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Gameday Rundown | El Paso Locomotive vs Rio Grande Valley FC

El Paso Locomotive FC revitalizes the supporter-run Copa Tejas tournament against its South Texas rival, Rio Grande Valley FC. Here is everything to know ahead of Locos versus Toros on Saturday:

MATCH DETAILS: USL Championship Regular Season Game #2; vs. Rio Grande Valley FC

VENUE/WEATHER: Southwest University Park; El Paso, Texas; 91 degrees and partly cloudy.

TICKETS: Click here!

WATCH: El Paso – Las Cruces CW | ESPN+

RECORDS/STANDINGS: Locomotive: 0-0-1 (1 points, MTN-5); RGVFC: 3-0-0 (9 points, MTN-1)

PREVIOUS MEETING: Kicking off the return to play in 2020 after the temporary hiatus, Locomotive and RGVFC met at Southwest University Park. A quiet and slow first match turned into the Locomotive show in the second half, with El Paso throwing shots towards goal that paid off late in the 83rd minute through Dylan Mares’ goal that slid into the bottom left corner off his second touch.

HOME UNDEFEATED STREAK

Forward Leandro Carrijo’s stoppage-time goal against New Mexico United in the home opener kept alive the Locomotive home undefeated streak. Having not lost a game at Southwest University Park since July 24, Locomotive now stands with a home record of 8-0-2 including playoffs. With another game set to be played in El Paso, Los Locos will have another opportunity to extend the undefeated streak.

REVIVAL OF COPA TEJAS

In 2019, the Copa Tejas supporter tournament was born – a round-robin competition between the four USL Championship Texas teams played throughout the season. Austin Bold FC lay claim to the title in its inaugural year and held on to the title through 2020 after the group divisions in return to play saw Locomotive separated from its Texas rivals. The USL Championship Copa Tejas returns in 2021 with Locomotive playing its first match in the tournament against Rio Grande Valley FC on Saturday.

TAMING THE BULLS

Rio Grande Valley FC has started off the season with their strongest opening since their inaugural 2016 year. After three games, the Toros have claimed all nine points with arguably upset victories over New Mexico United (1-0), San Diego Loyal (1-0), and San Antonio FC (2-1). RGVFC has been tearing through its competition as a dark horse, making them a team to beat in the early stages of 2021.

REPLACING KETTERER

In a quick turn of events, Locomotive goalkeeper Logan Ketterer left El Paso on an Extreme Hardship loan to Major League Soccer side, Portland Timbers. While the El Paso shot-stopper makes waves in the Pacific Northwest, it leaves a question mark of who will start in goal for El Paso going into Saturday’s contest against Rio Grande Valley FC. 19-Year-Old Marco Canales made an appearance on the lineup in the home opener against New Mexico United, could this be the opportunity for the loanee from FC Juarez to make a professional debut? GK Javier Beker is also no stranger to the Locomotive style of play, having been with the team since 2019 on the training fields. Another option is for Head Coach Mark Lowry to shop around for a more experienced goalkeeper to bring into the fold for the time being. Only time will tell who will anchor the defensive third for Locomotive on Saturday.

LEVEL RECORD

El Paso Locomotive and Rio Grande Valley FC have met three times since 2019, playing to an even 1-1-1 (4 points) record. The 2019 season saw Locomotive split points on a 2-2 draw at home against the Toros, before falling 1-0 on the road later the season. Los Locos leveled out the series behind a 1-0 win courtesy of a late-game goal midfielder Dylan Mares in the first game back in Return to Play in 2020. When the two sides meet this Saturday, it will be to take control of the All-Time Series between the two sides, pitting a nine home game undefeated streak against a three-game winning streak.

El Paso Locomotive Hosts Copa Tejas Rival Rio Grande Valley FC

El Paso Locomotive FC is set to play its second match of the 2021 USL Championship regular season against its Texas rival, Rio Grande Valley FC, in a revival of the Copa Tejas. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. MT on Saturday, May 22 at Southwest University Park. Tickets at a limited capacity are available online at https://sportsengine-staging.go-vip.net/eplocomotivefc/tickets or by calling 915-235-GOAL.

Two weeks ago, Los Locos kicked off its season against New Mexico United with a thrilling contest. After going down a goal in the 57th minute, courtesy of United’s Devon Sandoval, Locomotive rallied behind late-game substitutions to earn the point at home. Forward Leandro Carrijo equalized the scoring in the final minute of stoppage time to earn the point at Southwest University Park after Midfielder Diego Luna set Forward Aaron Gomez up for the header with a beautiful cross in his professional debut.

The 1-1 draw against New Mexico United continues the undefeated streak Locomotive has built since July 24. Extending the record to 8-0-1, including the playoff wins against FC Tulsa and New Mexico, Locomotive now tests its home record against a Rio Grande Valley side that has so far been a strong contender in 2021. The Eastern Texas side has opened the 2021 USL Championship season undefeated, claiming 1-0 victories over New Mexico and San Diego Loyal before taking a 2-1 win over San Antonio FC last weekend. In the 2020 season, Locomotive and RGV only met once, kicking off the return to play with a Locomotive 1-0 win on July 11.

Follow El Paso Locomotive FC vs Rio Grande Valley FC – Sat., May 22, 2021

·         Coverage Begins: 7:30 p.m. MT; Gates Open at 6:30 p.m. MT
·         Local TV: EL Paso – Las Cruces CW
·         Digital Streaming: ESPN+
·         Social Media: @EPLocomotiveFC & #ELPvRGV on Twitter
·         Additional Content: Official El Paso Locomotive FC App (iOS / Android)

Southwest University Park Updates Mask Policy

EL PASO – May 19, 2021 – Southwest University Park announced today that effective immediately facial coverings will no longer be required at all events for ticketed guests who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

Facial coverings are still recommended for guests who are not vaccinated.

Southwest University Park will continue to implement health and safety protocols for all games and matches including hand sanitizer stations and thorough cleaning and sanitization of the facility before, during, and after events.

El Paso Locomotive FC takes on Rio Grande Valley on May 22 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are available now at https://sportsengine-staging.go-vip.net/eplocomotivefc.

The Chihuahuas face Oklahoma City, the Los Angeles Dodgers affiliate, in a six-game series beginning May 27. Single-game tickets are on sale now at epchihuahuas.com.

As a reminder, Southwest University Park is a cashless venue and a clear bag/no bag facility.

Dominic Casciato Aims to Add Attacking Threat to Locomotive

On El Paso Locomotive’s bench on Saturday, there were a lot of new faces. Midfielders Diego Luna and Jose Aguinaga as well as Forward Aidan Apodaca each started on the sidelines for Locomotive, while Forward Luis Solignac made his appearance in the Starting XI. Joining the new Locomotive players, however, is also a new face on the technical staff: Assistant Coach Dominic Casciato.

In the transition from the 2020 season to the 2021 season, Head Coach and Technical Director Mark Lowry has emphasized the need to be clinical in front of the goal. Over the first two years, Locomotive has improved its ability to create chances and take shots, but the conversion rate has been less than ideal for the Sun City team. Enter, Casciato.

As a new Assistant Coach, Casciato’s focus will be on the Attacking Principles for El Paso Locomotive FC. His main job as part of the Technical Staff is to build on the already well-established Locomotive attacking front, conducting drills on the training pitch to help Locomotive have bite in the final third.

“Coming here I want to add some value and hopefully help find the net a little bit more,” said Casciato, after training on Tuesday. “The work that Mark Lowry, [Assistant Coach] Matt Williams, and [Goalkeeper Coach] JC Garzon are doing already has been fantastic. There is a reason why the team has made it to two Western Conference Finals in a row. Now, if we could get a little bit sharper in the final third, we could go all the way.”

Joining Locomotive early in the offseason, Casciato has had time to learn the strengths and the weaknesses of Locomotive while working with Mark Lowry and Assistant Coach Matt Williams to learn the style of play and culture of El Paso. His insights have so far proven valuable in the preseason, helping lead to Locomotive running away with a 5-0 win over FC Tucson, while claiming telling victories over New Mexico United and Colorado Springs Switchbacks, 2-1 and 3-1, respectively.

His work in how to make this happen has been to focus training drills on recreating game-like situations as much as possible, as many times as possible.

“We’re making sure the forwards are getting plenty of repetitions similar to the situations there are going to be put in into the game,” explained the London, England native. “Getting quick shots off, reacting quickly to rebounds, and getting onto the end of crosses.”

The first test came last Saturday, showing the work rate behind a Leandro Carrijo goal that equalized the scoring late. While Locomotive chances weren’t plenty, of the 10 shots the team did take, four were on frame and forced United goalkeeper Alex Tambakis into big-time saves to protect the scoring.

“Firstly, the stadium itself is a beautiful stadium. Sometimes you can go into these new stadiums and it can feel a little bit soulless,” said Casciato following Saturday’s 1-1 Home Opener against New Mexico United. “But ours feels like there is some history and tradition there. The fans were great, you can hear them from the bench. They were really loud the whole game and obviously, we gave them a nice ending to the game.”

It’s only the beginning of the season for Locomotive, and there is still plenty of work to do for Dominic Casciato, along with the rest of the technical staff, but the former New York Cosmos assistant coach is excited to be a part of the Borderland.

“I love El Paso,” started Casciato. “the city itself is a unique place to live, being so close to Mexico. My wife is Hispanic, so I love Hispanic culture and language. I’m also a big fan of the tacos as well, so really enjoying that side of it. In terms of the club, you really couldn’t ask for anything more. We have a fantastic staff here and a real good mix in the locker room between experienced guys and younger guys. We’ve got all the ingredients to do really well this season.”

El Paso Locomotive Completes Loan of Goalkeeper Logan Ketterer to MLS Side Portland Timbers FC

EL PASO, Texas – May 13, 2021 – El Paso Locomotive FC has loaned Goalkeeper Logan Ketterer on a short-term deal to Major League Soccer side, Portland Timbers FC, effective immediately pending league and fenderation approval, the club announced today.

“This is a great opportunity for Logan,” stated Head Coach and Technical Director Mark Lowry. “It’s something we felt we had to provide for him, particularly as we don’t play this weekend. It’s a short-term situation, one that can help Logan grow as a keeper so he can get back with us and continue to anchor one of the best back lines in the USL.”

Ketterer, 27, has experience with Major League Soccer, being selected 71st overall in the 2017 MLS SuperDraft by Columbus SC. Training alongside Goalkeeper Zack Stefan, Ketterer made one appearance for Columbus SC in the 2018 U.S. Open Cup, taking the side to penalties after a 2-2 draw with Chicago Fire.

Ketterer came to El Paso ahead of the inaugural 2019 season, where he has been a mainstay in goal for Coach Lowry’s side. Making 55 club appearances across all competitions, Ketterer is the lone player to have accumulated 5,000 minutes for Locomotive, leading the team to two back-to-back USL Championship conference finals.

Loco Express | ELP v NM

The Loco Express
El Paso Locomotive FC (1) vs New Mexico United (1)
Saturday, May 8; Southwest University Park, El Paso, Texas

Locomotive pulled out a thrilling equalizing goal in second-half stoppage time to salvage a point at Southwest University Park, courtesy of late-game substitutions made by Head Coach Mark Lowry. Leandro Carrijo (78’ sub) took one touch to slot home a goal that was provided to him thanks to some incredible passing from Diego Luna (Also a 78’ sub) and Aaron Gomez. Luna’s appearance also marked his professional debut while joining the likes of Aidan Apodaca and Luis Solignac as the latest members to put on the Locomotive jersey in a regular-season game.

In a match that saw Locomotive play well through the whole match, singling out just one ‘Estrella of the Match’ was a difficult choice. Ultimately, the nod goes to the goal-scorer himself, Leandro Carrijo, however, it would be more than fair to point out the impact Aaron Gomez and Diego Luna had on the game. While Carrijo slotted home the game-tying goal that salvaged a point at Southwest University Park, Gomez put in work through the full 90 minutes, testing United ‘keeper Alex Tambakis’ ability to make big-time saves. Gomez also was the one with the headed effort that passed the ball into the path of Carrijo for the goal.

You would be remiss to not give a nod towards Luna and the impact he made as a late game substitution for Coach Lowry. Within minutes, Luna took a shot towards goal that seemed destined for the bottom corner. While he didn’t find the goal then, it was his creative dribbling to outplay two United defenders and the cross to the far post to Gomez that opened up Carrijo for his goal.

50.3%. Typically, Locomotive dominates the field in possession, with quick passing and a build-from-the-back play style. The telltale stat of Locomotive’s 50.3% possession through out the home opener, reveals how close and tight of a game it was between the two Southwest rivals on Saturday night. Both teams struggled to keep possession of the ball, which led to proper chances on goal being few and far in between. Despite the lack of usual possession though, Locomotive made the most of it with 10 shots on goal throughout the night, four of which were on target compared to United’s two.

With results elsewhere in the Mountain Division, Locomotive retains its spot in 4th, just above the playoff line. It’s only the first game of a 32-game season, however, so there is still plenty of opportunities to move up, especially as the Locomotive squad gets into the rhythm of the regular season. The last-second draw by Locomotive also means the El Paso team remains undefeated at home since July 24.

Locomotive gets a weekend break after its first game, playing next at home at Southwest University Park against its Copa Tejas rival, Rio Grande Valley FC. The match is set for Saturday, May 22, with a kickoff time of 7:30 p.m. MT. Tickets are available at https://sportsengine-staging.go-vip.net/eplocomotivefc/tickets or by calling 915-235-GOAL.

Locomotive Steals Point at the Death in Home Opener

El Paso Locomotive FC hosted New Mexico United at Southwest University Park on Saturday night, stealing a point at the death of the match through a second-half stoppage goal by Forward Leandro Carrijo. Forwards Luis ‘Lucho’ Solignac and Aidan Apodaca as well as Midfielder Diego Luna made their debuts for Locomotive.

“We haven’t played a game in the first weeks,” stated Head Coach Mark Lowry. “New Mexico has been playing with a Phoenix friendly and an RGV regular-season game. We’ve been sitting at home waiting around, so I thought the guys did a great job. The resilience and the toughness of the group was fantastic. They only had one chance to score, and they scored it. We had three or four chances, better opportunities in the final third, that on another day we probably score, and they go in and the game looks different.”

What started off as a tense back and forth for both sides in the first half, quickly turned into the usual heated rivalry by the second half. Both sides opened the match testing each other’s defense as Forward Aaron Gomez rifled a shot down the middle to force United goalkeeper Alex Tambakis into a big save. Meanwhile, Amando Moreno tried to sneak past Goalkeeper Logan Ketterer but came up short as Ketterer protected the net.

The stalemate came to a quick end through New Mexico United’s Devon Sandoval who cleaned an open goal in the 57th minute. Locomotive kicked their game into high gear, making strong work of their chances with attempts that would sail just wide. Coach Lowry breathed new life into the match with late-game substitutions that ultimately led to the youngest Locomotive debut, Luna, to cross the ball to Gomez, who headed it back into the path of Carrijo in the final minute for the equalizing goal.

UP NEXT: El Paso Locomotive takes a bye week for its second week in USL Championship, returning to action on Saturday, May 22 at Southwest University Park against Rio Grande Valley FC. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. MT with tickets available online at https://sportsengine-staging.go-vip.net/eplocomotivefc/tickets or by calling 915-235-GOAL.

GOAL SCORING RUNDOWN

NM: Devon Sandoval (Harry Swartz), 57th minute: Off a quick counter, Harry Swartz brought the ball in down the left-wing, where Logan Ketterer rushed out to meet him just on the other side of the six-yard-line. Swartz used the opportunity to send the pass into the path of Sandoval, who cleaned up the open goal to put United in a second-half lead.

ELP: Leandro Carrijo (Aaron Gomez, Diego Luna), 95th minute: With his quick feet, Diego Luna out dribbled the United defenders to open himself up for a cross to the far post, finding the head of Aaron Gomez, who redirected to the center of the box into the path of Carrijo. Carrijo took the shot on the first touch, tucking the equalizing goal into the bottom corner.

NOTES:

– Locomotive kicked off its third season in USL Championship, hosting its Southwest rival, New Mexico United, playing to a draw with a goal apiece to open the season.

– New faces debuted for El Paso Locomotive FC with FW Luis Solignac making an appearance in the Starting XI playing for 78 minutes while Diego Luna and Aidan Apodaca made their debuts as subs in the 78th and 63rd minute respectively.

– Diego Luna made his professional debut as the youngest player to play in Locomotive’s history, making an immediate impact with a near goal shortly after subbing in.

Match: El Paso Locomotive FC vs New Mexico United
Date: May 8, 2021
Venue: Southwest University Park; El Paso, Texas
Weather: 83F; Clear Skies

Scoring Summary 1 2 F

El Paso Locomotive FC 0 1 1

New Mexico United 0 1 1

NM: Devon Sandoval (Harry Swartz), 57’
ELP: Leandro Carrijo (Aaron Gomez, Diego Luna), 90’+5

Lineups:

El Paso Locomotive FC (4-4-2): Logan Ketterer; Eder Borelli, Yuma, Mechack Jerome, Macauley King (Aidan Apodaca, 63’), Richie Ryan (Diego Luna, 78’), Nick Ross, Bryam Rebellon, Dylan Mares, Luis Solignac (Leandro Carrijo, 78’), Aaron Gomez

Subs not used: Marco Canales, Chapa Herrera, Jose Aguinaga, Matt Bahner

New Mexico United (4-4-2): Alex Tambakis; Kalen Ryden, Sam Hamilton, Daniel Bruce (Josh Suggs, 65’), Juan Guzmán (Michael Azira, 73’), Harry Swartz, Austin Yearwood, Sergio Rivas, Devon Sandoval, Isidro Martinez (Andrew Tinari, 65’), Amando Moreno (Ilija Ilic, 84’)

Subs not used: Rashid Tetteh, Philipp Beigl, Justin Schmidt

Stats Summary: ELP|NM

MISCONDUCT SUMMARY:

ELP – Yuma (Caution), 7’
ELP – Bryam Rebellon (Caution), 26’
NM – Juan Guzmán (Caution), 66’
ELP – Dylan Mares (Caution), 75’
NM – Devon Sandoval (Caution), 87’
NM – Josh Suggs (Caution), 90’+2

Gameday Rundown | El Paso Locomotive vs New Mexico United

El Paso Locomotive FC kicks off its third USL Championship campaign against its heated regional rival New Mexico United on Saturday. Here is everything you need to know going into the weekend matchup:

MATCH DETAILS: USL Championship Regular Season Game #1; vs. New Mexico United

VENUE/WEATHER: Southwest University Park; El Paso, Texas; 83 degrees with clear skies

TICKETS: Click here!

WATCH: El Paso – Las Cruces CW | ESPN+

RECORDS/STANDINGS: Locomotive: 0-0-0 (0 points, MTN-4); United: 0-1-0 (0 points, MTN-6)

PREVIOUS MEETING: El Paso Locomotive and New Mexico United last met in the 2020 Western Conference final at Southwest University Park last October. A first-half goal from Dylan Mares was equalized by a stoppage-time goal by Romeo Parkes to end the 90 minutes level. Staying level through added extra time, Locomotive took the win after a penalty shootout, courtesy in part by a massive save from Logan Ketterer.

SOUTHWEST UNIVERSITY PARK HOME FORTRESS

The Locos have built a fortress at Southwest University Park with a record of 18-6-7 across all competitions. El Paso Locomotive lost only once at home in the 2020 season, remaining undefeated at Southwest University Park since July 24 when the team fell 2-1 to New Mexico United.

WESTERN CONFERENCE SEMIFINAL REMATCH

Locomotive FC and New Mexico United left it all on the pitch in the 2020 Western Conference semifinal that went to a full 120 minutes before Locomotive advanced on a penalty shootout. In the revival of the Southwest Derby, the two foes will have another opportunity to establish dominance in the Rio Grande region in a rematch of the Semifinal.

NEW LOCOMOTIVE FACES

El Paso signed many new faces to the squad, mainly bolstering its attacking front. Luis Solignac and Aidan Apodaca highlight the new signings in attack. Solignac led San Antonio FC goal scoring in 2020 while Apodaca has a goal per minute ratio of 60 over two seasons with Reno 1868 FC. Jose Aguinaga and Diego Luna bolster the midfield offensive, helping link the defense with the offense. Meanwhile, defender Niall Logue stands as the only new face on the backline, creating depth in an already solid defense.

UNITED NOTABLE DEPARTURES

New Mexico United lost key players from their 2020 USL Championship season, including goalkeeper Cody Mizell who signed with MLS side NYCFC. Also missing is Forward Chris Wehan, who has proven to be a dangerous threat to Locomotive in the first two seasons. Wehan signed with Orange County SC in the offseason.

ROAD WARRIORS LOSE ON THE ROAD

New Mexico United started its 2021 USL Championship season last week against Rio Grande Valley FC, in a contest that saw the Texas team get the better of the Road Warriors on a 1-0 scoreline.

Yuma and Richie Ryan Selected as Club Captains for 2021

For the 2021 Regular Season, Head Coach Mark Lowry will be fielding not just one mainstay captain on the field but will instead have two players lead the charge through the third USL Championship campaign. Yuma and Richie Ryan stand as the two primary pillars of leadership for Locomotive.

The Spanish defender is no stranger to branding the captain’s armband for the Locos Blue. Through the first two seasons, Yuma has captained Locomotive through 14 games, the majority of which came after Chiro N’toko’s unfortunate season-ending injury in early September last season. With a storied career that has led the 35-year-old footballer through some of the most prolific clubs in Spain as well as Puerto Rico and now with Locomotive, Yuma has a veteran look on the game, rivaled by few on the team.

Looking to slide back from the holding midfield into the center back position, Yuma has one of the few unique positions on the pitch to view everything at play, providing a vantage point to be a commanding presence for Locomotive. So far with Yuma donning the armband for Locomotive, the El Paso team has gone 6-4-4.

Alongside Yuma, acting a co-captain for the squad, is Irish defensive midfielder, Richie Ryan. Like Yuma, over the course of the first seasons, Ryan has branded the captain’s armband six times. An experienced veteran in the world’s game, Ryan has experience in the English Football Association, League of Ireland Premier Division, as well as Extensive USL and NASL experience in the United States. An accoladed midfielder, Ryan helped lead Silgo Rovers to back-to-back FAI Cups (2010, 2011) as well as the 2010 League of Ireland Cup. 2013 saw Ryan obtain the League of Ireland Cup again with the Shamrock Rovers before jumping to the United States where he took home the NASL Fall Championship with Ottawa Fury.

A leader on and off the pitch, Richie Ryan’s passion and experience in the game makes him an obvious choice to help lead the team in the third Locomotive season.

“It’s a role that I’ve been fortunate enough to have in the last few years of my career,” shared Ryan. “Wearing the armband is just something that the captain has to do, but I believe you don’t need an armband on to be a leader. We have a squad full of leaders – Me, Yuma, Nick Ross, Andrew Fox, Logan Ketterer, I could name the whole squad really. Yuma and I can bring experience from the career that we have, but we have plenty of leaders both on and off the pitch.”

Preseason Wrap Up and 2021 Preview

After a long six months since the 2020 USL Championship season came to a close, Locomotive soccer is just around the corner – a short seven days away. Before the club takes to the pitch at Southwest University Park against its most heated rival, New Mexico United, on May 8, it’s a good opportunity to look at what lies ahead for the Locos Blue, while looking back at offseason moves and preseason games to get an idea of how El Paso will look going into 2021.

Head Coach Mark Lowry has brought in a plethora of new players since the end of the 2020 season while retaining a vast majority of the core Locomotive players that reached a second consecutive Western Conference final appearance. Building on the Team First mentality he began to put into place last season, Coach Lowry has put together a roster that seems poised to make a third deep run through the playoffs with another shot at bringing a trophy to El Paso.

There are a lot of familiar faces on the Locomotive roster, with 14 players returning from the 2020 season, nine of which also played in the inaugural 2019 year.

Goalkeeper Logan Ketterer returns as the man between the pipes after topping the league in clean sheets with eight in 2020. Ahead of him is a regular cast of players including Yuma, Mechack Jerome, Yuma, Richie Ryan, Nick Ross, Bryam Rebellon, and Aaron Gomez, all of whom join Ketterer as third year veterans for Locomotive, eager to reach a third consecutive Western Conference final.

Macca King, Matt Bahner, Eder Borelli, Leandro Carrijo, and Dylan Mares round out the list of familiar faces returning for the third Locomotive season. Each on their second season, the crew continues to bring their own elements to the squad that made the Club one of the most defensively secured and creative in the offensive throughout the league in 2020.

Coach Lowry brought in five new players to round out Locomotive in 2021, focusing mainly on adding threat to its attack. Former Phoenix Rising midfielder Jose Aguinaga and 17-year-old Barca Academy standout Diego Luna add creativity to the midfield while Luis Solignac and Aidan Apodaca provide clinical finishing to the Locomotive attempts on goal. Niall Logue adds depth to the backline, bringing with him accuracy in passing to aid Lowry’s play from the back style.

The new signings have had a long opportunity to fit into the team’s unique style of play. With eight games under its belt in the preseason, El Paso Locomotive may be closer to a mid-season form than any of its Mountain Division rivals.

Locomotive kicked off the preseason in the same fashion as it will in its 2021 season, against New Mexico United. The match launched Locomotive into high gear with a 2-1 win with goals coming from Aaron Gomez and Leandro Carrijo. Since then, the team has seen mixed results with a pair of losses to Borderland sister club FC Juarez, a loss to LA Galaxy, emphatic victories over FC Tucson and Switchbacks FC before finally closing preseason with a 5-3 aggregate win over North Texas SC.

Over preseason, Mark Lowry and his staff have been able to get a good insight into what the team can do heading into the preseason.

The defensive backline remained very much untouched with King, Yuma, Mechack, and Borelli making up the backline for most the preseason games. Matt Bahner saw rotation into the backline with a Youth Soccer player Harrison Shaw making appearances as well.

The midfield diamond saw a lot of rotation over the eight games, seeing Bryam Rebellon, Nick Ross, Richie Ryan, and Dylan Mares looking to be the mainstays. New signings have breathed some life into the midfield with Jose Aguinaga playing on the wing or in the attacking two with Diego Luna providing depth for Dylan Mares, shining at the top of the diamond with creative dribbling and passing. Academy players have also made appearances in the midfield with Joel Maldonado, Edwin Villareal, and Jimmy Villagomez earning minutes in each of the eight games.

The attacking front will see the biggest change from last season, with strong competition between Luis Solignac, Aaron Gomez, Aidan Apodaca, and Leandro Carrijo vying for spots in the dual-striker partnership at the top of the Locomotive form. All four have excelled in the preseason, finding goals and assists. Having the tough choice of who will lead the attacking front from game to game is not a bad problem for Coach Lowry to have in the 2021 season.

Similar to the 2020 season, El Paso Locomotive will compete in the Mountain Division alongside its Group C opponents, New Mexico United, Real Monarchs, and Switchbacks FC, and Texas rivals, San Antonio FC, Austin Bold, and Rio Grande Valley FC.

In the 2020 season, Locomotive topped Group C by five points, earning a playoff berth that ultimately sent the team to the Western Conference final. The competition has grown stiffer for 2021, with the revival of the Copa Tejas. San Antonio FC finished first in Group D, behind a spectacular 10-game undefeated streak that Locomotive put an end to.

Even with the tough teams in the Mountain Division to contend with, El Paso Locomotive FC is a fan favorite to finish top of the Mountain Division. USL Pundit Nicholas Murray has pointed out on Twitter and in articles Locomotive is a team greater than the sum of its parts. There is no one star in particular that makes Locomotive run, but rather the collective effort of the team that has provided consistency to send the club to straight Conference final appearances in its first two years.

While being the most exciting team in the group has its advantages, it also means Locomotive is the team to beat in the Mountain Division as other teams look to derail the club with statement victories. However, Lowry’s side has never gone down without a fight, pulling back wins and taking games to their final moments, making Locomotive arguably the toughest team to face in the Mountain Division.

El Paso kicks off the season against New Mexico United at Southwest University Park, where Locomotive has built a fortress to contend within its first two years. Across all competitions, Locomotive has built a record of 18-6-7 at Southwest University Park and has not lost a game at home since July 24 when it fell 2-1 against United.

Be a part of the Southwest University Park fortress when Locomotive defends its home record against New Mexico United. Tickets are available at https://sportsengine-staging.go-vip.net/eplocomotivefc/tickets, in-person at the Durango Box Office, or by calling 915-235-GOAL.

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