1 draw with Ropapa Mensah’s fourth of the year. The Red Wolves will travel to Windsor for the second of two matchups on September 21st.
Chevone Marsh opened the offensive drive for the home side with a hard shot in the 10th minute that was stopped by a diving save from the Northern Colorado keeper.
The visitors had two close chances before the 15th minute that were blocked by Chattanooga keeper TJ Bush or went wide of the net. Ricky Ruiz had another opportunity in the 17th minute off a free kick but the shot was absorbed.
The Red Wolves defense worked to stave off the Northern Colorado offensive press. Bush made a diving save in the 33rd minute to keep the match scoreless and Pedro Hernandez, playing defense, helped to limit the visitors’ opportunities. Chattanooga worked to create more offensive chances of their own and looked to break into the final third of the field.
Chattanooga ultimately broke through just before halftime with a goal from Ropapa Mensah off a feed from Mayele Malango, who took advantage of the keeper out of position, allowing the Red Wolves to take a 1-0 lead into halftime.
“We should have been better the entire game at coming alive when we go forward and breaking lines and being electric and we weren’t, but that was one moment where a bit of identity came out, scored a good goal,” said head coach Scott Mackenzie of the sole tally for the Red Wolves.
Northern Colorado came into the second half with an aggressive attack, forcing the Chattanooga defense to buckle down. Bush continued to make big saves on various free and corner kicks as the Hailstorm aimed to even the score as Chattanooga remained on the defensive.
As the contest headed into eight minutes of second half stoppage time, the attacking visitors found the back of the net in the 90+7th minute with a ball that barely eked across the goal line for the tying tally to avoid the shutout defeat.
“We fought until the end. We were very, very tough. I think we played really well, we were very organized…we should have won the game. It is what it is,” said Malango of his assist and the match.
“I think there’s definitely moments that we can learn from in this game,” said Bush. “Not everything was clean, not everything’s going to perfect in the first couple of games in league play, but I think we’re starting to figure each other out a bit more as we get more games under our belt and those relationships are building…that’s the positive for me is that guys are really starting to get that synergy, which is super important.”
The Chattanooga Red Wolves will take on One Knoxville SC at home on Saturday, April 27th for the first match of the new USL Jägermeister Cup. Fans can enjoy $1.00 off of all beer until kickoff for the first Pregame Happy Hour of the season. Tickets are on sale now.