The Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC travel to the Great Pacific Northwest this Saturday evening to take on the Seattle Sounders FC 2 as both teams are in desperate need of a win to jumpstart their push towards a playoff place.
Saturday’s opponents have split two previous meetings this season – both of which took place at Weidner Field in Colorado Springs. April 29th saw the Switchbacks fall 3-2 as the Sounders 2 rode the strength of a brace from Cameroonian striker Felix Chenkam to secure all three points. The Switchbacks won 2-1 on July 29th after Shane Malcolm opened the scoring for the Switchbacks before an own-goal from S2 midfielder Francisco Narbón clinched the victory.
Sounders FC 2 captain Ray Saari remains one of the most critical players for S2 along with fellow midfielder Zach Mathers. The aforementioned Felix Chenkam led the line for S2 last weekend in a 1-1 draw with Reno 1868 FC in the Evergreen State along with striker David Olsen. Mathers leads S2 in goals-scored with 10, having extended his goal-tally after a first-minute finish against Reno 1868 on Saturday. Chenkam has chipped in with 5 goals with Olsen so far scoring 4.
S2 center back Sam Rogers was named as a substitute on the USL’s Team of the Week on Tuesday after his performance in the 1-1 draw with Reno 1868. S2 are currently on the outside-looking-in on what would be their second playoff appearance in the last three seasons and are in desperate need of a victory with only five games remaining in the 2017 USL regular season.
“We know their style – they’re tough to beat at home,” said Switchbacks Assistant Coach Wolde Harris. “We have to apply ourselves from the beginning of the game. Seattle have good players all around and they’re pretty organized. We have to be quick on the break and in transition and of course stay compact defensively and make It difficult for them to break us down. We must finish our chances.”
“Seattle are a great team – especially at home,” said Masta Kacher. “When I watch them they’re confident and they play well together. Of course they are MLS reserves so there’s a lot of talent in their team. We have to get a result. It’s a must that we press high and take risks going forward – we can’t just sit and just watch the game.”
As of Wednesday morning the Switchbacks occupy 8th place in the USL’s Western Conference, and with it the final playoff position. Orange County SC – currently just a point behind the Switchbacks – host San Antonio FC on Wednesday evening at the Champions Soccer Stadium at OC Great Park and could move above the Switchbacks and into the playoff mix with a victory. S2 occupy 11th place and like the Switchbacks have so far played 27 matches in 2017. The Switchbacks are winless since a thundering 4-0 victory over Orange County SC on August 8th in California.
“We haven’t won in a while. This weekend we are really looking for a boost and to get this monkey off our back,” said Shane Malcolm. “If we can win one then we can get a string together. We need to work together and get the first win in a while and then we can take that momentum forward into the rest of the season and towards the playoffs.”
“Really, we’ve got to be more focused for a longer period of time,” said Wolde Harris. “It’s important to cut out the mental lapses that we’ve had in the last few games. We need to grow from those lapses and not let them happen again. If those mental mistakes can be cut-out then we’ll be in a good position to win our final games. Saturday will be a test of our resiliency and our desire. The question is; how badly do we want to win these last games and put ourselves in a playoff position? This weekend is the first step toward that goal.”
The Switchbacks’ 2-1 loss to Phoenix Rising FC on Saturday evening at Weidner Field saw debuts handed to two new members of the Switchbacks as Shawn Chin started at right back and AJ Ajeakwa came on as a second half substitute. “It was exciting to play for this team,” said Chin. “We were unlucky not to get the three points but I enjoyed being a part of the team here. This weekend we need to bounce back from the loss and keep our mindset right in Seattle. There’s no big secret to it; we need to handle our business.”
The Switchbacks will return to Weidner Field for three consecutive home games after this weekend’s trip to the Starfire Sports Complex in Tukwila, Washington. On September 23rd the Switchbacks host the Swope Park Rangers on Technology Night that includes an iPad Giveaway. Orange County SC visit Colorado Springs a week later as The Gazette newspaper will be sponsoring a Tote Bag Giveaway. The Switchbacks will host their final home match of 2017 on October 7th with Sacramento Republic visiting Weidner Field on Oktoberfest Fan Appreciation Night, presented by Budweiser.
Barring a playoff miracle, Saturday’s meeting will conclude the 2017 series between S2 and the Switchbacks. “They always seem to be a different team when we play them,” said Luke Vercollone when asked about having already faced S2 twice this season. “We’re more concerned about our game and playing at their stadium – which is always tough. Our focus now is on this weekend and not about our earlier games against them.”
The Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC travel to the Great Pacific Northwest this Saturday evening to take on the Seattle Sounders FC 2 as both teams are in desperate need of a win to jumpstart their push towards a playoff place.
Saturday’s opponents have split two previous meetings this season – both of which took place at Weidner Field in Colorado Springs. April 29th saw the Switchbacks fall 3-2 as the Sounders 2 rode the strength of a brace from Cameroonian striker Felix Chenkam to secure all three points. The Switchbacks won 2-1 on July 29th after Shane Malcolm opened the scoring for the Switchbacks before an own-goal from S2 midfielder Francisco Narbón clinched the victory.
Sounders FC 2 captain Ray Saari remains one of the most critical players for S2 along with fellow midfielder Zach Mathers. The aforementioned Felix Chenkam led the line for S2 last weekend in a 1-1 draw with Reno 1868 FC in the Evergreen State along with striker David Olsen. Mathers leads S2 in goals-scored with 10, having extended his goal-tally after a first-minute finish against Reno 1868 on Saturday. Chenkam has chipped in with 5 goals with Olsen so far scoring 4.
S2 center back Sam Rogers was named as a substitute on the USL’s Team of the Week on Tuesday after his performance in the 1-1 draw with Reno 1868. S2 are currently on the outside-looking-in on what would be their second playoff appearance in the last three seasons and are in desperate need of a victory with only five games remaining in the 2017 USL regular season.
“We know their style – they’re tough to beat at home,” said Switchbacks Assistant Coach Wolde Harris. “We have to apply ourselves from the beginning of the game. Seattle have good players all around and they’re pretty organized. We have to be quick on the break and in transition and of course stay compact defensively and make It difficult for them to break us down. We must finish our chances.”
“Seattle are a great team – especially at home,” said Masta Kacher. “When I watch them they’re confident and they play well together. Of course they are MLS reserves so there’s a lot of talent in their team. We have to get a result. It’s a must that we press high and take risks going forward – we can’t just sit and just watch the game.”
As of Wednesday morning the Switchbacks occupy 8th place in the USL’s Western Conference, and with it the final playoff position. Orange County SC – currently just a point behind the Switchbacks – host San Antonio FC on Wednesday evening at the Champions Soccer Stadium at OC Great Park and could move above the Switchbacks and into the playoff mix with a victory. S2 occupy 11th place and like the Switchbacks have so far played 27 matches in 2017. The Switchbacks are winless since a thundering 4-0 victory over Orange County SC on August 8th in California.
“We haven’t won in a while. This weekend we are really looking for a boost and to get this monkey off our back,” said Shane Malcolm. “If we can win one then we can get a string together. We need to work together and get the first win in a while and then we can take that momentum forward into the rest of the season and towards the playoffs.”
“Really, we’ve got to be more focused for a longer period of time,” said Wolde Harris. “It’s important to cut out the mental lapses that we’ve had in the last few games. We need to grow from those lapses and not let them happen again. If those mental mistakes can be cut-out then we’ll be in a good position to win our final games. Saturday will be a test of our resiliency and our desire. The question is; how badly do we want to win these last games and put ourselves in a playoff position? This weekend is the first step toward that goal.”
The Switchbacks’ 2-1 loss to Phoenix Rising FC on Saturday evening at Weidner Field saw debuts handed to two new members of the Switchbacks as Shawn Chin started at right back and AJ Ajeakwa came on as a second half substitute. “It was exciting to play for this team,” said Chin. “We were unlucky not to get the three points but I enjoyed being a part of the team here. This weekend we need to bounce back from the loss and keep our mindset right in Seattle. There’s no big secret to it; we need to handle our business.”
The Switchbacks will return to Weidner Field for three consecutive home games after this weekend’s trip to the Starfire Sports Complex in Tukwila, Washington. On September 23rd the Switchbacks host the Swope Park Rangers on Technology Night that includes an iPad Giveaway. Orange County SC visit Colorado Springs a week later as The Gazette newspaper will be sponsoring a Tote Bag Giveaway. The Switchbacks will host their final home match of 2017 on October 7th with Sacramento Republic visiting Weidner Field on Oktoberfest Fan Appreciation Night, presented by Budweiser.
Barring a playoff miracle, Saturday’s meeting will conclude the 2017 series between S2 and the Switchbacks. “They always seem to be a different team when we play them,” said Luke Vercollone when asked about having already faced S2 twice this season. “We’re more concerned about our game and playing at their stadium – which is always tough. Our focus now is on this weekend and not about our earlier games against them.”
