The Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC make their way to the Rose City to take on the Portland Timbers 2 this Saturday evening at Merlo Field on the campus of the University of Portland. Last weekend, wild, winter-like conditions blasted Colorado Springs causing a near-three-hour delay before the Switchbacks fell 2-0 to visiting Reno 1868 FC.
“The weather and the delay affected us against Reno,” said Switchbacks Head Coach Steve Trittschuh on Wednesday morning. “Professional players are creatures of habit, and it was hard for us not knowing when the game would start. In the first half we played well but it’s the same story; we just didn’t take our chances. Reno’s first goal was a bad mistake – we couldn’t clear the ball. But the players have had a good attitude. We talked on Tuesday as a group and I told them we’ve been playing well, but that we just need more quality when we have chances.”
The Switchbacks outshot Reno 24 to 15, and both outcrossed and out-possessed the visitors from the Biggest Little City in the World last Saturday at Weidner Field. Mike Seth was unlucky to not win his team a first half penalty kick after a Reno handball, and now the Switchbacks will spend the week preparing in Colorado Springs to face the USL Championship’s Western Conference leaders in T2.
“Portland are getting a lot of results at the top of the table,” said Switchbacks captain Jordan Burt. “It’s a good place to play and we’ve always done well there in the past. The guys love playing on the good field there and we’ll be looking to bounce back.”
“We have to get a result this week because we fell short against Reno,” said center back Jamal Jack. “It will be tough in training because we’ll be fighting for spots – the players will do their best this week because we all want to play in Portland.”
On Saturday the Timbers 2 defeated Sacramento Republic 1-0 behind a 29th minute penalty kick from Gambian captain Modou Jadama. The win moved T2 into first place in the USL Championship Western Conference, with Head Coach Cameron Knowles’ team tied on points with red-hot New Mexico United – although T2 have a game in hand.
“Portland are a good, solid team,” said Trittschuh. “They have good players in attack and they’re doing well this season. We always play well on the road on a good field – and Portland have the best field in the league. [Foster] Langsdorf and [Brayan] Hurtado very good players. [Eryk] Williamson and Todd Wharton played well against Sacramento – Portland have good players and their defense is solid and they have a lot of MLS experience. They’re playing well, so we’ve got to go and play our game and take our chances.”
June 17th of 2018 saw the Switchbacks run away 4-1 winners at Merlo Field, fueled by a brace from Jordan Burt. Later this season, the Switchbacks will host T2 on Wednesday, August 7th at Weidner Field with Centura Orthopedics sponsoring a cowbell giveaway for the first 500 fans in attendance.
“Portland are playing well offensively so we need to get off to a good start and we have to be better and that starts at training today,” said Rony Argueta on Tuesday morning. “This week we will work to get some good insight about Portland. From what I’ve seen, they’re really organized and they’ll build from the back no matter what. Portland are a young team and they’re full of energy and we know it’s a difficult place to play. It’s tough to forget about the game against Reno and put it away, but we have to because if we don’t move on, we lose focus on what’s next.”
The Switchbacks face a tight turnaround after Saturday’s match in the great Pacific Northwest, as they will return to Colorado Springs before making their way to Oklahoma for a midweek showdown with the Tulsa Roughnecks FC on April 24th. May 4th will see the Switchbacks return to Weidner Field as they host El Paso Locomotive FC on $3 margarita night. Pikes Peak National Bank will be sponsoring a bucket hat giveaway for the first 1,000 fans at Weidner Field.
The Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC make their way to the Rose City to take on the Portland Timbers 2 this Saturday evening at Merlo Field on the campus of the University of Portland. Last weekend, wild, winter-like conditions blasted Colorado Springs causing a near-three-hour delay before the Switchbacks fell 2-0 to visiting Reno 1868 FC.
“The weather and the delay affected us against Reno,” said Switchbacks Head Coach Steve Trittschuh on Wednesday morning. “Professional players are creatures of habit, and it was hard for us not knowing when the game would start. In the first half we played well but it’s the same story; we just didn’t take our chances. Reno’s first goal was a bad mistake – we couldn’t clear the ball. But the players have had a good attitude. We talked on Tuesday as a group and I told them we’ve been playing well, but that we just need more quality when we have chances.”
The Switchbacks outshot Reno 24 to 15, and both outcrossed and out-possessed the visitors from the Biggest Little City in the World last Saturday at Weidner Field. Mike Seth was unlucky to not win his team a first half penalty kick after a Reno handball, and now the Switchbacks will spend the week preparing in Colorado Springs to face the USL Championship’s Western Conference leaders in T2.
“Portland are getting a lot of results at the top of the table,” said Switchbacks captain Jordan Burt. “It’s a good place to play and we’ve always done well there in the past. The guys love playing on the good field there and we’ll be looking to bounce back.”
“We have to get a result this week because we fell short against Reno,” said center back Jamal Jack. “It will be tough in training because we’ll be fighting for spots – the players will do their best this week because we all want to play in Portland.”
On Saturday the Timbers 2 defeated Sacramento Republic 1-0 behind a 29th minute penalty kick from Gambian captain Modou Jadama. The win moved T2 into first place in the USL Championship Western Conference, with Head Coach Cameron Knowles’ team tied on points with red-hot New Mexico United – although T2 have a game in hand.
“Portland are a good, solid team,” said Trittschuh. “They have good players in attack and they’re doing well this season. We always play well on the road on a good field – and Portland have the best field in the league. [Foster] Langsdorf and [Brayan] Hurtado very good players. [Eryk] Williamson and Todd Wharton played well against Sacramento – Portland have good players and their defense is solid and they have a lot of MLS experience. They’re playing well, so we’ve got to go and play our game and take our chances.”
June 17th of 2018 saw the Switchbacks run away 4-1 winners at Merlo Field, fueled by a brace from Jordan Burt. Later this season, the Switchbacks will host T2 on Wednesday, August 7th at Weidner Field with Centura Orthopedics sponsoring a cowbell giveaway for the first 500 fans in attendance.
“Portland are playing well offensively so we need to get off to a good start and we have to be better and that starts at training today,” said Rony Argueta on Tuesday morning. “This week we will work to get some good insight about Portland. From what I’ve seen, they’re really organized and they’ll build from the back no matter what. Portland are a young team and they’re full of energy and we know it’s a difficult place to play. It’s tough to forget about the game against Reno and put it away, but we have to because if we don’t move on, we lose focus on what’s next.”
The Switchbacks face a tight turnaround after Saturday’s match in the great Pacific Northwest, as they will return to Colorado Springs before making their way to Oklahoma for a midweek showdown with the Tulsa Roughnecks FC on April 24th. May 4th will see the Switchbacks return to Weidner Field as they host El Paso Locomotive FC on $3 margarita night. Pikes Peak National Bank will be sponsoring a bucket hat giveaway for the first 1,000 fans at Weidner Field.
