The Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC roll into Edinburg, Texas for a midweek match against the Rio Grande Valley FC Toros on Wednesday evening fresh from an impressive 1-1 draw on Saturday against San Antonio FC.
A 12th minute goal from Switchbacks striker Aaron King seemed destined to seal all three points for the visitors at Toyota Field in San Antonio, Texas, before a late, wicked Kris Tyrpak equalizer left honors even.
King’s sumptuous finish came after an outrageous piece of skill that saw the veteran striker leave the San Antonio FC defense in his wake. “I was just trying to have a positive touch towards goal,” said a modest King on Sunday. “All the credit has to go to Kimmy [Taesong Kim] for such a crafty ball to find me. Luckily I was able to get my hips turned and put the ball away. The goal gives me confidence, but I’m just trying to stay composed right now – not get too excited when things personally go well, and keep focused when things are down. Seeing it go in was great, but all I want today is to give Kimmy the love for finding me. His diving header was perfect!”
“I really liked the attitude in the locker room after the game,” said Switchbacks head coach Steve Trittschuh. “Of course we didn’t like giving up the goal, but it was very positive after the tie in San Antonio and we can see that the team is now starting to play with more confidence. We’ve improved in every game we’ve played and we will take that feeling into Rio Grande Valley against a team that’s going to be full of confidence themselves.”
RGV FC return home for Wednesday’s clash at H-E-B Park after notching their first points of the 2017 season in a 1-0 victory against the Oklahoma City Energy FC at Taft Stadium in Oklahoma’s capital city on Saturday. Mexican striker Rubén Luna calmly slotted home a 67th minute penalty after teammate Camilo Monroy was unceremoniously hauled down in the box.
Monroy, a pacey 18-year-old striker from Itagüí, Colombia, made his way to RGV FC via the Houston Dynamo after honing his skills with Colombian powerhouse América de Cali. Rio Grande Valley FC are the USL affiliate of MLS’ Houston Dynamo.
RGV FC defender Victor Garza was shown a straight red card in the 84th minute against the OKC Energy FC after a lunging tackle on Energy midfielder Coy Craft, which rules Garza ineligible for Wednesday’s match against the Switchbacks.
Birmingham, England born Charlie Ward, once on the books of English Premier League outfit Stoke City, pulls the strings in the center of the park for RGV FC and will no doubt be key to the Toros’ attacking success. Yet to find the net at H-E-B Park in 2017, the Toros will rely on Ward to be the conductor of an offensive unit that the Switchbacks will be hoping doesn’t find its feet on Wednesday.
“All around they [RGV FC] are a good, organized team and we’re going to have to be careful with their young forwards,” warned Trittschuh. “They’ve had success playing their style of game, and they’ve got a lot of good, hungry, young players. They went into OKC and got the 3 points so we know Wednesday won’t be an easy game.”
Conditions for Wednesday’s match on the USA-Mexico border are forecast to be in the high 80’s, although after an August trip to Edinburg, Texas in the 2016 season, the Switchbacks are looking forward to slightly more bearable weather this season.
“Physically the travel can have an impact on us, but mentally it’s out of our minds and we are working hard as you can see,” said midfielder Luke Vercollone after an intense Sunday afternoon training session in the altitude and wind of the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs. “It’s good for us go play in Texas now – it can be a lot more challenging in the humidity later in the year as we know from last season.”
Vercollone, who captained the Switchbacks for the team’s first two seasons, has found his role changed early in the 2017 campaign. So far called upon as a substitute, Vercollone will be pushing for a place in the starting XI against RGV FC.
“I just stay positive and keep supporting every member of this team no matter what I’m asked to do,” said Vercollone. “Sometimes it’s personally not easy to look on, but that’s why we’re professionals and we all support each other and we all fight for every win. It’s always good to play and it’s about always being ready when you’re called.”
“We’ll decide on Wednesday who will start,” said Trittschuh when asked about possible squad rotation for what will be the Switchbacks’ second of three games in just nine days. “The other night in San Antonio the weather was great and the surface was perfect and our players feed off being able to play in those conditions and in front of a loud stadium. Our guys step up every time in front of a big road crowd and we’ll look for that again on Wednesday. No matter who plays we know we’ll be ready.”
The Switchbacks will return to action at Weidner Field in Colorado Springs on Saturday the 15th as they welcome the Real Monarchs SLC at 6 p.m. MT.
The Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC roll into Edinburg, Texas for a midweek match against the Rio Grande Valley FC Toros on Wednesday evening fresh from an impressive 1-1 draw on Saturday against San Antonio FC.
A 12th minute goal from Switchbacks striker Aaron King seemed destined to seal all three points for the visitors at Toyota Field in San Antonio, Texas, before a late, wicked Kris Tyrpak equalizer left honors even.
King’s sumptuous finish came after an outrageous piece of skill that saw the veteran striker leave the San Antonio FC defense in his wake. “I was just trying to have a positive touch towards goal,” said a modest King on Sunday. “All the credit has to go to Kimmy [Taesong Kim] for such a crafty ball to find me. Luckily I was able to get my hips turned and put the ball away. The goal gives me confidence, but I’m just trying to stay composed right now – not get too excited when things personally go well, and keep focused when things are down. Seeing it go in was great, but all I want today is to give Kimmy the love for finding me. His diving header was perfect!”
“I really liked the attitude in the locker room after the game,” said Switchbacks head coach Steve Trittschuh. “Of course we didn’t like giving up the goal, but it was very positive after the tie in San Antonio and we can see that the team is now starting to play with more confidence. We’ve improved in every game we’ve played and we will take that feeling into Rio Grande Valley against a team that’s going to be full of confidence themselves.”
RGV FC return home for Wednesday’s clash at H-E-B Park after notching their first points of the 2017 season in a 1-0 victory against the Oklahoma City Energy FC at Taft Stadium in Oklahoma’s capital city on Saturday. Mexican striker Rubén Luna calmly slotted home a 67th minute penalty after teammate Camilo Monroy was unceremoniously hauled down in the box.
Monroy, a pacey 18-year-old striker from Itagüí, Colombia, made his way to RGV FC via the Houston Dynamo after honing his skills with Colombian powerhouse América de Cali. Rio Grande Valley FC are the USL affiliate of MLS’ Houston Dynamo.
RGV FC defender Victor Garza was shown a straight red card in the 84th minute against the OKC Energy FC after a lunging tackle on Energy midfielder Coy Craft, which rules Garza ineligible for Wednesday’s match against the Switchbacks.
Birmingham, England born Charlie Ward, once on the books of English Premier League outfit Stoke City, pulls the strings in the center of the park for RGV FC and will no doubt be key to the Toros’ attacking success. Yet to find the net at H-E-B Park in 2017, the Toros will rely on Ward to be the conductor of an offensive unit that the Switchbacks will be hoping doesn’t find its feet on Wednesday.
“All around they [RGV FC] are a good, organized team and we’re going to have to be careful with their young forwards,” warned Trittschuh. “They’ve had success playing their style of game, and they’ve got a lot of good, hungry, young players. They went into OKC and got the 3 points so we know Wednesday won’t be an easy game.”
Conditions for Wednesday’s match on the USA-Mexico border are forecast to be in the high 80’s, although after an August trip to Edinburg, Texas in the 2016 season, the Switchbacks are looking forward to slightly more bearable weather this season.
“Physically the travel can have an impact on us, but mentally it’s out of our minds and we are working hard as you can see,” said midfielder Luke Vercollone after an intense Sunday afternoon training session in the altitude and wind of the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs. “It’s good for us go play in Texas now – it can be a lot more challenging in the humidity later in the year as we know from last season.”
Vercollone, who captained the Switchbacks for the team’s first two seasons, has found his role changed early in the 2017 campaign. So far called upon as a substitute, Vercollone will be pushing for a place in the starting XI against RGV FC.
“I just stay positive and keep supporting every member of this team no matter what I’m asked to do,” said Vercollone. “Sometimes it’s personally not easy to look on, but that’s why we’re professionals and we all support each other and we all fight for every win. It’s always good to play and it’s about always being ready when you’re called.”
“We’ll decide on Wednesday who will start,” said Trittschuh when asked about possible squad rotation for what will be the Switchbacks’ second of three games in just nine days. “The other night in San Antonio the weather was great and the surface was perfect and our players feed off being able to play in those conditions and in front of a loud stadium. Our guys step up every time in front of a big road crowd and we’ll look for that again on Wednesday. No matter who plays we know we’ll be ready.”
The Switchbacks will return to action at Weidner Field in Colorado Springs on Saturday the 15th as they welcome the Real Monarchs SLC at 6 p.m. MT.
