Sunday evening sees the Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC head to Starfire Stadium in Tukwila, Washington to face off against a struggling Seattle Sounders FC 2 team. Fourth in the USL’s Western Conference, the Switchbacks travel north on I-5 to the Emerald City after a 1-1 draw with the Portland Timbers 2 on Thursday night.
The Switchbacks were unlucky not to take all three points from their visit to a rain soaked Merlo Field in Portland after holding a deserved early lead deep into the second half. The Switchbacks put T2 under pressure from the opening whistle, with the attacking trio of Saeed Robinson, Mike Seth, and Miguel Gonzalez all combining well to fashion scoring chances for the visitors.
Thursday’s opening goal fell to Switchbacks captain Luke Vercollone, who made no mistake in dispatching his third goal of the season after a hard-worked assist from Mike Seth. “Scoring always helps with confidence,” said Vercollone. “It’s important to proactively work to keep confidence high whether I score or not. But our primary focus is on the team’s results.”
Timbers 2 forward Kharlton Belmar continued his personal scoring form and leveled the game for the home team in the 87 th minute after picking up the scraps from a Neco Brett free kick. “It was disappointing [to draw] because I thought we had a very good start to the game and had good chances to extend the lead but we needed more desire and commitment to score another goal and finish the game off,” said Switchbacks Head Coach Steve Trittschuh as his team went through preparations for Sunday’s game in Seattle.
“It was a disappointing result for us,” said Nate Robinson. “We felt like we created enough chances to win. The last few games have just been a matter of finishing our chances and we haven’t been good enough in that area. We need to be more clinical against Seattle.”
Defender Joe Greenspan made his debut for the Switchbacks in the tie against the Timbers 2 after officially signing a season-long loan contract from MLS’ Colorado Rapids just a handful of hours prior to Thursday’s kickoff. Starting next to Christian Ibeagha at center back, Greenspan was composed and confident as he played the full 90 minutes. “It felt great to make my debut Thursday night,” said Active Duty U.S. Navy Officer Greenspan. “I think we deserved a bit more than a point based on how hard we defended and with the opportunities we created, but overall I was very pleased. It was my first full 90 minutes at the professional level in twelve months and it was a great starting point to launch ourselves from.”
The addition of Greenspan lends the Switchbacks further defensive depth as they begin their run across the summer fixture list.
Josh Suggs and Davy Armstrong started against the Timbers 2 in the full back positions, with midfielder Rony Argueta again excelling in his role of screening the back four. Taeseong Kim returned to the Switchbacks starting XI, but it was the debut performance of Greenspan which caught they eye. “Joe did great,” said Switchbacks captain Vercollone. “He adds a lot of size and strength to the defense. He’s athletic and also very comfortable on the ball and he distributes it well.”
“I was very happy with Joe in his first competitive match in over a year,” said Head Coach Trittschuh. “He was composed on the ball and he defended very well. If he continues the quality he brought to our team he will be seeing minutes with the Rapids’ First Team.”
Much like their MLS big brothers, the Sounders 2 have endured a frustrating and inconsistent start to the 2016 regular season. With both clubs sitting second-bottom of their respective Western Conference’s, the Sounders 2 enter Sunday evening’s game without a win since June 14th .
S2 defeated the Switchbacks at Starfire Stadium on April 17 th , as a lone goal from Aaron Kovar was enough for the Sounders 2 to win their first game of the season. Still with only three victories this campaign, S2 has been hurt by a defense that’s already conceded 28 goals. “Seattle have good team speed, but they’re struggling this year,” said Steve Trittschuh. “We need to care of business in Seattle and I’m confident we can. Seattle may add guys to their team – we never know – but we’ll go there and play our best game.”
MLS’ Seattle Sounders host the LA Galaxy on Saturday afternoon at CenturyLink Field in Seattle, Washington and the starting lineups in that match could influence player selection for Sunday’s game between S2 and the Switchbacks.
Despite the lineup uncertainty and the struggles of the Sounders 2 this season, the Switchbacks were keen to push past the result in Portland and avenge April’s defeat to S2. “We’ll be hungry to right the wrong of our loss in Seattle,” said goalkeeper Billy Thompson. “But we can’t think back too much on the earlier game – we just have to prepare for what’s ahead.”
“We need to take Seattle seriously since they are tough at home and we haven’t beaten them there yet,” said Vercollone. “It will be a hard game and we are certainly motivated to get our first win at their place.”
“Every game in our division is important for points,” insisted Head Coach Trittschuh. “Any team in our division can get points on anyone so we need to be focused on what we need to do tactically and be competitive to fight for points.”
“We look at Seattle as a must-win game to get us back on track so we’ve been working hard to prepare for it,” said Nate Robinson. “To return home with 4 points from two road games would be a good start.”
Sunday’s game in Seattle will give winger Miguel Gonzalez yet another chance to impress in front of his family and hometown friends. Gonzalez, who attended both Peninsula College and Seattle University, grew up in Yelm, Washington. “It’s always good to go back and great to see my family,” said Gonzalez. “I hope we can all have fun and get the win – that would make the trip perfect. We take every game seriously and we know Seattle can be dangerous so we all have to be ready.”
“We look back and want to prove something to Seattle this time with a big win,” said Switchbacks defender and Seattle native Josh Phillips. “We have some local Seattle boys on the team and we are all looking forward to playing in front of our friends and family. Miguel [Gonzalez] always plays very well there in front of all his family and friends so hopefully we can all use that energy.”
S2 will travel to Colorado Springs to face the Switchbacks in the penultimate game of the regular season on September 17th .
With just eleven goals conceded this season, the Switchbacks have the stingiest defense in the USL’s Western Conference and have only added to their powerful back-line with the loan capture of Joe Greenspan. Sunday evening against S2 gives Greenspan the opportunity for further familiarization with his new squad mates ahead of a packed end-of- July USL schedule. “We’ve gelled rather quickly,” said Greenspan of his place among his new teammates. “It’s a great group of guys, on and off the field. They’ve taken me in as their own and have helped make the transition quite easy.”
Sunday evening sees the Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC head to Starfire Stadium in Tukwila, Washington to face off against a struggling Seattle Sounders FC 2 team. Fourth in the USL’s Western Conference, the Switchbacks travel north on I-5 to the Emerald City after a 1-1 draw with the Portland Timbers 2 on Thursday night.
The Switchbacks were unlucky not to take all three points from their visit to a rain soaked Merlo Field in Portland after holding a deserved early lead deep into the second half. The Switchbacks put T2 under pressure from the opening whistle, with the attacking trio of Saeed Robinson, Mike Seth, and Miguel Gonzalez all combining well to fashion scoring chances for the visitors.
Thursday’s opening goal fell to Switchbacks captain Luke Vercollone, who made no mistake in dispatching his third goal of the season after a hard-worked assist from Mike Seth. “Scoring always helps with confidence,” said Vercollone. “It’s important to proactively work to keep confidence high whether I score or not. But our primary focus is on the team’s results.”
Timbers 2 forward Kharlton Belmar continued his personal scoring form and leveled the game for the home team in the 87 th minute after picking up the scraps from a Neco Brett free kick. “It was disappointing [to draw] because I thought we had a very good start to the game and had good chances to extend the lead but we needed more desire and commitment to score another goal and finish the game off,” said Switchbacks Head Coach Steve Trittschuh as his team went through preparations for Sunday’s game in Seattle.
“It was a disappointing result for us,” said Nate Robinson. “We felt like we created enough chances to win. The last few games have just been a matter of finishing our chances and we haven’t been good enough in that area. We need to be more clinical against Seattle.”
Defender Joe Greenspan made his debut for the Switchbacks in the tie against the Timbers 2 after officially signing a season-long loan contract from MLS’ Colorado Rapids just a handful of hours prior to Thursday’s kickoff. Starting next to Christian Ibeagha at center back, Greenspan was composed and confident as he played the full 90 minutes. “It felt great to make my debut Thursday night,” said Active Duty U.S. Navy Officer Greenspan. “I think we deserved a bit more than a point based on how hard we defended and with the opportunities we created, but overall I was very pleased. It was my first full 90 minutes at the professional level in twelve months and it was a great starting point to launch ourselves from.”
The addition of Greenspan lends the Switchbacks further defensive depth as they begin their run across the summer fixture list.
Josh Suggs and Davy Armstrong started against the Timbers 2 in the full back positions, with midfielder Rony Argueta again excelling in his role of screening the back four. Taeseong Kim returned to the Switchbacks starting XI, but it was the debut performance of Greenspan which caught they eye. “Joe did great,” said Switchbacks captain Vercollone. “He adds a lot of size and strength to the defense. He’s athletic and also very comfortable on the ball and he distributes it well.”
“I was very happy with Joe in his first competitive match in over a year,” said Head Coach Trittschuh. “He was composed on the ball and he defended very well. If he continues the quality he brought to our team he will be seeing minutes with the Rapids’ First Team.”
Much like their MLS big brothers, the Sounders 2 have endured a frustrating and inconsistent start to the 2016 regular season. With both clubs sitting second-bottom of their respective Western Conference’s, the Sounders 2 enter Sunday evening’s game without a win since June 14th .
S2 defeated the Switchbacks at Starfire Stadium on April 17 th , as a lone goal from Aaron Kovar was enough for the Sounders 2 to win their first game of the season. Still with only three victories this campaign, S2 has been hurt by a defense that’s already conceded 28 goals. “Seattle have good team speed, but they’re struggling this year,” said Steve Trittschuh. “We need to care of business in Seattle and I’m confident we can. Seattle may add guys to their team – we never know – but we’ll go there and play our best game.”
MLS’ Seattle Sounders host the LA Galaxy on Saturday afternoon at CenturyLink Field in Seattle, Washington and the starting lineups in that match could influence player selection for Sunday’s game between S2 and the Switchbacks.
Despite the lineup uncertainty and the struggles of the Sounders 2 this season, the Switchbacks were keen to push past the result in Portland and avenge April’s defeat to S2. “We’ll be hungry to right the wrong of our loss in Seattle,” said goalkeeper Billy Thompson. “But we can’t think back too much on the earlier game – we just have to prepare for what’s ahead.”
“We need to take Seattle seriously since they are tough at home and we haven’t beaten them there yet,” said Vercollone. “It will be a hard game and we are certainly motivated to get our first win at their place.”
“Every game in our division is important for points,” insisted Head Coach Trittschuh. “Any team in our division can get points on anyone so we need to be focused on what we need to do tactically and be competitive to fight for points.”
“We look at Seattle as a must-win game to get us back on track so we’ve been working hard to prepare for it,” said Nate Robinson. “To return home with 4 points from two road games would be a good start.”
Sunday’s game in Seattle will give winger Miguel Gonzalez yet another chance to impress in front of his family and hometown friends. Gonzalez, who attended both Peninsula College and Seattle University, grew up in Yelm, Washington. “It’s always good to go back and great to see my family,” said Gonzalez. “I hope we can all have fun and get the win – that would make the trip perfect. We take every game seriously and we know Seattle can be dangerous so we all have to be ready.”
“We look back and want to prove something to Seattle this time with a big win,” said Switchbacks defender and Seattle native Josh Phillips. “We have some local Seattle boys on the team and we are all looking forward to playing in front of our friends and family. Miguel [Gonzalez] always plays very well there in front of all his family and friends so hopefully we can all use that energy.”
S2 will travel to Colorado Springs to face the Switchbacks in the penultimate game of the regular season on September 17th .
With just eleven goals conceded this season, the Switchbacks have the stingiest defense in the USL’s Western Conference and have only added to their powerful back-line with the loan capture of Joe Greenspan. Sunday evening against S2 gives Greenspan the opportunity for further familiarization with his new squad mates ahead of a packed end-of- July USL schedule. “We’ve gelled rather quickly,” said Greenspan of his place among his new teammates. “It’s a great group of guys, on and off the field. They’ve taken me in as their own and have helped make the transition quite easy.”