Sacramento Republic FC continue their road trip this Saturday, July 16 as they visit Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC. Kickoff is 6:00 p.m. PDT. Republic FC look to continue to climb the table in the USL Western Conference after a thrilling 3-3 draw at Orange County Blues FC on Sunday. Despite the draw, Republic FC currently sits second on the USL Western Conference Standings. The Switchbacks will also be looking for three points, after capturing just one win in their last five matches.
Ahead of Saturday’s match, get to know Republic FC’s opponent, Colorado Switchbacks FC.
HEAD COACH
Steve Trittschuh leads the Switchbacks for the second consecutive season in his first role as a head coach. He previously served as an assistant coach for the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, his alma mater, and for MLS side the Colorado Rapids.
Aside from a club career that spanned from 1987 to 2001, Trittschuh also had a very distinguished career with the United States Men’s National Team. He was a member of the squad for the 1988 Summer Olympics and for the 1990 FIFA World Cup. Trittschuh was also a part of the USMNT that captured the 1991 Gold Cup title.
KEY PLAYERS
Forward Mike Seth has made his impact felt in the Switchbacks’ offense with four goals and four assists on the season. He recorded three of his assists in consecutive matches in April, against San Antonio FC, Orange County Blues FC and LA Galaxy II, also scoring a goal in the match against Los Dos. Seth played four years of collegiate soccer at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, where he was a four-time all-AMCC player and won an AMCC Championship in 2007. Seth made his professional debut in 2010 with the Pittsburgh Riverhounds, who were at the time a part of the former USL Second Division.
Midfielder Luke Vercollone was the first-ever signing for the Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC, signing with the club on October 19, 2014, prior to the club’s inaugural USL season. He re-signed with the club in January, after a stellar 2015 season. Vercollone scored 14 goals in 26 matches, starting in all of his appearances in 2015. This season, Vercollone has three goals and three assists in 15 matches played. His latest assist was in the Switchbacks’ last match, a 1-2 defeat to Seattle Sounders FC 2.
Defender Joshua Suggs leads the backline this season, with 1,403 minutes played in 16 matches. Suggs and the rest of the Switchbacks defense have allowed 13 goals in 16 matches, while Suggs himself has also been part of the offense. The 27-year-old defender has two assists this season, the first coming in a 2-0 win against Saint Louis FC, and the second in 1-1 draw versus his former club, Orange County Blues FC. He scored his only goal of the season against Arizona United SC in a 3-1 Switchbacks win.
RECENT TRANSACTIONS
The Switchbacks most recently acquired defender Joe Greenspan on loan from the Colorado Rapids on July 7. Greenspan was selected in the second round of the 2015 MLS Superdraft by Colorado Rapids, but was initially forced to put his soccer career on hold due to his military obligations with the United States Navy. He came to an agreement with the Navy and the Rapids in June 2015, which allows him to play professionally and also serve his military obligations. Greenspan is an active duty Ensign on assignment in the Denver area. He played collegiately with the United States Naval Academy, where he earned NSCAA All-American First Team Honors, among other honors. In 78 appearances, he made 75 starts, scored 18 goals and recorded six assists.
Defender Christian Ibeagha signed with the Switchbacks in the beginning of the season, on March 24. The Nigerian-born defender played collegiately at Duke University, before signing his first professional contract with NASL club Puerto Rico Islanders in July 2012. Ibeagha also spent time with Czech club Bohemians 1905 and Faroese club FC Suðuroy in 2013 and 2015, respectively.
The Switchbacks also signed midfielder Nick Cullen on June 17 as the club’s first academy signing. Cullen’s amateur contract will ensure that he is still eligible to play DI collegiate soccer at Notre Dame University this upcoming fall. Cullen signed from Real Colorado Developmental Academy. Cullen also played club soccer in Colorado Springs and was named the Colorado Rush Boys Player of the Year in 2012, leading the club to back-to-back SC del Sol President’s Day Tournament championships in 2011 and 2012.
2015 SEASON RECAP
The Switchbacks opened their USL play with a loss, but the season would not reflect this first misstep, as they made a run to the Western Conference playoffs. The club recorded the two big home wins in the 2015 USL season on May 23 against Arizona United SC, and again on June 24 against the Orange County Blues FC, both 5-0 scorelines.
The Switchbacks ended their 2015 regular season in third place on the USL Western Conference standings, tied on points with Republic FC, but seeding higher due to the clubs’ head-to-head record. In the playoffs, the Switchbacks defeated Seattle Sounders FC 2 in the first round, before falling in the conference semi-finals to Oklahoma City Energy FC in a penalty shootout.
In 2015, the Switchbacks held an average attendance record of 2,723 fans per match.
2016 SEASON RECAP
Currently, the Switchbacks sit in fourth place on the USL Western Conference standings, two slots and one point below Republic FC. The club lost just twice in their first 10 matches, winning the other seven matches and tying once in that time span. In June, the Switchbacks then suffer back-to-back losses first at San Antonio FC and then at home to Real Monarchs SLC, their first home defeat of the season.
In their last five matches, the Switchbacks have collected just four points. The club comes into their match with Republic FC off a 1-2 loss at Seattle Sounders FC 2.
SATURDAY’S MATCH
This Saturday’s match between Republic FC and Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC will kick off at 6 p.m. PT. There will be an official Republic FC watch party at de Vere’s Irish Pub at the Sacramento location. The match will be broadcast live on www.sacrepublicfc.com/matchday via the USL Youtube channel. Updates will also be provided via Twitter at @SacRepublicFC or using #COSvSAC.
Sacramento Republic FC continue their road trip this Saturday, July 16 as they visit Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC. Kickoff is 6:00 p.m. PDT. Republic FC look to continue to climb the table in the USL Western Conference after a thrilling 3-3 draw at Orange County Blues FC on Sunday. Despite the draw, Republic FC currently sits second on the USL Western Conference Standings. The Switchbacks will also be looking for three points, after capturing just one win in their last five matches.
Ahead of Saturday’s match, get to know Republic FC’s opponent, Colorado Switchbacks FC.
HEAD COACH
Steve Trittschuh leads the Switchbacks for the second consecutive season in his first role as a head coach. He previously served as an assistant coach for the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, his alma mater, and for MLS side the Colorado Rapids.
Aside from a club career that spanned from 1987 to 2001, Trittschuh also had a very distinguished career with the United States Men’s National Team. He was a member of the squad for the 1988 Summer Olympics and for the 1990 FIFA World Cup. Trittschuh was also a part of the USMNT that captured the 1991 Gold Cup title.
KEY PLAYERS
Forward Mike Seth has made his impact felt in the Switchbacks’ offense with four goals and four assists on the season. He recorded three of his assists in consecutive matches in April, against San Antonio FC, Orange County Blues FC and LA Galaxy II, also scoring a goal in the match against Los Dos. Seth played four years of collegiate soccer at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, where he was a four-time all-AMCC player and won an AMCC Championship in 2007. Seth made his professional debut in 2010 with the Pittsburgh Riverhounds, who were at the time a part of the former USL Second Division.
Midfielder Luke Vercollone was the first-ever signing for the Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC, signing with the club on October 19, 2014, prior to the club’s inaugural USL season. He re-signed with the club in January, after a stellar 2015 season. Vercollone scored 14 goals in 26 matches, starting in all of his appearances in 2015. This season, Vercollone has three goals and three assists in 15 matches played. His latest assist was in the Switchbacks’ last match, a 1-2 defeat to Seattle Sounders FC 2.
Defender Joshua Suggs leads the backline this season, with 1,403 minutes played in 16 matches. Suggs and the rest of the Switchbacks defense have allowed 13 goals in 16 matches, while Suggs himself has also been part of the offense. The 27-year-old defender has two assists this season, the first coming in a 2-0 win against Saint Louis FC, and the second in 1-1 draw versus his former club, Orange County Blues FC. He scored his only goal of the season against Arizona United SC in a 3-1 Switchbacks win.
RECENT TRANSACTIONS
The Switchbacks most recently acquired defender Joe Greenspan on loan from the Colorado Rapids on July 7. Greenspan was selected in the second round of the 2015 MLS Superdraft by Colorado Rapids, but was initially forced to put his soccer career on hold due to his military obligations with the United States Navy. He came to an agreement with the Navy and the Rapids in June 2015, which allows him to play professionally and also serve his military obligations. Greenspan is an active duty Ensign on assignment in the Denver area. He played collegiately with the United States Naval Academy, where he earned NSCAA All-American First Team Honors, among other honors. In 78 appearances, he made 75 starts, scored 18 goals and recorded six assists.
Defender Christian Ibeagha signed with the Switchbacks in the beginning of the season, on March 24. The Nigerian-born defender played collegiately at Duke University, before signing his first professional contract with NASL club Puerto Rico Islanders in July 2012. Ibeagha also spent time with Czech club Bohemians 1905 and Faroese club FC Suðuroy in 2013 and 2015, respectively.
The Switchbacks also signed midfielder Nick Cullen on June 17 as the club’s first academy signing. Cullen’s amateur contract will ensure that he is still eligible to play DI collegiate soccer at Notre Dame University this upcoming fall. Cullen signed from Real Colorado Developmental Academy. Cullen also played club soccer in Colorado Springs and was named the Colorado Rush Boys Player of the Year in 2012, leading the club to back-to-back SC del Sol President’s Day Tournament championships in 2011 and 2012.
2015 SEASON RECAP
The Switchbacks opened their USL play with a loss, but the season would not reflect this first misstep, as they made a run to the Western Conference playoffs. The club recorded the two big home wins in the 2015 USL season on May 23 against Arizona United SC, and again on June 24 against the Orange County Blues FC, both 5-0 scorelines.
The Switchbacks ended their 2015 regular season in third place on the USL Western Conference standings, tied on points with Republic FC, but seeding higher due to the clubs’ head-to-head record. In the playoffs, the Switchbacks defeated Seattle Sounders FC 2 in the first round, before falling in the conference semi-finals to Oklahoma City Energy FC in a penalty shootout.
In 2015, the Switchbacks held an average attendance record of 2,723 fans per match.
2016 SEASON RECAP
Currently, the Switchbacks sit in fourth place on the USL Western Conference standings, two slots and one point below Republic FC. The club lost just twice in their first 10 matches, winning the other seven matches and tying once in that time span. In June, the Switchbacks then suffer back-to-back losses first at San Antonio FC and then at home to Real Monarchs SLC, their first home defeat of the season.
In their last five matches, the Switchbacks have collected just four points. The club comes into their match with Republic FC off a 1-2 loss at Seattle Sounders FC 2.
SATURDAY’S MATCH
This Saturday’s match between Republic FC and Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC will kick off at 6 p.m. PT. There will be an official Republic FC watch party at de Vere’s Irish Pub at the Sacramento location. The match will be broadcast live on www.sacrepublicfc.com/matchday via the USL Youtube channel. Updates will also be provided via Twitter at @SacRepublicFC or using #COSvSAC.
