Club News

EL PASO, TX – February 26, 2020 – El Paso Locomotive won another preseason match in convincing fashion versus USL Championship side OKC Energy in Tucson. This was the second to last warmup match before the season starts on Friday, March 6th in Orange County. 

Despite the offensive outburst, Head Coach Mark Lowry was most impressed with his team’s defense and their shape. “This game showcased more of our defensive identity that our fans are accustomed to.  We were strong in the back and all over the field.  Logan Ketterer did not face a single shot on target the entire first 90 minutes and that is how we like to play”. 

Forward Marios Lomis of the Netherlands opened the game’s scoring after the first 20 minutes of buzzing pressure from Locomotive.  He got his foot on the end of a ball in the box that was not cleared and put it away to have Locomotive go up 1-0.  In the second half, Frenchman Alexy Bosetti took in a cross from Omar Salgado to finish with his head and put the El Paso crew up 2-0 and comfortably in control at the end of the 90 minute session.  The teams played an extra 30 minutes and local product Omar Salgado made it 3-0 after using his superior speed and strength to blow past the center back and fire the ball into the back of the net.  The match finished 3-0 for El Paso after 120 minutes of action in the Arizona sun.

Locomotive FC take on Phoenix Rising in their final preseason tuneup on Saturday, February 29th in Tucson in a closed door friendly.  Their next home game is the USL Championship home opener on March 14th at 7:30 p.m. vs Portland Timbers 2. 

All aboard, our first home match on March 14th is 17 days away! Season Ticket Memberships, Group Tickets, and Individual Match Tickets can be purchased at https://sportsengine-staging.go-vip.net/eplocomotivefc/ticket or by calling or texting 915-235-GOAL.

EL PASO, TX – February 22, 2020 – He is here! Ozzy, El Paso Locomotive FC’s official mascot, flew off the train and landed at Tropical Smoothie Café on Saturday. Ozzy, a Mexican free-tailed bat, will be joining the coaches and players on the field and in the community, for the 2020 season.

Ozzy stands well over 6 feet tall with purple wings and wears his hair in a purple mohawk between his yellow and purple striped ears. Always smiling, Ozzy is ready to meet all Locomotive fans!

Head Coach Mark Lowry commented on the new addition to the club, “Ozzy’s passion for the game is unlike anything I have seen before whether it be human or flying mammal!  He is a natural fit for the team and for El Paso due to his insatiable love for the game and for the community.  He is a welcome addition and one that will be a powerful unifying force for years to come.”

As a Mexican free-tailed bat, the official flying mammal of Texas, Ozzy loves flying around town. Ozzy plans to visit everywhere in the community; schools, hospitals, youth soccer games and of course, at every Locomotive home match.

Anyone interested in inviting Ozzy to their next event may do so at https://sportsengine-staging.go-vip.net/eplocomotivefc/mascotrequest 

Come see Ozzy at our first home match on Saturday, March 14th! Season Ticket Memberships, Group    Tickets, and Individual Match Tickets can be purchased at https://sportsengine-staging.go-vip.net/eplocomotivefc/ticket or by calling or texting 915-235-GOAL.

OZZY’S STORY

From the time he was a young pup nested high in the caves of the Franklin Mountains that dominate the landscape, Ozzy had two loves; the city of El Paso and soccer. His fondest memories were of the sights and sounds of the countless soccer matches that filled the warm El Paso summer nights when he and his colony swooped from their homes into the valley below.

Ozzy heard people call the game many things, football, futbol, and soccer; whatever it was called he knew it was a part of him. The lights, the drums, the cheers, the fans, the action, it all drew him in. His love of the game kept him returning night after night, and season after season. He watched on from above the fields, hanging from the lights or trees that surrounded the pitch, trying to get the best view of poetry in motion below.

As time chugged down the track, he began hearing whispers that something big was coming to his city in 2019.

Was his dream finally coming true? Was professional soccer coming home to El Paso?

Ozzy couldn’t contain his excitement. He flew as fast as his wings would allow until he reached his destination, the home of El Paso Locomotive FC, Southwest University Park! 

Thundering energy and power pulsed from the train tracks that veined beneath the stadium, the hum of the lights painted the pitch in white, and at that moment, Ozzy knew he was home. Soccer was his love, and the stadium was his heart.

Ozzy was the model fan, full of energy and devotion for his city’s team. His admiration did not go unnoticed and Ozzy was offered the chance of a lifetime; becoming El Paso Locomotive FC’s official mascot. Ozzy only has one responsibility; to share his passion everywhere he goes for his city and his team.

EL PASO, TX – February 19, 2020 – El Paso Locomotive FC crossed into Juarez to face sister club and Borderland rival, FC Juarez. The preseason friendly saw Locomotive getting a 2-0 win against the Liga MX team’s U-20 squad, joined by first team center back Jose Rodriguez and goalkeeper Marco Canales. 

The match opened with a goal in the 10th minute netted by second year Locomotive midfielder, Nick Ross. Locomotive FC saw few shots on goal in the first half leaving Logan Ketterer with little to do and no difficult saves.  Later in the half saw Alexy Bosetti barely missing a shot following a cross from Omar Salgado. In the 32nd minute, Saeed Robinson saw an opportunity to crash the box and notched his first goal for the team, bringing the score to 2-0. At the end of the half, Robinson was brought down at the top of the box resulting in a free kick taken by Richie Ryan.  Locomotive could not convert, and the half ended in positive fashion for the visitors, 2-0.  

The second half looked a lot like the first with Locomotive holding the majority of possession and even with major roster changes in the 60th minute, the game continued at the same pace.  Combination play within the midfield, led by Chapa, kept the defense connected to the offense and allowed for continued possession for Locomotive.   

Head Coach Mark Lowry’s commented on the match that ended 2-0, “It was good coming over here and playing. It was a competitive game with a lot energy, it was intense and that is what we ask for in preseason.”

All aboard, our first home match on March 14th is 24 days away! Season Ticket Memberships, Group    Tickets, and Individual Match Tickets can be purchased at https://sportsengine-staging.go-vip.net/eplocomotivefc/ticket or by calling or texting 915-235-GOAL.

EL PASO, TX – February 13, 2020 – El Paso Locomotive and KVIA/CW have renewed their successful partnership to broadcast locally all 12 of Locomotive’s Saturday home matches throughout the 2020 season in a joint announcement on February 13, 2020. The CW will also broadcast three road matches including the Locomotive at New Mexico United on Saturday, March 21st at 7:30 p.m. 

“We are excited to once again partner with the Locomotive to provide viewers with a quality broadcast of all 12 Saturdays and one Sunday home game this season,” said KVIA-TV General Manager Kevin Lovell. “If you can’t get to the games at Southwest University Park, they will be carried on the El Paso – Las Cruces CW. The CW network is available over-the-air and on all major cable and satellite outlets in the El Paso and Las Cruces TV market.”

The 12 Saturday and one Sunday Locomotive matches will air live on El Paso – Las Cruces CW channels 13 (Spectrum), 388 (Comcast), 8 (DirecTV), 17 (Dish), 19 (AT&T).  The El Paso – Las Cruces CW is available to everyone in the El Paso and Las Cruces region on 7.2 over the air.

Locomotive General Manager of Business Operations Andrew Forrest stated, “The power of having a local partner who is invested in local soccer cannot be understated. This offers all our fans in the region the opportunity to enjoy games when they are unable to make it to Southwest University Park. To be able to partner again for year two is important to our growth as a club.”

This successful joint effort saw 12 games broadcast locally in 2019’s wildly successful first season as well as the 2019 Western Conference Finals in Salt Lake City. 

The broadcast team will once again be comprised of Duke Keith and Michael Balogun. The complementary wealth of soccer knowledge and expertise they bring to the table is unparalleled.

Keith has been an esteemed member of the El Paso media scene for more than 30 years having joined the El Paso Sports Hall of Fame this past May. He has served in various roles across multiple organizations, including play-by-play for ESPN, the El Paso Patriots, El Paso Rhinos, and UTEP Athletics.

Balogun played NCAA D1 soccer for the University of Akron, one of the most highly regarded programs in the country. He spent time with the United States Youth National Team and had stints with various professional clubs. He currently coaches the UTEP Women’s Soccer Team and runs the Olympic Development Program sessions for U.S. Soccer in El Paso.

2020 TELEVISED MATCHES

March 14 vs Portland Timbers 2- 7:30 p.m.

March 21 at New Mexico United – 7:30 p.m.

April 4 vs LA Galaxy II- 7:30 p.m.

May 23 vs Real Monarchs- 7:30 p.m.

June 13 vs San Antonio FC- 7:30 p.m.

June 27 vs Tacoma Defiance- 7:30 p.m.

July 18 vs Las Vegas Lights FC- 7:30 p.m.

July 25 vs Sacramento Republic- 7:30 p.m.

August 8 vs Phoenix Rising- 7:30 p.m.

August 22 vs Orange County SC- 7:30 p.m.

September 5 vs FC Tulsa- 7:30 p.m.

September 12 vs New Mexico United- 7:30 p.m.

October 17 vs Austin Bold- 7:30 p.m.

Our first home match is 30 days away on March 14th! Fans interested in attending our 17 home matches can purchase tickets at https://sportsengine-staging.go-vip.net/eplocomotivefc/tickets or at our box offices at Southwest University Park. Purchase your tickets in advance for savings on day of game prices.

Season Ticket Memberships and Group Tickets are still available and can be purchased at https://sportsengine-staging.go-vip.net/eplocomotivefc/ticket or by calling or texting 915-235-GOAL.

EL PASO, TX – February 11, 2020 – El Paso Locomotive’s Louis “Chapa” Herrera returns from a trial with MLS side Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC), who finished in first place in the Western Conference in 2019. The 23-year-old midfielder appeared for El Paso in 28 matches and netted one goal in his first professional season.

“I am very proud that Chapa had the opportunity to spend a week with LAFC, who on last season’s form were the best team in MLS. It’s a credit to the work and application that Chapa displayed last season, his growth in his first year as a pro was tremendous. For that to be recognized is fully deserved and a is testament to Chapa and the culture we have created here in El Paso,” said head coach Mark Lowry.

The homegrown talent returned to the Locomotive squad ahead of their preseason match against USL Western Conference club and Copa Tejas rival, San Antonio FC. Chapa has two goals in two preseason friendlies in 2020.

All aboard, our first home match on March 14th is 32 days away! Season Ticket Memberships, Group Tickets, and Individual Match Tickets can be purchased at https://sportsengine-staging.go-vip.net/eplocomotivefc/ticket or by calling or texting 915-235-GOAL

Tucson, AZ – February 5, 2020 – El Paso Locomotive FC traveled to Tucson, AZ to face FC Cincinnati, in the club’s first match against an MLS squad.

The preseason friendly remained 0-0 at the half with possession evenly split amongst the clubs. Defender Drew Beckie netted a goal in the 62nd minute but the goal was retracted when it was called offside. FC Cincinnati scored in the 81st minute to bring the score to 0-1.

The match ended 0-1 but Locomotive FC held their own against the MLS side with the full roster getting minutes. New signing Marios Lomis made his Locomotive debut and joined Distel Zola, Fabrice Fokobo and Saeed Robinson as the new signees for the 2020 season.

“I thought the guys were phenomenal in the work they did defensively. Everything they worked on in the last two weeks they implemented today and in the second half, we actually started to control the game and create chances and dominated the ball a bit more. In really what was our first true test, true preseason game against good opposition, I thought the guys looked after themselves and did very well,” said head coach Mark Lowry.

Locomotive FC returns to El Paso to face USL rival San Antonio FC in their next preseason match on Friday, February 7th. The regular season kicks off at home on Saturday, March 14th at 7:30 pm against Portland Timbers 2 at Southwest University Park.

All aboard, year two is almost here! Season Ticket Memberships, Group Tickets, and Individual Match Tickets can be purchased at https://sportsengine-staging.go-vip.net/eplocomotivefc/ticket or by calling 915-235-GOAL.