Saturday evening will see the Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC begin their 2017 home USL campaign at Weidner Field against the Oklahoma City Energy FC.
Both clubs enter the new season after making the playoffs in 2016 and having fallen in the knockout-stages to the Vancouver Whitecaps 2. The Switchbacks swept the 2016 regular season meetings between Saturday’s opponents, with a 2-0 victory at Weidner Field coming almost five months after the Switchbacks began their season with a 2-1 win at Taft Stadium in Oklahoma City.
OKC Energy FC defender Coady Andrews staked his club to a 1-0 lead in their first match of the current season against the Swope Park Rangers on Saturday night at Swope Soccer Village in Kansas City, Missouri before Swope Park stormed back to seal all three points with a 3-1 win. Spanish midfielder José Barril saw red after picking up two yellow cards in stoppage time and will be suspended for Saturday’s match at Weidner Field.
“OKC [Energy FC] are coming off a loss so they’ll be looking to get back on track, but we are going to use playing in front of our home fans and the weather and really come out ready to play,” said Switchbacks Head Coach Steve Trittschuh. Winter-like conditions are predicted for Saturday’s match in the Rocky Mountains, although glorious spring sunshine bathed the Switchbacks’ Thursday morning practice at the United States Air Force Academy.
“We’ve been training all spring up here and we’re used to playing in it and living in it,” said Trittschuh. “Nothing that happens with the weather will be anything new for our players and they all know that.”
“Part of me wants it to snow – and snow a lot!” exclaimed central defender Josh Phillips when asked about the potential for Saturday’s weather to be less than optimal. “We want the conditions to be brutal and we want to be that team nobody wants to play…I really hope it snows on Saturday because that will give us even more of an edge.”
Switchbacks captain, central midfielder Rony Argueta, echoed the statements of both his head coach and teammates: “Honestly I hope the weather is brutal at game time. We’ve trained in it and we’re ready for it and we know the fans will be there no matter what. I’m really excited to be back home and to step out on our field again.”
OKC Energy FC Head Coach Jimmy Nielsen will bring with him a veteran, experienced and physical team to Colorado Springs. Nielsen furthered the connection between Oklahoma City and the Head Coach’s native Denmark as the Energy brought in forward Philip Rasmussen ahead of the 2017 season.
Fellow Dane Danni König brings athleticism and height to the Energy’s forward line, while Polish striker Wojciech Wojcik stands 6’ 4” and was a key outlet early in the Energy’s loss to the Swope Park Rangers.
“We’ve got a lot of physicality too and all our guys compete,” said Rony Argueta when asked about the threat of OKC’s size. “We need to match their intensity and bring our own level of pressure. If we do that we can handle the physical battle on Saturday.”
A familiar face to all those at Weidner Field this weekend will be that of former Switchbacks winger Miguel Gonzalez. Gonzalez left Colorado Springs after two highly successful seasons with the Switchbacks to join the Oklahoma City Energy FC and his brother, midfielder Daniel Gonzalez.
Los Angeles-born midfielder Alejandro Covarrubias bosses the Energy FC play from his free-roaming central midfield position and will be key to the success of the Energy’s attack on Saturday. Luis Martinez may well be tapped with replacing the suspended José Barril, while Coy Craft will no doubt be hoping for additional minutes after a 20-minute substitute appearance against Swope Park.
For the Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC, Saturday is about beginning the 2017 season on a positive note at Weidner Field – no matter the weekend weather.
“It’s always good to get back to our home field and get the big first game out of the way for us,” said Head Coach Steve Trittschuh. “I hope the players can take advantage of what was a really good and intense week of practice for us.”
“The whole team is excited for Saturday,” stressed left back Josh Suggs. “Oklahoma City have brought in a lot of talent – a number of good players – and it’s always a good rivalry and test to play against them.”
“We’re all ready for the first game here,” said Josh Phillips. “My family is flying in for the game on Saturday so I’m personally even more excited because of that. But we know how difficult this weekend will be. OKC are a good, deep team and we know we’ll have to be on our game.”
The Switchbacks’ preparation for Saturday’s home opener also included a scrimmage against a selection of players from the Colorado Rapids on Tuesday morning in Denver. “I’ve loved the intensity of training this week,” said midfielder Jacob Cawsey. “We competed versus the Rapids and looked organized and I hope we take that into Saturday. The game against the Rapids was a big positive for all of us to take confidence into this weekend.”
Saturday evening will see the Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC begin their 2017 home USL campaign at Weidner Field against the Oklahoma City Energy FC.
Both clubs enter the new season after making the playoffs in 2016 and having fallen in the knockout-stages to the Vancouver Whitecaps 2. The Switchbacks swept the 2016 regular season meetings between Saturday’s opponents, with a 2-0 victory at Weidner Field coming almost five months after the Switchbacks began their season with a 2-1 win at Taft Stadium in Oklahoma City.
OKC Energy FC defender Coady Andrews staked his club to a 1-0 lead in their first match of the current season against the Swope Park Rangers on Saturday night at Swope Soccer Village in Kansas City, Missouri before Swope Park stormed back to seal all three points with a 3-1 win. Spanish midfielder José Barril saw red after picking up two yellow cards in stoppage time and will be suspended for Saturday’s match at Weidner Field.
“OKC [Energy FC] are coming off a loss so they’ll be looking to get back on track, but we are going to use playing in front of our home fans and the weather and really come out ready to play,” said Switchbacks Head Coach Steve Trittschuh. Winter-like conditions are predicted for Saturday’s match in the Rocky Mountains, although glorious spring sunshine bathed the Switchbacks’ Thursday morning practice at the United States Air Force Academy.
“We’ve been training all spring up here and we’re used to playing in it and living in it,” said Trittschuh. “Nothing that happens with the weather will be anything new for our players and they all know that.”
“Part of me wants it to snow – and snow a lot!” exclaimed central defender Josh Phillips when asked about the potential for Saturday’s weather to be less than optimal. “We want the conditions to be brutal and we want to be that team nobody wants to play…I really hope it snows on Saturday because that will give us even more of an edge.”
Switchbacks captain, central midfielder Rony Argueta, echoed the statements of both his head coach and teammates: “Honestly I hope the weather is brutal at game time. We’ve trained in it and we’re ready for it and we know the fans will be there no matter what. I’m really excited to be back home and to step out on our field again.”
OKC Energy FC Head Coach Jimmy Nielsen will bring with him a veteran, experienced and physical team to Colorado Springs. Nielsen furthered the connection between Oklahoma City and the Head Coach’s native Denmark as the Energy brought in forward Philip Rasmussen ahead of the 2017 season.
Fellow Dane Danni König brings athleticism and height to the Energy’s forward line, while Polish striker Wojciech Wojcik stands 6’ 4” and was a key outlet early in the Energy’s loss to the Swope Park Rangers.
“We’ve got a lot of physicality too and all our guys compete,” said Rony Argueta when asked about the threat of OKC’s size. “We need to match their intensity and bring our own level of pressure. If we do that we can handle the physical battle on Saturday.”
A familiar face to all those at Weidner Field this weekend will be that of former Switchbacks winger Miguel Gonzalez. Gonzalez left Colorado Springs after two highly successful seasons with the Switchbacks to join the Oklahoma City Energy FC and his brother, midfielder Daniel Gonzalez.
Los Angeles-born midfielder Alejandro Covarrubias bosses the Energy FC play from his free-roaming central midfield position and will be key to the success of the Energy’s attack on Saturday. Luis Martinez may well be tapped with replacing the suspended José Barril, while Coy Craft will no doubt be hoping for additional minutes after a 20-minute substitute appearance against Swope Park.
For the Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC, Saturday is about beginning the 2017 season on a positive note at Weidner Field – no matter the weekend weather.
“It’s always good to get back to our home field and get the big first game out of the way for us,” said Head Coach Steve Trittschuh. “I hope the players can take advantage of what was a really good and intense week of practice for us.”
“The whole team is excited for Saturday,” stressed left back Josh Suggs. “Oklahoma City have brought in a lot of talent – a number of good players – and it’s always a good rivalry and test to play against them.”
“We’re all ready for the first game here,” said Josh Phillips. “My family is flying in for the game on Saturday so I’m personally even more excited because of that. But we know how difficult this weekend will be. OKC are a good, deep team and we know we’ll have to be on our game.”
The Switchbacks’ preparation for Saturday’s home opener also included a scrimmage against a selection of players from the Colorado Rapids on Tuesday morning in Denver. “I’ve loved the intensity of training this week,” said midfielder Jacob Cawsey. “We competed versus the Rapids and looked organized and I hope we take that into Saturday. The game against the Rapids was a big positive for all of us to take confidence into this weekend.”
