On July 24, 2020, El Paso Locomotive fell at Southwest University Park against New Mexico United. Since that night, Locomotive has strengthened, persevered, bounced back, and dominated to put in 52 solid weeks of soccer. Since July 24, 2020, Locomotive has played 15 home games to earn an undefeated record of 10-0-5, recording a full calendar year without losing in the Sun City.
“Twelve months since we lost at home. That was important for us to get that,” said Head Coach Mark Lowry.
Through 52 weeks, Locomotive has welcomed some of the top talents from around the USL Championship, taking on the likes of San Antonio FC, Rio Grande Valley FC, Indy Eleven, and more. Southwest University Park also played host to high-stake games with playoff matches against New Mexico United and FC Tulsa.
After all the adversity, late-game goals, comebacks, and commanding performances at Southwest University Park over the last year, Los Locos secured the milestone of one year unbeaten with a 1-0 win over Las Vegas Lights FC. Forward Aaron Gomez recorded his third goal of the season to put Locomotive ahead while Goalkeeper Ben Beaury made his Locomotive debut to record a clean sheet and put down his name in the club’s history books.
“That’s amazing. A lot of teams can’t say that,” exclaimed Beaury post-game when he learned of the record. “That’s absolutely amazing to see how Mark and the rest of the coaching staff handle business day in and day out. You can tell why our team is good and why we have that streak. It’s because of how hard everyone works every single day. There are no days off.”
To go one full calendar year without losing at home is no small feat. Only a hand full of USL Championship teams can claim the accomplishment. According to the USL Championship record books, eight other teams have been able to create a grandstanding fortress of their home stadium.
Of the current teams still in the Championship, Tampa Bay Rowdies (‘17- ‘18) and Orange County SC (‘13- ‘14) have gone past the year mark with 426 and 399 calendar days, respectively. A handful of teams including Indy Eleven (’18- ’20), Charleston Battery (’14- ’16), and Pittsburgh Riverhounds (’18- ’20) have each made it over two years undefeated at home at 759, 749, and 732 calendar days, respectively.
The longest record? Richmond Kickers – now of USL League One – remained undefeated at home for 791 days from June 2012 to August 2014. El Paso Locomotive is still putting its name into the record books alongside each of these teams, raising its unbeaten count with each passing day. Since that July 24 night, Locomotive has gone 366 days undefeated at home.
To build an undefeated streak of any kind is an achievement only accomplished because of grit, determination, and a team-first mentality that exemplifies Mark Lowry’s group. All which Locomotive embodies alongside the support of thousands of Locomotive loyal that attend every match at Southwest University Park.
“It’s a credit to the fans and how well they support us,” said Lowry. “It’s a credit to the players that have made this place a fortress. We haven’t made it easy. The fans have seen some good entertainment with some last-minute goals. I’ll take records every day and look to improve on it.”
These records have begun to pile up for El Paso Locomotive. The club started its history strong, reaching a Western Conference final in its first-ever year of play, before repeating the performance the very next season. To go along with its now full calendar year of being undefeated at home, Locomotive just set its own club record of 18-games undefeated.
It’s not just club records either, individual players are putting their names down in the record books, even if it’s just the internal books for El Paso. Forward Lucho Solignac found his 18-second stunner against Rio Grande Valley FC to set the club record for the fastest goal. Defender Macca King became the first Locomotive defender, and the second Locomotive player, to feature on the Team of the Week for three weeks straight.
Speaking of the USL Championship Team of the Week, in seven of the last eight weeks, El Paso Locomotive has had players named to the shortlist including, Lucho, King, Defenders Yuma and Eder Borelli, and Midfielders Dylan Mares and Diego Luna. For Week 11, Dylan Mares was selected as the Player of the Week, becoming the second Locomotive player to do so since the inaugural season when Aaron Gomez earned the accolade in Week 27 of 2019.
“I love records,” said Lowry. “People say our records don’t mean anything, but they do. Anytime you can have an unbeaten streak, one year without losing at home, it feels good and there is satisfaction in that, but it also gives you the motivation to work towards the next goal. Now, let’s go two years unbeaten at home.”
While the Boys in Blue will be celebrating the incredible milestone, this is a locker room that is never truly satisfied. The goal of the club is to be the best in the league. The locker room mentality is to keep striving for the next record-setting milestone and ultimately bring a trophy to El Paso.
“You have these little goals and objectives and it’s what you wake up for every day,” explained Lowry. “You wake up every day to try and achieve these things because they all add up at the end of the year to a championship. I think it’s important.”