The Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC begin a stretch of three matches in just nine days on Friday evening as they visit Toyota Field and highflying San Antonio FC.
Monday saw the USL officially award the Switchbacks’ opening round match of the 2017 season as a 3-0 victory – after it was determined the Tulsa Roughnecks fielded an ineligible player in the match that ended in a 4-1 Roughnecks victory on March 25th.
The USL’s confirmation of the result reversal sees the Switchbacks vault into 5th place in the Western Conference, two points behind San Antonio FC.
Back-to-back victories – against the Rio Grande Valley FC Toros and Los Angeles Galaxy II, respectively – has seen San Antonio FC start 2017 in near-perfect fashion. An impressive 1-0 road victory against RGVFC was followed by a 3-0 thumping of the Galaxy II at Toyota Field in San Antonio.
“San Antonio are a good, organized and disciplined team,” said Switchbacks Head Coach Steve Trittschuh. “They’re flying high right now and they looked solid versus L.A. [Galaxy II] on Saturday. As a team we have got to be better if we want to get a result against them. I told the guys to bring up their intensity this week in practice and we’ll see just how much we’re able to improve because we will need to if we want to get the result down there.”
Playing in a wide attacking position for San Antonio FC is USL veteran Kris Tyrpak – a name that Switchbacks fans will know after Tyrpak’s goal-scoring exploits for the Swope Park Rangers in 2016 and Austin Aztex during the Switchbacks’ inaugural season of 2015.
Nigerian-born defender Sebastian Ibeagha, brother of former Switchbacks center back Christian Ibeagha, played all 90 minutes in the impressive victory against the Galaxy II and will no doubt keep his place at the heart of the San Antonio defense on Friday. Ibeagha was awarded a place on the USL’s Team of the Week after his Week 1 performance against RGVFC, with teammate and fellow defender Greg Cochrane also catching the eye with solid performances in both of San Antonio’s victories.
Four different scorers have accounted for San Antonio’s goals this season, while local goalkeeper and beard-enthusiast Matt Cardone has expertly marshaled their defense through the first two matches. Cardone, a collegiate star with San Antonio’s Trinity University Tigers, is yet to give up a goal in 2017.
Tenacious midfielder Billy Forbes is coming off a whirlwind performance against the Galaxy that saw Forbes named a starter on the USL’s Team of the Week.
“They have really good players – we all know that and we’ve been studying up on them. But we’ve improved over the last two games and right now we’re trying to make sure we’re all at our best for Friday,” said Switchbacks captain Rony Argueta. “We keep building confidence but we all have to be smart with the travel coming up because that’s going to be a test. As always it’s about being smart with our preparation and keeping our focus – in the game and also this week. We know we are going to face a tough team in San Antonio in a big stadium and it’s going to take all our strength to get points.”
The Switchbacks will return to Colorado Springs after the 750-mile trip to San Antonio, before making the almost 1000 mile journey to Edinburg, Texas for the midweek matchup against RGVFC on Wednesday, April 12th.
“It’s always fun to go there and play – it’s a great stadium with a great field and we know our guys will feed off that,” said Head Coach Trittschuh. “Physically it’s going to be hard because we’re flying back for 2 days before going back to Texas for Rio Grande. I hope the players will be able to get their legs back under them, but we just focus on San Antonio now.”
“Dealing with the travel is nothing more than being a professional,” said goalkeeper Dan Jackson. “We’ve all traveled these distances before and the second you step on the field you know we’re there for one reason; three points. It all comes down to focus and preparation before we travel and I know we’ll work on that all week here.”
Jackson started in the Switchbacks’ 1-1 tie with the Oklahoma City Energy FC at Weidner Field in Colorado Springs last Saturday, with the University of Denver product producing a brilliant first-half save that kept the Switchbacks level.
“Dan stood strong on Saturday,” said Trittschuh. “I’m still not happy with the goal we gave up, but then Dan made a great save for us!”
Winger Masta Kacher gave the Switchbacks the lead against OKC with a devilishly curling and dipping strike that seems destined to be named the USL’s Goal of the Week.
“Personally the goal helps me, but I want to help the team more on defense and help my teammates and make sure we all get more touches of the ball,” said Kacher after a frigid Monday training session in Colorado Springs. “We go in to Texas confident but we need to show that in our practice this week also. We have to continue this week to work hard – that’s how we build confidence.”
With more than half the Switchbacks’ roster comprised of new additions, growing pains were inevitable early in the 2017 season. But with 4 points from their opening two matches, the Switchbacks have a solid foundation with which to go into the Texas two-step against San Antonio FC and Rio Grande Valley FC.
“People feel more comfortable and our communication is helping with improving the good relationships that are starting to form on the field,” said Dan Jackson. “I think the team is coming together quickly and I really like to see the new players looking after each other. San Antonio will be tough, but with the work we’re putting in we’ll be ready.”
The Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC begin a stretch of three matches in just nine days on Friday evening as they visit Toyota Field and highflying San Antonio FC.
Monday saw the USL officially award the Switchbacks’ opening round match of the 2017 season as a 3-0 victory – after it was determined the Tulsa Roughnecks fielded an ineligible player in the match that ended in a 4-1 Roughnecks victory on March 25th.
The USL’s confirmation of the result reversal sees the Switchbacks vault into 5th place in the Western Conference, two points behind San Antonio FC.
Back-to-back victories – against the Rio Grande Valley FC Toros and Los Angeles Galaxy II, respectively – has seen San Antonio FC start 2017 in near-perfect fashion. An impressive 1-0 road victory against RGVFC was followed by a 3-0 thumping of the Galaxy II at Toyota Field in San Antonio.
“San Antonio are a good, organized and disciplined team,” said Switchbacks Head Coach Steve Trittschuh. “They’re flying high right now and they looked solid versus L.A. [Galaxy II] on Saturday. As a team we have got to be better if we want to get a result against them. I told the guys to bring up their intensity this week in practice and we’ll see just how much we’re able to improve because we will need to if we want to get the result down there.”
Playing in a wide attacking position for San Antonio FC is USL veteran Kris Tyrpak – a name that Switchbacks fans will know after Tyrpak’s goal-scoring exploits for the Swope Park Rangers in 2016 and Austin Aztex during the Switchbacks’ inaugural season of 2015.
Nigerian-born defender Sebastian Ibeagha, brother of former Switchbacks center back Christian Ibeagha, played all 90 minutes in the impressive victory against the Galaxy II and will no doubt keep his place at the heart of the San Antonio defense on Friday. Ibeagha was awarded a place on the USL’s Team of the Week after his Week 1 performance against RGVFC, with teammate and fellow defender Greg Cochrane also catching the eye with solid performances in both of San Antonio’s victories.
Four different scorers have accounted for San Antonio’s goals this season, while local goalkeeper and beard-enthusiast Matt Cardone has expertly marshaled their defense through the first two matches. Cardone, a collegiate star with San Antonio’s Trinity University Tigers, is yet to give up a goal in 2017.
Tenacious midfielder Billy Forbes is coming off a whirlwind performance against the Galaxy that saw Forbes named a starter on the USL’s Team of the Week.
“They have really good players – we all know that and we’ve been studying up on them. But we’ve improved over the last two games and right now we’re trying to make sure we’re all at our best for Friday,” said Switchbacks captain Rony Argueta. “We keep building confidence but we all have to be smart with the travel coming up because that’s going to be a test. As always it’s about being smart with our preparation and keeping our focus – in the game and also this week. We know we are going to face a tough team in San Antonio in a big stadium and it’s going to take all our strength to get points.”
The Switchbacks will return to Colorado Springs after the 750-mile trip to San Antonio, before making the almost 1000 mile journey to Edinburg, Texas for the midweek matchup against RGVFC on Wednesday, April 12th.
“It’s always fun to go there and play – it’s a great stadium with a great field and we know our guys will feed off that,” said Head Coach Trittschuh. “Physically it’s going to be hard because we’re flying back for 2 days before going back to Texas for Rio Grande. I hope the players will be able to get their legs back under them, but we just focus on San Antonio now.”
“Dealing with the travel is nothing more than being a professional,” said goalkeeper Dan Jackson. “We’ve all traveled these distances before and the second you step on the field you know we’re there for one reason; three points. It all comes down to focus and preparation before we travel and I know we’ll work on that all week here.”
Jackson started in the Switchbacks’ 1-1 tie with the Oklahoma City Energy FC at Weidner Field in Colorado Springs last Saturday, with the University of Denver product producing a brilliant first-half save that kept the Switchbacks level.
“Dan stood strong on Saturday,” said Trittschuh. “I’m still not happy with the goal we gave up, but then Dan made a great save for us!”
Winger Masta Kacher gave the Switchbacks the lead against OKC with a devilishly curling and dipping strike that seems destined to be named the USL’s Goal of the Week.
“Personally the goal helps me, but I want to help the team more on defense and help my teammates and make sure we all get more touches of the ball,” said Kacher after a frigid Monday training session in Colorado Springs. “We go in to Texas confident but we need to show that in our practice this week also. We have to continue this week to work hard – that’s how we build confidence.”
With more than half the Switchbacks’ roster comprised of new additions, growing pains were inevitable early in the 2017 season. But with 4 points from their opening two matches, the Switchbacks have a solid foundation with which to go into the Texas two-step against San Antonio FC and Rio Grande Valley FC.
“People feel more comfortable and our communication is helping with improving the good relationships that are starting to form on the field,” said Dan Jackson. “I think the team is coming together quickly and I really like to see the new players looking after each other. San Antonio will be tough, but with the work we’re putting in we’ll be ready.”