PRESENTED BY TRAVELERS
Date: Saturday, May 11th, 2024
Time: 7:00 PM ET
Location: Trinity Health Stadium, Hartford, CT
Watch: MyTV9, wtnh.com, ESPN+
HARTFORD ATHLETIC (3-4-0) vs COLORADO SPRINGS SWITCHBACKS FC (2-5-1)
After a demanding road trip, Hartford Athletic have a chance to get back in the win column on home turf against Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC tomorrow night.
LAST TIME OUT
Hartford Athletic are coming off a 1-0 loss to the Charleston Battery last Saturday on the road. Athletic hung with the Eastern Conference’s top team after conceding a Nick Markanich goal in the 12th minute, but they couldn’t find an equalizer. Their best chance of the night came in the 43rd minute, when Romario Williams touched a Michee Ngalina cross off the right crossbar from inside the six yard box. The Green and Blue had much more control over the match in the second half, recording eight touches in Charleston’s box and putting four shots on goal.
ABOUT THE OPPONENT
Colorado Springs started the year slow with five straight losses, but have earned seven straight points through their last three matches. Their schedule was difficult to start the season, playing top of the table teams: Sacramento, Detroit, Phoenix, and San Antonio consecutively. They did catch their stride, adding a draw against Indy Eleven, but their wins came against El Paso and Oakland, two teams at the bottom of the table. The club is second to last in goals scored (6), but is near the bottom of the league in goals conceded (10).
MATCHUP HISTORY
Hartford and Colorado Springs have competed merely three times in their respective histories, and share a 1-1-1 record. Their match history, alongside their score differential (0), remains perfectly impartial as each team has a chance to get ahead this upcoming weekend. Colorado Springs earned their sole win against Hartford in their first-ever matchup in 2021 (4-2). Hartford would even the playing field in 2022, adding a decisive 2-0 win of their own. Last year’s matchup garnered a 1-1 draw, keeping their record at .500.
THE COLORADO CONNECTION
The connection between Hartford Athletic and Switchbacks FC is headlined by Head Coach and General Manager Brendan Burke, who came to Hartford after two successful seasons in Colorado Springs. In 2021, Burke took over a Switchbacks team that won two matches the year prior and led them to their first ever playoff berth, earning a Coach of the Year nomination. The following season, he led them to a Western Conference Finals appearance. Burke put together a Hartford roster with six former Switchbacks this offseason, four of which played for him out west: Triston Hodge, Michee Ngalina, Deshane Beckford, and Beverly Makangila. They all saw success under Burke, and Ngalina won the 2022 Young Player of the Year. Burke signed Ngalina and Beckford this offseason, along with Romario Williams and Jay Chapman (both played for Colorado Springs in 2023). Marlon Hairston may not have played for the Switchbacks, but he is no stranger to the Centennial State. He spent four seasons with MLS side Colorado Rapids from 2014 to 2018.
GREEN, BLUE, AND SCARLETT
Jordan Scarlett made his debut in Green and Blue last Saturday, having missed the first six matches of the season due to a thigh injury. The veteran defender was strong in his first match, making three tackles and swiping an interception. Coach Burke spoke on the importance of Scarlett’s contribution to the back line this week: “To see Jordan Scarlett on the field last week was awesome, a huge step forward for us… He’s been in seven Finals at this level, so that’s huge experience [for us] to be gaining 6-7 games in. [And} his intensity is the biggest thing. He works at a really high intensity.”Â
Prematch Interviews
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Hartford Athletic: Marlon Hairston MF #92
Hairston made his season debut against Louisville and played 134 minutes over the two-game road trip. He is back and healthy after suffering a calf injury, and is a valuable defensive midfield piece for Hartford with MLS experience.
Colorado Springs: Maalique Foster FW #99
Foster has been the Switchbacks’ field general this season, leading the team in assists (3) and chances created (19). He has great ability to win possession as well, leading the team in duels (75) and duels won (31).
JOIN THE CONVERSATION
For live updates, follow along on twitter using the hashtag #HFDvCOL
