On Wednesday evening the Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC will face off against the Swope Park Rangers for the first time in 2017. Buoyed by their first two-match winning streak of the season, the Switchbacks will be looking to keep pace at the top of the USL’s Western Conference with a result at Children’s Mercy Victory Field in Kansas City, Missouri.
The Swope Park Rangers have started the current campaign in fine form at their home stadium. All five of the Swope Park Rangers’ wins in USL play have come at Children’s Mercy Victory Field just outside the Kansas City Zoo. San Antonio FC, who currently sit in second place in the Western Conference, are the only team to have emerged from the SPR’s home field with three points this season – courtesy of a 1-0 win on May 26th.
Midfielder Kévin Oliveira, fresh from having been called into the senior Cape Verde National Team for their Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Uganda on June 10th, scored the opening goal last night as SPR tied Phoenix Rising 2-2 at Children’s Mercy Victory Field. Nigerian midfielder Nansel Selbol added a second for the Swope Park Rangers with a penalty kick, only for Phoenix Rising to score twice through their Ivorian superstar Didier Drogba. Drogba’s second goal at the very end of the match – also from a penalty kick – came after SPR’s Amer Didic was whistled for a foul on Phoenix Rising FC forward Omar Bravo.
Striker Mark Anthony Gonzalez is one of SPR’s hottest players after a stoppage-time double secured a 3-1 win over the Tulsa Roughnecks FC last Sunday evening at Children’s Mercy Victory Field. Gonzalez was the Swope Park Rangers Offensive Player of the Year in 2016 after a 12-goal debut season. A sensational 56th-minute thunderbolt strike from Cameron Iwasa started the scoring for SPR against the Roughnecks before Tulsa equalized through an Oumar Ballo own-goal after a driven Roughnecks cross.
Kharlton Belmar – whom the Switchbacks know from Belmar’s time playing with the USL’s Portland Timbers 2 – leads the Swope Park Rangers in scoring with four goals. New Zealander James Musa can play across defense or in the heart of midfield for SPR, and goalkeeper Adrián Zendejas has impressed during his time in Kansas City.
“They’ll [Swope Park Rangers] show up to fight and come out to prove they’re a better team than us,” said Switchbacks defender Diego Gutierrez. “Like any team in this league they’ll look to win at home – but we’re on a bit of a roll now. It means a lot for us to have won two games in a row. That’s what we’ve been working for. The win in L.A. has left us all with a positive feeling and it gives guys hope and gives us all a great motivation.”
The Switchbacks defeated the L.A. Galaxy II by 2-1 on Saturday at the StubHub Center Track and Field Stadium in Carson, California after a stoppage-time winner from Kevaughn Frater. Frater’s goal is the second last-gasp strike in as many weeks for the Switchbacks. The Switchbacks defeated the OKC Energy 1-0 on June 3rd behind club captain Rony Argueta’s shot on the final kick of the match.
“They’re a really good team – especially good on the ball,” said Masta Kacher when asked about the Swope Park Rangers. “We must start the game mentally just as fast as in L.A. and try our best to get our third win in a row. It’s the first time we’ve got two wins in a row this season and we really want to keep that going forward. It’s huge to get another late win but we just have to build and start the second half of the season well and we can think about that after a good performance in K.C.”
“These last few games we’ve really kept going,” said Switchbacks Head Coach Steve Trittschuh. “We haven’t stopped attacking and pushing forward – the win in L.A. has really got the spirits of the players raised. Of course we don’t want to keep having to get three points at the very end of games, but in the end, it’s good that we are winning like in L.A. We have a long time but hopefully we can carry the performance from last weekend into K.C.”
Frater was named the USL’s Player of the Week after his two-goal performance against the Galaxy II, just seven days after Argueta found himself on the Team of the Week.
“He’s [Frater] been working hard and he’s created his own luck,” said Switchbacks Assistant Coach Wolde Harris. “As long as he keeps working hopefully he’ll keep being noticed. It gives the rest of the team confidence to see guys on the Team of Week. It shows their efforts are being recognized and that what we’re doing is becoming more successful.”
“I told the players from the beginning that if we have success as a team then we will have our players get onto the Team of the Week,” said Trittschuh. “Kevaughn deserved it after his performances. It’s really good for our players individually. I want them to do as well as they can and those awards can help with their confidence and people take notice.”
Conditions in Kansas City next week are predicted to be in the low 90’s, and after the disappointment of giving away the final-minute penalty against Phoenix Rising on Father’s Day, the Swope Park Rangers will no doubt be eagerly awaiting their first chance at facing the Switchbacks in 2017.
“They’re good in attack and with the ball, and they defend well,” said Trittschuh. “It will take a big effort from us to go in there and get the win. So far this week since L.A. has been good for us – now we’re just looking for guys to give great effort on Wednesday. It will be a very tough game.”
The Switchbacks will host Wednesday’s opponent on September 23rd at Weidner Field on Technology Night. Saturday evening sees the beginning of the Switchbacks’ three-match home stand as high-flying San Antonio FC visit Colorado Springs in a showdown that will feature post-game fireworks. Tickets start at just $12 and are available here.
Switchbacks fans can look forward to an Independence Day celebration against the Rio Grande Valley FC Toros on July 1st in another game that will feature a post-game fireworks display. The fourth Poster Giveaway Night, courtesy of Kneaders Bakers and Cafe will take place on July 8th when the Switchbacks welcome the Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 to Weidner Field.
On Wednesday evening the Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC will face off against the Swope Park Rangers for the first time in 2017. Buoyed by their first two-match winning streak of the season, the Switchbacks will be looking to keep pace at the top of the USL’s Western Conference with a result at Children’s Mercy Victory Field in Kansas City, Missouri.
The Swope Park Rangers have started the current campaign in fine form at their home stadium. All five of the Swope Park Rangers’ wins in USL play have come at Children’s Mercy Victory Field just outside the Kansas City Zoo. San Antonio FC, who currently sit in second place in the Western Conference, are the only team to have emerged from the SPR’s home field with three points this season – courtesy of a 1-0 win on May 26th.
Midfielder Kévin Oliveira, fresh from having been called into the senior Cape Verde National Team for their Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Uganda on June 10th, scored the opening goal last night as SPR tied Phoenix Rising 2-2 at Children’s Mercy Victory Field. Nigerian midfielder Nansel Selbol added a second for the Swope Park Rangers with a penalty kick, only for Phoenix Rising to score twice through their Ivorian superstar Didier Drogba. Drogba’s second goal at the very end of the match – also from a penalty kick – came after SPR’s Amer Didic was whistled for a foul on Phoenix Rising FC forward Omar Bravo.
Striker Mark Anthony Gonzalez is one of SPR’s hottest players after a stoppage-time double secured a 3-1 win over the Tulsa Roughnecks FC last Sunday evening at Children’s Mercy Victory Field. Gonzalez was the Swope Park Rangers Offensive Player of the Year in 2016 after a 12-goal debut season. A sensational 56th-minute thunderbolt strike from Cameron Iwasa started the scoring for SPR against the Roughnecks before Tulsa equalized through an Oumar Ballo own-goal after a driven Roughnecks cross.
Kharlton Belmar – whom the Switchbacks know from Belmar’s time playing with the USL’s Portland Timbers 2 – leads the Swope Park Rangers in scoring with four goals. New Zealander James Musa can play across defense or in the heart of midfield for SPR, and goalkeeper Adrián Zendejas has impressed during his time in Kansas City.
“They’ll [Swope Park Rangers] show up to fight and come out to prove they’re a better team than us,” said Switchbacks defender Diego Gutierrez. “Like any team in this league they’ll look to win at home – but we’re on a bit of a roll now. It means a lot for us to have won two games in a row. That’s what we’ve been working for. The win in L.A. has left us all with a positive feeling and it gives guys hope and gives us all a great motivation.”
The Switchbacks defeated the L.A. Galaxy II by 2-1 on Saturday at the StubHub Center Track and Field Stadium in Carson, California after a stoppage-time winner from Kevaughn Frater. Frater’s goal is the second last-gasp strike in as many weeks for the Switchbacks. The Switchbacks defeated the OKC Energy 1-0 on June 3rd behind club captain Rony Argueta’s shot on the final kick of the match.
“They’re a really good team – especially good on the ball,” said Masta Kacher when asked about the Swope Park Rangers. “We must start the game mentally just as fast as in L.A. and try our best to get our third win in a row. It’s the first time we’ve got two wins in a row this season and we really want to keep that going forward. It’s huge to get another late win but we just have to build and start the second half of the season well and we can think about that after a good performance in K.C.”
“These last few games we’ve really kept going,” said Switchbacks Head Coach Steve Trittschuh. “We haven’t stopped attacking and pushing forward – the win in L.A. has really got the spirits of the players raised. Of course we don’t want to keep having to get three points at the very end of games, but in the end, it’s good that we are winning like in L.A. We have a long time but hopefully we can carry the performance from last weekend into K.C.”
Frater was named the USL’s Player of the Week after his two-goal performance against the Galaxy II, just seven days after Argueta found himself on the Team of the Week.
“He’s [Frater] been working hard and he’s created his own luck,” said Switchbacks Assistant Coach Wolde Harris. “As long as he keeps working hopefully he’ll keep being noticed. It gives the rest of the team confidence to see guys on the Team of Week. It shows their efforts are being recognized and that what we’re doing is becoming more successful.”
“I told the players from the beginning that if we have success as a team then we will have our players get onto the Team of the Week,” said Trittschuh. “Kevaughn deserved it after his performances. It’s really good for our players individually. I want them to do as well as they can and those awards can help with their confidence and people take notice.”
Conditions in Kansas City next week are predicted to be in the low 90’s, and after the disappointment of giving away the final-minute penalty against Phoenix Rising on Father’s Day, the Swope Park Rangers will no doubt be eagerly awaiting their first chance at facing the Switchbacks in 2017.
“They’re good in attack and with the ball, and they defend well,” said Trittschuh. “It will take a big effort from us to go in there and get the win. So far this week since L.A. has been good for us – now we’re just looking for guys to give great effort on Wednesday. It will be a very tough game.”
The Switchbacks will host Wednesday’s opponent on September 23rd at Weidner Field on Technology Night. Saturday evening sees the beginning of the Switchbacks’ three-match home stand as high-flying San Antonio FC visit Colorado Springs in a showdown that will feature post-game fireworks. Tickets start at just $12 and are available here.
Switchbacks fans can look forward to an Independence Day celebration against the Rio Grande Valley FC Toros on July 1st in another game that will feature a post-game fireworks display. The fourth Poster Giveaway Night, courtesy of Kneaders Bakers and Cafe will take place on July 8th when the Switchbacks welcome the Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 to Weidner Field.
