Match Preview

After back-to-back wins in the USL Championship, the Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC head south to the Texas – Mexico border this Saturday to take on the Rio Grande Valley FC Toros at H-E-B Park in Edinburg.

Goals from Jordan Burt, Ish Jome, and 16-year-old debutant Logan Dorsey saw the Switchbacks run away as 3-0 winners at Weidner Field last Saturday against the Tacoma Defiance in one of the Switchbacks’ most complete performances of 2019.  

After back-to-back wins in the USL Championship, the Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC head south to the Texas – Mexico border this Saturday to take on the Rio Grande Valley FC Toros at H-E-B Park in Edinburg.

Goals from Jordan Burt, Ish Jome, and 16-year-old debutant Logan Dorsey saw the Switchbacks run away as 3-0 winners at Weidner Field last Saturday against the Tacoma Defiance in one of the Switchbacks’ most complete performances of 2019.  

Ish Jome was named to his second-straight USL Championship Team of the Week after his showing against the Tacoma Defiance.  Jome scored a fine third goal for the Switchbacks just before full-time after a pin-point through-ball from Mike Seth.

“Again, it’s good to be recognized by the league,” said Jome on Thursday morning at Weidner Field.  “We’ve got to keep up our team performances because that’s how individuals get recognized. Going to RGV and dealing with the conditions there is a mental thing.  We’re coming from altitude, so that will help, but the heat will be a factor. If we pace ourselves we should be fine and we’re looking forward to Saturday.”

“It’s good for Ish,” said Switchbacks Head Coach Steve Trittschuh.  “I’ve told the guys from day one that if we have success as a team, the players will get individual awards.  All in all, the guys stepped up. It was a good team effort against Tacoma and we’ve got to keep doing that. We let Tacoma play too much early – we were a bit flat in the first half, so we’ve got to come out and be ready and play with the right attitude this weekend.”

Conditions on Saturday in Edinburg will be hovering around triple digits, with precipitation as unlikely as a mid-game UFO sighting.  “I’m looking forward to it,” said Switchbacks captain Jordan Burt. “It’s an amazing field that’s really good to play on. Both teams will have to deal with the heat – we are just focused on what we do best and getting another win.”

Ish Jome was named to his second-straight USL Championship Team of the Week after his showing against the Tacoma Defiance.  Jome scored a fine third goal for the Switchbacks just before full-time after a pin-point through-ball from Mike Seth.

“Again, it’s good to be recognized by the league,” said Jome on Thursday morning at Weidner Field.  “We’ve got to keep up our team performances because that’s how individuals get recognized. Going to RGV and dealing with the conditions there is a mental thing.  We’re coming from altitude, so that will help, but the heat will be a factor. If we pace ourselves we should be fine and we’re looking forward to Saturday.”

“It’s good for Ish,” said Switchbacks Head Coach Steve Trittschuh.  “I’ve told the guys from day one that if we have success as a team, the players will get individual awards.  All in all, the guys stepped up. It was a good team effort against Tacoma and we’ve got to keep doing that. We let Tacoma play too much early – we were a bit flat in the first half, so we’ve got to come out and be ready and play with the right attitude this weekend.”

Conditions on Saturday in Edinburg will be hovering around triple digits, with precipitation as unlikely as a mid-game UFO sighting.  “I’m looking forward to it,” said Switchbacks captain Jordan Burt. “It’s an amazing field that’s really good to play on. Both teams will have to deal with the heat – we are just focused on what we do best and getting another win.”

“I really like playing there,” said Saeed Robinson.  “We need to make sure we come out with a positive result.  It’s one of the best fields in the league. We’ve had time as a team to prepare and that definitely helps us…now let’s go and get this win, because we need it.”

Head Coach Gerson Echeverry’s RGV FC Toros are led in attack by the always-dangerous Belizean Michael Salazar.  Salazar and Panamanian hitman Carlos Small have combined to score 13 goals in the 2019 USL Championship, with both players having appeared for their respective national teams.  Small scored twice for the Toros in a 5-3 loss last Saturday against the Real Monarchs of Salt Lake City at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman, Utah, after having entered the contest as a 74th minute substitute.  Salazar had opened the scoring for RGV FC on the hour mark with a crisp back-post header after a whipped left-footed ball from Robert Coronado.  

“They’re a good passing team and they have a lot of players with good soccer intelligence,” said Trittschuh.  “Salazar played the other night for the Houston Dynamo and they’re off this weekend so we don’t know who will play for RGV yet.  Carlos Small is a strong, quick and dynamic player. They’re a good, organized team and they pass the ball really well so we can’t be opened up by that early.  It’s not going to be an easy game and we’ve got to have a good start. They’ve given up seven goals in their last two games, so we need a good start. We’ve worked all week on our defensive shape because that’s what we’ve been focused on in the last few games, and it’s been great to have that time to work together and prepare.”

Three goalkeepers have four or more appearances for the Toros in 2019, as Michael Nelson, Nicolas Corti, and Tyler Deric have joined Ben Willis in seeing time between the sticks during this USL Championship season.  Nelson was in net for RGV’s 5-3 loss in Utah on Saturday, with the former Southern Methodist University Mustang on-loan with RGV from their Major League Soccer parent club, Houston Dynamo.

“I really like playing there,” said Saeed Robinson.  “We need to make sure we come out with a positive result.  It’s one of the best fields in the league. We’ve had time as a team to prepare and that definitely helps us…now let’s go and get this win, because we need it.”

Head Coach Gerson Echeverry’s RGV FC Toros are led in attack by the always-dangerous Belizean Michael Salazar.  Salazar and Panamanian hitman Carlos Small have combined to score 13 goals in the 2019 USL Championship, with both players having appeared for their respective national teams.  Small scored twice for the Toros in a 5-3 loss last Saturday against the Real Monarchs of Salt Lake City at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman, Utah, after having entered the contest as a 74th minute substitute.  Salazar had opened the scoring for RGV FC on the hour mark with a crisp back-post header after a whipped left-footed ball from Robert Coronado.  

“They’re a good passing team and they have a lot of players with good soccer intelligence,” said Trittschuh.  “Salazar played the other night for the Houston Dynamo and they’re off this weekend so we don’t know who will play for RGV yet.  Carlos Small is a strong, quick and dynamic player. They’re a good, organized team and they pass the ball really well so we can’t be opened up by that early.  It’s not going to be an easy game and we’ve got to have a good start. They’ve given up seven goals in their last two games, so we need a good start. We’ve worked all week on our defensive shape because that’s what we’ve been focused on in the last few games, and it’s been great to have that time to work together and prepare.”

Three goalkeepers have four or more appearances for the Toros in 2019, as Michael Nelson, Nicolas Corti, and Tyler Deric have joined Ben Willis in seeing time between the sticks during this USL Championship season.  Nelson was in net for RGV’s 5-3 loss in Utah on Saturday, with the former Southern Methodist University Mustang on-loan with RGV from their Major League Soccer parent club, Houston Dynamo.

Switchbacks ‘keeper Andre Rawls has kept a clean sheet in two straight matches, producing numerous saves in each before the Switchbacks eventually found a goal.  “Goalkeepers love to take credit, but the defense did most of the work keeping Tacoma at bay last weekend,” said Rawls. “It’s going to be a tough game against RGV, but we’ve got a good mentality right now and it will be a good challenge.  We need to read the game and take it as it goes and be ready for everything.”

The Switchbacks and Toros will renew their rivalry on August 10th at Weidner Field in Colorado Springs on Back to School Night, with a backpack giveaway for the first 500 fans courtesy of GE Johnson.

On June 22nd, the Switchbacks will be back at Weidner Field to host the Real Monarchs of Salt Lake City with Colorado Technical University sponsoring both a pre-game T shirt giveaway for the first 500 fans and a post-match fireworks display.

Switchbacks ‘keeper Andre Rawls has kept a clean sheet in two straight matches, producing numerous saves in each before the Switchbacks eventually found a goal.  “Goalkeepers love to take credit, but the defense did most of the work keeping Tacoma at bay last weekend,” said Rawls. “It’s going to be a tough game against RGV, but we’ve got a good mentality right now and it will be a good challenge.  We need to read the game and take it as it goes and be ready for everything.”

The Switchbacks and Toros will renew their rivalry on August 10th at Weidner Field in Colorado Springs on Back to School Night, with a backpack giveaway for the first 500 fans courtesy of GE Johnson.

On June 22nd, the Switchbacks will be back at Weidner Field to host the Real Monarchs of Salt Lake City with Colorado Technical University sponsoring both a pre-game T shirt giveaway for the first 500 fans and a post-match fireworks display.

For the second time this season, the Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC will make their way east to the Sooner State, as they face off against the Oklahoma City Energy FC this Saturday at Taft Stadium.  

Saturday’s match against the Switchbacks will be the second of three USL Championship matches in a row for the Energy FC in Oklahoma’s capitol city.  On May 18th, the Energy were held to a 1-1 tie by the Real Monarchs of Salt Lake City after a 93rd minute equalizer from Monarchs striker Tate Schmitt.  Trinidad and Tobago international Cordell Cato had given the Energy the lead with a delightful lob after a fabulous over-the-top pass from Owayne Omar Gordon.

Former Switchbacks central defender Christian Ibeagha has started four times for OKC Head Coach Steve Cooke in 2019, while beard aficionado Cody Laurendi is entrenched as the Energy’s number one goalkeeper.  Jamaican international Deshorn Brown is one of the most dangerous attacking threats in the USL, as the former Colorado Rapids striker leads OKC in goals with six.

The Switchbacks have dropped their last two road matches in the USL Championship, and will be looking for a priceless away victory on Saturday evening.  Last Saturday the Switchbacks fell 3-1 at Weidner Field in Colorado Springs to high-flying New Mexico United.

“I want to apologize to all of our fans and supporters,” said Switchbacks Head Coach Steve Trittschuh on Wednesday morning.  “If the club needs to make a change and make us better, I understand. We have a small squad and we’re not able to add players right now.  We’re at capacity in terms of our squad and we’re getting as much out of the players as we can. The guys are preparing hard for every game, we’ve just had some mistakes and those have really cost us.  We’ve got to stay positive and stay in it. Both of New Mexico’s first two goals were against the run of play, and we tried to respond but we need to do better. We were right in that game and after their second goal we fought and we have to take some positives from that.”

“I know OKC are tough to play against,” said midfielder Alex Molano.  “I thought after we scored against New Mexico we had some of the better play – we played a lot better in that match and we need to take that to OKC.”

“We understand that OKC is a difficult place to play,” said Jordan Schweitzer.  “It’s a smaller field and we need to be prepared for the things we can’t control.  We’ll get ready this week in training for everything. It was good to score against New Mexico – it broke the seal and it’s always good to get goals and we have to take that forward into this weekend.  It will be a different game in OKC and we’ll prepare a lot this week to give our best performance.”

The Energy FC have already won three times at Taft Stadium in the 2019 USL Championship season.  OKC and the Switchbacks will have to wait until June 20th for the Switchbacks to welcome the Energy FC to Weidner Field on Margaritaville Night, presented by Weidner apartment homes, with the first 500 fans receiving a free 2019 Switchbacks jersey t-shirt.

“I expect a good, professional performance from OKC – they have a lot of ex-MLS players,” said Saeed Robinson.  “And it will be good to see Christian Ibeagha again. We hadn’t scored in so long at home, so I felt like just getting a goal last weekend helped us.  It’s one positive that we need to take with us.”

“We created a lot of chances against New Mexico and that’s something to build on for this week,” said Shane Malcolm before being asked about the danger posed by Deshorn Brown.  “He’s pacey and very physical and he scores with both feet and he’s a player to watch.”

“OKC have a lot of goal scorers,” said Trittschuh.  “[Cordell] Cato on one side, with {Owayne Omar] Gordon on the other makes them very dangerous.  They need space to have success so we have to limit the space and keep nice and compact.”

Following Saturday’s match in Oklahoma City, Weidner Field will play host to an action-packed four days.  Wednesday, May 29th will see the Switchbacks host New Mexico United in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup third round.  Tickets for the Open Cup match against New Mexico United are available HERE for just $5, with free parking at Weidner Field.  

On Friday May 31st, country music star Russell Dickerson will headline Springs Country Fest, with tickets available HERE.  The following night the Switchbacks welcome Fresno FC to Weidner Field in USL Championship action, with Pikes Peak Brewing Company sponsoring a free cap giveaway for the first 500 fans.

For the second time this season, the Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC will make their way east to the Sooner State, as they face off against the Oklahoma City Energy FC this Saturday at Taft Stadium.  

Saturday’s match against the Switchbacks will be the second of three USL Championship matches in a row for the Energy FC in Oklahoma’s capitol city.  On May 18th, the Energy were held to a 1-1 tie by the Real Monarchs of Salt Lake City after a 93rd minute equalizer from Monarchs striker Tate Schmitt.  Trinidad and Tobago international Cordell Cato had given the Energy the lead with a delightful lob after a fabulous over-the-top pass from Owayne Omar Gordon.

Former Switchbacks central defender Christian Ibeagha has started four times for OKC Head Coach Steve Cooke in 2019, while beard aficionado Cody Laurendi is entrenched as the Energy’s number one goalkeeper.  Jamaican international Deshorn Brown is one of the most dangerous attacking threats in the USL, as the former Colorado Rapids striker leads OKC in goals with six.

The Switchbacks have dropped their last two road matches in the USL Championship, and will be looking for a priceless away victory on Saturday evening.  Last Saturday the Switchbacks fell 3-1 at Weidner Field in Colorado Springs to high-flying New Mexico United.

“I want to apologize to all of our fans and supporters,” said Switchbacks Head Coach Steve Trittschuh on Wednesday morning.  “If the club needs to make a change and make us better, I understand. We have a small squad and we’re not able to add players right now.  We’re at capacity in terms of our squad and we’re getting as much out of the players as we can. The guys are preparing hard for every game, we’ve just had some mistakes and those have really cost us.  We’ve got to stay positive and stay in it. Both of New Mexico’s first two goals were against the run of play, and we tried to respond but we need to do better. We were right in that game and after their second goal we fought and we have to take some positives from that.”

“I know OKC are tough to play against,” said midfielder Alex Molano.  “I thought after we scored against New Mexico we had some of the better play – we played a lot better in that match and we need to take that to OKC.”

“We understand that OKC is a difficult place to play,” said Jordan Schweitzer.  “It’s a smaller field and we need to be prepared for the things we can’t control.  We’ll get ready this week in training for everything. It was good to score against New Mexico – it broke the seal and it’s always good to get goals and we have to take that forward into this weekend.  It will be a different game in OKC and we’ll prepare a lot this week to give our best performance.”

The Energy FC have already won three times at Taft Stadium in the 2019 USL Championship season.  OKC and the Switchbacks will have to wait until June 20th for the Switchbacks to welcome the Energy FC to Weidner Field on Margaritaville Night, presented by Weidner apartment homes, with the first 500 fans receiving a free 2019 Switchbacks jersey t-shirt.

“I expect a good, professional performance from OKC – they have a lot of ex-MLS players,” said Saeed Robinson.  “And it will be good to see Christian Ibeagha again. We hadn’t scored in so long at home, so I felt like just getting a goal last weekend helped us.  It’s one positive that we need to take with us.”

“We created a lot of chances against New Mexico and that’s something to build on for this week,” said Shane Malcolm before being asked about the danger posed by Deshorn Brown.  “He’s pacey and very physical and he scores with both feet and he’s a player to watch.”

“OKC have a lot of goal scorers,” said Trittschuh.  “[Cordell] Cato on one side, with {Owayne Omar] Gordon on the other makes them very dangerous.  They need space to have success so we have to limit the space and keep nice and compact.”

Following Saturday’s match in Oklahoma City, Weidner Field will play host to an action-packed four days.  Wednesday, May 29th will see the Switchbacks host New Mexico United in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup third round.  Tickets for the Open Cup match against New Mexico United are available HERE for just $5, with free parking at Weidner Field.  

On Friday May 31st, country music star Russell Dickerson will headline Springs Country Fest, with tickets available HERE.  The following night the Switchbacks welcome Fresno FC to Weidner Field in USL Championship action, with Pikes Peak Brewing Company sponsoring a free cap giveaway for the first 500 fans.

Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup action returns to Colorado Springs on Wednesday evening as the Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC host FC Denver in a second round matchup at Weidner Field.  Tickets are available HERE for just $5 while parking at Weidner Field is free.

FC Denver booked their place in the second round after defeating the Midland-Odessa Sockers FC of the National Premier Soccer League last Wednesday 2-1 at Grande Communications Stadium in Midland, Texas.  Cesar Castillo gave FC Denver the lead just after the half hour mark, only for the match to be drawn level half an hour later through a Grant Mobley equalizer for the Sockers. Just before the end of regular time, FC Denver’s Kyle Crouse unleashed an unstoppable strike to earn FC Denver a place in Colorado Springs against the Switchbacks on Wednesday.  

Jacob Peterson produced a solid display in the FC Denver net during the win over the Sockers FC, and will need to be on his toes against a Switchbacks team that’s looking for an offensive breakout to help propel their USL Championship campaign.

“FC Denver have some good players,” said Shane Malcolm.  “They won their first Open Cup game and they’ll see this as a chance to test themselves versus a professional team.  We’ll use this game to hopefully catapult our confidence. Hopefully a win on Wednesday will translate into our league play.”

“It’s going to be a hard game,” warned Saeed Robinson.  “These teams always come and give their best. We just need to be professional.”  Robinson will be suspended for Wednesday’s contest after being sent off in last year’s Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup against San Antonio FC.  “I wish I was playing every game. I hate being out and being injured – I’m doing this because I love it and I’m working hard to be back soon.”

Alex Molano will also miss Wednesday’s contest, as the midfielder is cup-tied having already featured in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup for Dallas Elite FC.  “We’re down to ten healthy field players,” said Switchbacks Head Coach Steve Trittschuh. “Rony [Argueta] could maybe get through Wednesday, but we won’t chance him.  We have really small numbers here now and there’s no help in sight. We’ll bring in more academy players from the Rapids to help us. We’re thin now, but we can’t make excuses.  Guys who play on Wednesday should be able to get a result here. We’ve just got to put our heads down and get at it.”

The Switchbacks defeated FC Denver 3-2 in the same stage of last season’s Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup behind second half goals from Pascal Eboussi, Uriel Macias, and captain Jordan Burt.  

“Our preparation has got to be about us,” said Trittschuh.  “I know Denver will come in here on a high and fight and scrap to get a result.  We have to play with good intelligence and keep to our game. We did well for 30 minutes in Vegas and we got out of our shape for the first goal.  We’ve got to limit those things and be ready on Wednesday.”

The Switchbacks will return to Weidner Field on Saturday evening to host high-flying New Mexico United.  General Dynamics will be sponsoring a vuvuzela giveaway for the first 500 fans through the gates for the match against New Mexico United, with the Switchbacks looking to post a vital win in the race for the inaugural Four Corners Cup.

“[FC] Denver will bring their best,” said Sam Raben about Wednesday’s opponents.  “We need to make sure we stay confident and play our best game.”

Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup action returns to Colorado Springs on Wednesday evening as the Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC host FC Denver in a second round matchup at Weidner Field.  Tickets are available HERE for just $5 while parking at Weidner Field is free.

FC Denver booked their place in the second round after defeating the Midland-Odessa Sockers FC of the National Premier Soccer League last Wednesday 2-1 at Grande Communications Stadium in Midland, Texas.  Cesar Castillo gave FC Denver the lead just after the half hour mark, only for the match to be drawn level half an hour later through a Grant Mobley equalizer for the Sockers. Just before the end of regular time, FC Denver’s Kyle Crouse unleashed an unstoppable strike to earn FC Denver a place in Colorado Springs against the Switchbacks on Wednesday.  

Jacob Peterson produced a solid display in the FC Denver net during the win over the Sockers FC, and will need to be on his toes against a Switchbacks team that’s looking for an offensive breakout to help propel their USL Championship campaign.

“FC Denver have some good players,” said Shane Malcolm.  “They won their first Open Cup game and they’ll see this as a chance to test themselves versus a professional team.  We’ll use this game to hopefully catapult our confidence. Hopefully a win on Wednesday will translate into our league play.”

“It’s going to be a hard game,” warned Saeed Robinson.  “These teams always come and give their best. We just need to be professional.”  Robinson will be suspended for Wednesday’s contest after being sent off in last year’s Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup against San Antonio FC.  “I wish I was playing every game. I hate being out and being injured – I’m doing this because I love it and I’m working hard to be back soon.”

Alex Molano will also miss Wednesday’s contest, as the midfielder is cup-tied having already featured in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup for Dallas Elite FC.  “We’re down to ten healthy field players,” said Switchbacks Head Coach Steve Trittschuh. “Rony [Argueta] could maybe get through Wednesday, but we won’t chance him.  We have really small numbers here now and there’s no help in sight. We’ll bring in more academy players from the Rapids to help us. We’re thin now, but we can’t make excuses.  Guys who play on Wednesday should be able to get a result here. We’ve just got to put our heads down and get at it.”

The Switchbacks defeated FC Denver 3-2 in the same stage of last season’s Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup behind second half goals from Pascal Eboussi, Uriel Macias, and captain Jordan Burt.  

“Our preparation has got to be about us,” said Trittschuh.  “I know Denver will come in here on a high and fight and scrap to get a result.  We have to play with good intelligence and keep to our game. We did well for 30 minutes in Vegas and we got out of our shape for the first goal.  We’ve got to limit those things and be ready on Wednesday.”

The Switchbacks will return to Weidner Field on Saturday evening to host high-flying New Mexico United.  General Dynamics will be sponsoring a vuvuzela giveaway for the first 500 fans through the gates for the match against New Mexico United, with the Switchbacks looking to post a vital win in the race for the inaugural Four Corners Cup.

“[FC] Denver will bring their best,” said Sam Raben about Wednesday’s opponents.  “We need to make sure we stay confident and play our best game.”