This evening the Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC host the Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC in the 2nd Round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup at Weidner Field in downtown Colorado Springs. The Switchbacks will return to USL Championship action at Weidner Field on Saturday against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds, with tickets for both matches available HERE.
What the Switchbacks Say:
Head Coach Stephen Hogan: “We know [Hailstorm Head Coach] Eamon [Zayed] quite well obviously with our relationship within the game and we know what they’re about. If we don’t come with any sort of physicality then it’s going to be a long, cold night. There’s some rotation [within the Switchbacks squad] that’s going to happen for sure – it has to happen. Three [games] in eight [days] for us with the roster size is just not doable. The idea is to mix, match, and get players minutes that did play over the weekend – and some opportunities for some guys that need it as well. I’m excited to see them all play.
Hogan then provided an update on Jamaican winger Maalique Foster. Foster was forced out of last Saturday’s victory over Loudoun United in Leesburg, Virginia in the 31st minute. “Maalique is fine. We’re waiting on further results – just to confirm that we are nowhere near long-term, which is great. [Maalique] will probably not be available [tonight] but there is a chance for Saturday, so it all just depends on what the Doctor says.”
Switchbacks’ latest signing, Dillon Clarke: “It’s been awesome [to be a part of the Switchbacks]. They’ve all been awesome and they’ve all been welcoming and it’s been a fun time, I’ve learned a lot, and grown with the team. Overall it’s been a really fun time. [Wednesday] is super exciting because we’re back home, we’ve got the fans behind us and we just came off a win and three points and we’re trying to get another win. [The key to getting a win is to] keep working hard, playing our game, stay disciplined on offense and defense and don’t let anything affect us and just play our way.”
Hailstorm Warning:
“[Hailstorm] are physical, but fast,” said Head Coach Hogan. “I think they’ll come right at us and I think they love playing here. No disrespect to the organization but they do try and treat it like a World Cup Final, and it physically gets out of hand at times – which I’m not looking forward to seeing. At the end of the day we’re going to try and play the way we play, and move the ball the way we move, and transition the way we do, and then see if we can compete with their physicality within duels.”
Last year the Hailstorm defeated the Switchbacks 1-0 at Weidner Field in the 2nd Round of the 2022 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup behind an extra-time goal from Jerry Desdunes in the 96th minute. That match saw nine yellow cards and the dismissals of Hailstorm striker Irvin Parra and Switchbacks defender Triston Hodge, who were both sent off.
Vargish’s View: Last season Switchbacks fans saw first-hand just how dangerous a Hailstorm in Colorado can be. The Hailstorm are stacked with players that have experience across North America and the world, including Irvin Parra, former Heart of Midlothian winger Billy King, Rob Cornwall, and goalkeeper Lalo Delgado. They will try to impose their physicality and their will on the match. If the game is slow, scrappy, stop-start, and frankly ugly, the Hailstorm will have a chance to log their second win at Weidner Field in as many years. The Switchbacks showed real persistence and guts to fight their way out of Virginia with a win last Saturday. That same fight and grit will be required tonight and it’s a wonderful opportunity for Switchbacks fans to see the depth and youth on the Switchbacks roster. This is going to be a good game between two contrasting styles and a match that’s perfectly suited for a brisk Wednesday night in downtown Colorado Springs
