The Rocky Mountain Rivalry is renewed this Saturday evening at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman, Utah as the Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC face the Real Monarch SLC. Despite being winless in their last six matches, the Monarchs have clinched their place in the 2018 USL Cup Playoffs. Saturday’s match will be the first time in Switchbacks franchise history that Steve Trittschuh’s men will play at Zions Bank Stadium after the Real Monarchs moved from Rio Tinto Stadium – the home of their MLS parent club, Real Salt Lake – at the beginning of this season.
The USL’s Real Monarchs, who lost to the Switchbacks 1-0 on August 29th at Weidner Field in Colorado Springs, have been outscored 11-3 in their last two matches: defeats at Orange County SC and the Los Angeles Galaxy II, respectively. The 6-1 loss at the hands of the LA Galaxy II at the StubHub Center in Carson, California on Saturday night was made all the more perplexing by the fact that the Real Monarchs had defeated Los Dos 4-0 in Utah on August 25th.
Former Switchbacks striker Chandler Hoffman was the Real Monarchs’ lone bright spot in Saturday’s defeat in Southern California, with the former UCLA Bruin and future member of the Birmingham Legion FC, scoring the Monarchs’ goal in the 57th minute.
“It’s a long trip, but we won’t worry about that,” said Switchbacks midfielder Luke Vercollone. “Monarchs will be tough – they’re a really good team and they are looking to find their best game. They’re usually strong at home. Hopefully we play well and with character – if we can find confidence and play with it, then we’ll do well there.”
“I would think they will change their lineup a bit with the way they’ve been playing,” said Switchbacks Head Coach Steve Trittschuh after noting the Monarchs’ recent struggles. “I’ll expect changes as we plan for them. They have a big and talented roster that we’ll need to focus on and play well against.”
Saeed Robinson scored a stunning 87th minute winner to defeat the Real Monarchs 1-0 at Weidner Field in late August. With the Switchbacks’ hopes of earning a spot in the 2018 USL Cup Playoffs having been officially extinguished after a 2-1 loss at the hands of Phoenix Rising FC last weekend, Saturday’s match in Utah centers on the Switchbacks playing for pride in the name on the front of their jersey, and future opportunities for the name on the back.
“That was one of our better games this season,” said Jordan Burt when asked about the victory against the Monarchs at Weidner Field. “Salt Lake is one of the toughest places to play so we have to get up for the week before we travel. You’re always fighting for a job – we have to have a professional mindset and we have to take care of business because you never know what the future holds for all of us in this league.”
“We know they’re a good team,” said AJ Ajeakwa about the Real Monarchs. “But we’re not really worried about them. We’re focused on our game. We have to finish the season well and play with pride. All season we’ve been playing for jobs – we just have to show up and play and be at our best.”
“We’ve got to work this week and be worried about our quality and the fight we’ll bring to the game,” said Trittschuh. “We still want to win games. If I see anyone in training who is giving up then we’ll pick the sixteen players to travel to Utah who want to go and play. We won’t stand for anyone who isn’t ready to play. It was a good win for us against them…but the Monarchs haven’t played well recently. It will be the same as every game; we’re going to prepare like we’re going to win. We’ve got nothing to lose.”
The Switchbacks will finish their season against the Seattle Sounders FC 2 on Wednesday, October 10th at Cheney Stadium in Tacoma, Washington after facing off against Fresno FC on Friday, October 5th at Chukchansi Park in the heart of California’s San Joaquin Valley.
“We don’t take anything from playing the Monarchs here,” said Switchbacks captain Josh Suggs. “This will be a new game – they’re a different team than that game. We didn’t do enough against Phoenix last week to get back into it…but this will be a whole new game and we’ll go there to win.”
The Rocky Mountain Rivalry is renewed this Saturday evening at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman, Utah as the Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC face the Real Monarch SLC. Despite being winless in their last six matches, the Monarchs have clinched their place in the 2018 USL Cup Playoffs. Saturday’s match will be the first time in Switchbacks franchise history that Steve Trittschuh’s men will play at Zions Bank Stadium after the Real Monarchs moved from Rio Tinto Stadium – the home of their MLS parent club, Real Salt Lake – at the beginning of this season.
The USL’s Real Monarchs, who lost to the Switchbacks 1-0 on August 29th at Weidner Field in Colorado Springs, have been outscored 11-3 in their last two matches: defeats at Orange County SC and the Los Angeles Galaxy II, respectively. The 6-1 loss at the hands of the LA Galaxy II at the StubHub Center in Carson, California on Saturday night was made all the more perplexing by the fact that the Real Monarchs had defeated Los Dos 4-0 in Utah on August 25th.
Former Switchbacks striker Chandler Hoffman was the Real Monarchs’ lone bright spot in Saturday’s defeat in Southern California, with the former UCLA Bruin and future member of the Birmingham Legion FC, scoring the Monarchs’ goal in the 57th minute.
“It’s a long trip, but we won’t worry about that,” said Switchbacks midfielder Luke Vercollone. “Monarchs will be tough – they’re a really good team and they are looking to find their best game. They’re usually strong at home. Hopefully we play well and with character – if we can find confidence and play with it, then we’ll do well there.”
“I would think they will change their lineup a bit with the way they’ve been playing,” said Switchbacks Head Coach Steve Trittschuh after noting the Monarchs’ recent struggles. “I’ll expect changes as we plan for them. They have a big and talented roster that we’ll need to focus on and play well against.”
Saeed Robinson scored a stunning 87th minute winner to defeat the Real Monarchs 1-0 at Weidner Field in late August. With the Switchbacks’ hopes of earning a spot in the 2018 USL Cup Playoffs having been officially extinguished after a 2-1 loss at the hands of Phoenix Rising FC last weekend, Saturday’s match in Utah centers on the Switchbacks playing for pride in the name on the front of their jersey, and future opportunities for the name on the back.
“That was one of our better games this season,” said Jordan Burt when asked about the victory against the Monarchs at Weidner Field. “Salt Lake is one of the toughest places to play so we have to get up for the week before we travel. You’re always fighting for a job – we have to have a professional mindset and we have to take care of business because you never know what the future holds for all of us in this league.”
“We know they’re a good team,” said AJ Ajeakwa about the Real Monarchs. “But we’re not really worried about them. We’re focused on our game. We have to finish the season well and play with pride. All season we’ve been playing for jobs – we just have to show up and play and be at our best.”
“We’ve got to work this week and be worried about our quality and the fight we’ll bring to the game,” said Trittschuh. “We still want to win games. If I see anyone in training who is giving up then we’ll pick the sixteen players to travel to Utah who want to go and play. We won’t stand for anyone who isn’t ready to play. It was a good win for us against them…but the Monarchs haven’t played well recently. It will be the same as every game; we’re going to prepare like we’re going to win. We’ve got nothing to lose.”
The Switchbacks will finish their season against the Seattle Sounders FC 2 on Wednesday, October 10th at Cheney Stadium in Tacoma, Washington after facing off against Fresno FC on Friday, October 5th at Chukchansi Park in the heart of California’s San Joaquin Valley.
“We don’t take anything from playing the Monarchs here,” said Switchbacks captain Josh Suggs. “This will be a new game – they’re a different team than that game. We didn’t do enough against Phoenix last week to get back into it…but this will be a whole new game and we’ll go there to win.”
