Colorado Springs, CO (August 23rd) – The Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC host the Oklahoma City Energy FC on Wednesday evening as both clubs look to stake their claim as the best team in the USL’s Western Conference.
Broadcast live on ESPN 3 as the USL Game of the Week, Wednesday’s matchup will see the Switchbacks and Energy face off for the first time since the opening game of the 2016 season – a 2-1 Switchbacks victory at Taft Field in Oklahoma’s capital city on March 26th. Goals from Marty Maybin and Miguel Gonzalez gave the Switchbacks a deserved two-goal cushion before a nervous final half hour in which the Switchbacks defended resolutely to guarantee all three points.
The opening day victory against the Energy must have been greeted with a sense of both relief and revenge for the Switchbacks, who endured a winless 2015 against their burgeoning rivals from OKC. Two regular season wins for the Energy were punctuated by a penalty shootout victory over the Switchbacks that saw Colorado Springs’ inaugural playoff run ended in the Western Conference Semifinals.
“This is a massive game on Wednesday that we can’t even tie,” said Switchbacks midfielder Shintaro Harada. “But we are not playing for revenge from last year – just winning this game is our focus. They [OKC] are a strong team, but we can win the game by playing well and staying together.”
Harada may be called upon from the start against OKC, as the Switchbacks enter Wednesday’s game with uncertainty surrounding the availability of defensive midfielder Rony Argueta. Argueta was issued a straight red card in the 2-0 loss to the Rio Grande Valley FC Toros on Sunday afternoon at Switchbacks Stadium, although replays indicate that decision may have been harsh. “We’re appealing the red card because if you watch the footage Rony doesn’t even make contact,” said Switchbacks Head Coach Steve Trittschuh. “Hopefully the decision now goes our way, but no matter what we have guys who are ready to step in and step up when they’re needed.”
Another Switchbacks player whose name may well be called to replace Argueta is midfielder Jacob Cawsey. Cawsey refused to be drawn on his personal involvement on Wednesday, instead focusing solely on his team’s performance. “We know what OKC are about and there’s a big rivalry there. I made my professional debut in Oklahoma in the first game of the season, but that doesn’t matter now and as always the only thing that really does matter is getting all three points. We had a couple tough decisions go against us on Sunday so now we need to win to start some momentum for these last few games of the regular season.”
“We need the confidence of a win for the rest of our games going forward,” stressed Shin Harada. “I don’t think we will have or feel any pressure on Wednesday because we know how good we can play and we know we were unlucky on Sunday.”
Level on 37 points, the Switchbacks and Energy know Wednesday’s game could drastically alter the playoff fortunes of whichever team is able to snatch a priceless three points. The Switchbacks currently occupy fourth-place in the USL’s Western Conference, with the OKC Energy in fifth – although OKC have played two fewer games than each of the four clubs they trail in the standings.
The Oklahoma City Energy FC ride into Colorado Springs with not only an extra day’s rest over Wednesday’s hosts, but also with winning momentum after taking all three points from a hotly contested Black Gold Derby against in-state foe Tulsa Roughnecks FC. A goal-of-the-season candidate from German midfielder Timo Pitter sent OKC on their way to a victory that was sealed by a Danni König goal just after the hour mark.
Standout goalkeeper Cody Laurendi kept his eleventh clean sheet of the season on Saturday evening for the Energy, while influential Danish midfielder Sebastian Dalgaard orchestrated play from his deep-lying position.
Sibling rivalry will also be on show Wednesday, as Switchbacks winger Miguel Gonzalez could be joined on field by his brother, OKC Energy midfielder Daniel Gonzalez. Already with two goals and an assist to his name in 2016, Daniel Gonzalez played all 90 minutes of the Energy’s 2-0 victory over the Tulsa Roughnecks FC on Saturday.
OKC midfielder Michael Thomas has been an unexpected goal threat in 2016, as the Kansas native has already amassed three goals to compliment two assists. Unused in the aforementioned victory against the Tulsa Roughnecks, Thomas’ inclusion on Wednesday remains in doubt.
The most recent addition to the OKC Energy FC squad is former Seattle Sounders FC 2 striker Andy Craven. Signed moments before the Energy hosted the Tulsa Roughnecks, Craven played nine minutes as a substitute in his first action for OKC Head Coach Jimmy Nielson’s team.
Regardless of the personnel deployed by the OKC Energy on Wednesday, Switchbacks Head Coach Steve Trittschuh believes his side will encounter a hungry and talented team. “OKC are a much different proposition than our first game. They’ve changed players and they’ve altered some of their tactics too, so Wednesday is an all-new game. They’re on a bit of a roll right now too and I bet they’re looking at our results and smelling a bit of blood. Now is not the time for us to be tired, and right now it’s black and white and I’ve told our players in no uncertain terms: We need to win. Nothing else.”
A victory for the Switchbacks on Wednesday evening would send Steve Trittschuh’s squad onto 40 points – thickening the ever-growing quagmire that has become the top of the USL’s Western Conference table. With just six regular season games remaining, the Switchbacks know wins at Switchbacks Stadium are more important than ever.
The road to the 2016 playoffs begins in earnest on Wednesday at Switchbacks Stadium. Energy FC versus Switchbacks FC: It’s a matchup that ended the 2015 USL season for the Switchbacks, and one that Wednesday’s hosts hope will propel them into the 2016 postseason atop the Western Conference table
Colorado Springs, CO (August 23rd) – The Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC host the Oklahoma City Energy FC on Wednesday evening as both clubs look to stake their claim as the best team in the USL’s Western Conference.
Broadcast live on ESPN 3 as the USL Game of the Week, Wednesday’s matchup will see the Switchbacks and Energy face off for the first time since the opening game of the 2016 season – a 2-1 Switchbacks victory at Taft Field in Oklahoma’s capital city on March 26th. Goals from Marty Maybin and Miguel Gonzalez gave the Switchbacks a deserved two-goal cushion before a nervous final half hour in which the Switchbacks defended resolutely to guarantee all three points.
The opening day victory against the Energy must have been greeted with a sense of both relief and revenge for the Switchbacks, who endured a winless 2015 against their burgeoning rivals from OKC. Two regular season wins for the Energy were punctuated by a penalty shootout victory over the Switchbacks that saw Colorado Springs’ inaugural playoff run ended in the Western Conference Semifinals.
“This is a massive game on Wednesday that we can’t even tie,” said Switchbacks midfielder Shintaro Harada. “But we are not playing for revenge from last year – just winning this game is our focus. They [OKC] are a strong team, but we can win the game by playing well and staying together.”
Harada may be called upon from the start against OKC, as the Switchbacks enter Wednesday’s game with uncertainty surrounding the availability of defensive midfielder Rony Argueta. Argueta was issued a straight red card in the 2-0 loss to the Rio Grande Valley FC Toros on Sunday afternoon at Switchbacks Stadium, although replays indicate that decision may have been harsh. “We’re appealing the red card because if you watch the footage Rony doesn’t even make contact,” said Switchbacks Head Coach Steve Trittschuh. “Hopefully the decision now goes our way, but no matter what we have guys who are ready to step in and step up when they’re needed.”
Another Switchbacks player whose name may well be called to replace Argueta is midfielder Jacob Cawsey. Cawsey refused to be drawn on his personal involvement on Wednesday, instead focusing solely on his team’s performance. “We know what OKC are about and there’s a big rivalry there. I made my professional debut in Oklahoma in the first game of the season, but that doesn’t matter now and as always the only thing that really does matter is getting all three points. We had a couple tough decisions go against us on Sunday so now we need to win to start some momentum for these last few games of the regular season.”
“We need the confidence of a win for the rest of our games going forward,” stressed Shin Harada. “I don’t think we will have or feel any pressure on Wednesday because we know how good we can play and we know we were unlucky on Sunday.”
Level on 37 points, the Switchbacks and Energy know Wednesday’s game could drastically alter the playoff fortunes of whichever team is able to snatch a priceless three points. The Switchbacks currently occupy fourth-place in the USL’s Western Conference, with the OKC Energy in fifth – although OKC have played two fewer games than each of the four clubs they trail in the standings.
The Oklahoma City Energy FC ride into Colorado Springs with not only an extra day’s rest over Wednesday’s hosts, but also with winning momentum after taking all three points from a hotly contested Black Gold Derby against in-state foe Tulsa Roughnecks FC. A goal-of-the-season candidate from German midfielder Timo Pitter sent OKC on their way to a victory that was sealed by a Danni König goal just after the hour mark.
Standout goalkeeper Cody Laurendi kept his eleventh clean sheet of the season on Saturday evening for the Energy, while influential Danish midfielder Sebastian Dalgaard orchestrated play from his deep-lying position.
Sibling rivalry will also be on show Wednesday, as Switchbacks winger Miguel Gonzalez could be joined on field by his brother, OKC Energy midfielder Daniel Gonzalez. Already with two goals and an assist to his name in 2016, Daniel Gonzalez played all 90 minutes of the Energy’s 2-0 victory over the Tulsa Roughnecks FC on Saturday.
OKC midfielder Michael Thomas has been an unexpected goal threat in 2016, as the Kansas native has already amassed three goals to compliment two assists. Unused in the aforementioned victory against the Tulsa Roughnecks, Thomas’ inclusion on Wednesday remains in doubt.
The most recent addition to the OKC Energy FC squad is former Seattle Sounders FC 2 striker Andy Craven. Signed moments before the Energy hosted the Tulsa Roughnecks, Craven played nine minutes as a substitute in his first action for OKC Head Coach Jimmy Nielson’s team.
Regardless of the personnel deployed by the OKC Energy on Wednesday, Switchbacks Head Coach Steve Trittschuh believes his side will encounter a hungry and talented team. “OKC are a much different proposition than our first game. They’ve changed players and they’ve altered some of their tactics too, so Wednesday is an all-new game. They’re on a bit of a roll right now too and I bet they’re looking at our results and smelling a bit of blood. Now is not the time for us to be tired, and right now it’s black and white and I’ve told our players in no uncertain terms: We need to win. Nothing else.”
A victory for the Switchbacks on Wednesday evening would send Steve Trittschuh’s squad onto 40 points – thickening the ever-growing quagmire that has become the top of the USL’s Western Conference table. With just six regular season games remaining, the Switchbacks know wins at Switchbacks Stadium are more important than ever.
The road to the 2016 playoffs begins in earnest on Wednesday at Switchbacks Stadium. Energy FC versus Switchbacks FC: It’s a matchup that ended the 2015 USL season for the Switchbacks, and one that Wednesday’s hosts hope will propel them into the 2016 postseason atop the Western Conference table