The Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC travel to Champions Soccer Stadium at OC Great Park this Saturday to face an Orange County SC team who sit 2nd in the USL’s Western Conference.
Orange County SC have lost twice in 2018 – a narrow 1-0 defeat at Champions Soccer Stadium in Irvine, California to Sacramento Republic FC on March 24th was followed a month later by a 2-0 defeat against Rio Grande Valley FC. After the loss to Sacramento, Orange County SC won their next four matches by a combined score of 12-0. Danish striker Thomas Enevoldsen leads Orange County SC in goals with 5 and shots with 14.
Orange County SC lost 2-0 to Rio Grande Valley FC on Wednesday evening at H-E-B Park in Edinburg, Texas. RGV goals from Memo Rodriguez and Aldo Quintanilla sealed the win for the Toros, although Orange County SC remain in second place at the time of writing.
“OC play with confidence,” said Switchbacks Head Coach Steve Trittschuh. “They won four in a row, and they’ve totally changed-over that roster with seventeen new players. Their affiliation with LAFC has helped them a lot – their roster is full of good players that we have to be ready for. [Mark] Segbers, who they got from New England, is a top player in this league. [Thomas] Enevoldsen is an opportunist – he just knows where to be and how to score goals. He’s one of the most dangerous players we’ve seen so far. OC’s midfield is good – we must make sure we control the game in that area. We must keep playing defensively like we have been. If we can do that, we’ll be alright.”
“They’re a strong team – I expect OC will be one of the top teams in the conference,” said Switchbacks captain Josh Suggs. “Watching them against RGV will help us. We’ll be able to get a good idea of their style. Hopefully the Wednesday game and the travel will take a toll on OC and they’ll be a little tired.”
The Switchbacks will train for the first four days of the week in the altitude of Colorado Springs. Last Saturday the Switchbacks played to a goalless tie with the Seattle Sounders FC 2 at Weidner Field as both teams had a player sent off. Luke Vercollone was given his second yellow card just after the hour mark against S2 and will not make the trip to Orange County.
“We’ll miss him, but other guys have to step up,” said Trittschuh. “In some areas, we’re a little thin, but we’re still looking to bring guys in and Niki [Jackson] came in for us and did well last week. We’ll have to pick a strong team in California.”
Niki Jackson, signed on loan from the Colorado Rapids before the draw against S2, made his Switchbacks debut when he came on in the 55th minute as a replacement for Shane Malcolm. Jackson trained with the Switchbacks during the week and should be available for selection against Orange County, along with fellow attackers AJ Ajeakwa, Marty Maybin, and Tobenna Uzo.
“From watching OC, right now they are one of the best teams in the West,” said Saeed Robinson. “They know how to manage the game and they play to their strengths and they pass the ball very well. We know it will be a hard game. They’re second and they have been very good so far to be honest. It’s a fun place to play and another long trip but we’ll have a good week at home to prepare.”
“I’m glad OC will have a midweek game and not us for once,” said Jordan Burt. “They’re a good team and they’ve got some new players that we’ll have to look at. Having the week to work and then watch them will help us look at the players we’ll be up against. We’ve had good games with them in the past.”
Switchbacks defender Taylor Hunter was named a starter on the USL’s Team of the Week after his performance in holding the Sounders FC 2 goalless last weekend. It’s the second time in the young 2018 USL regular season that Hunter has been named to the USL’s Team of the Week.
“It’s good to be recognized – just like it was the first time this season. But I’d rather have the three points against Seattle from Saturday,” said Taylor Hunter. “Our number one goal is to keep clean-sheets and the rest will come. Defensively we’ve done well. We’ll work this week on putting away goals and take that on the road and play against a good team who are strong out there.”
“It makes me think that people are watching the games more closely to see that it’s not just the defenders who score goals that deserve to be recognized,” said Trittschuh when asked about Hunter. “Taylor was great against S2 and it’s great that was seen. But it’s not just him; you could have picked any of our back four to make the Team of the Week. We just need to find goals. Hopefully the surface this weekend will help us. We’ll go to OC to win and see what we can do.”
On May 5th the Switchbacks will return to Weidner Field as they host Reno 1868 FC with Colorado Technical University sponsoring a Cinco de Mayo cushion giveaway.
The Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC travel to Champions Soccer Stadium at OC Great Park this Saturday to face an Orange County SC team who sit 2nd in the USL’s Western Conference.
Orange County SC have lost twice in 2018 – a narrow 1-0 defeat at Champions Soccer Stadium in Irvine, California to Sacramento Republic FC on March 24th was followed a month later by a 2-0 defeat against Rio Grande Valley FC. After the loss to Sacramento, Orange County SC won their next four matches by a combined score of 12-0. Danish striker Thomas Enevoldsen leads Orange County SC in goals with 5 and shots with 14.
Orange County SC lost 2-0 to Rio Grande Valley FC on Wednesday evening at H-E-B Park in Edinburg, Texas. RGV goals from Memo Rodriguez and Aldo Quintanilla sealed the win for the Toros, although Orange County SC remain in second place at the time of writing.
“OC play with confidence,” said Switchbacks Head Coach Steve Trittschuh. “They won four in a row, and they’ve totally changed-over that roster with seventeen new players. Their affiliation with LAFC has helped them a lot – their roster is full of good players that we have to be ready for. [Mark] Segbers, who they got from New England, is a top player in this league. [Thomas] Enevoldsen is an opportunist – he just knows where to be and how to score goals. He’s one of the most dangerous players we’ve seen so far. OC’s midfield is good – we must make sure we control the game in that area. We must keep playing defensively like we have been. If we can do that, we’ll be alright.”
“They’re a strong team – I expect OC will be one of the top teams in the conference,” said Switchbacks captain Josh Suggs. “Watching them against RGV will help us. We’ll be able to get a good idea of their style. Hopefully the Wednesday game and the travel will take a toll on OC and they’ll be a little tired.”
The Switchbacks will train for the first four days of the week in the altitude of Colorado Springs. Last Saturday the Switchbacks played to a goalless tie with the Seattle Sounders FC 2 at Weidner Field as both teams had a player sent off. Luke Vercollone was given his second yellow card just after the hour mark against S2 and will not make the trip to Orange County.
“We’ll miss him, but other guys have to step up,” said Trittschuh. “In some areas, we’re a little thin, but we’re still looking to bring guys in and Niki [Jackson] came in for us and did well last week. We’ll have to pick a strong team in California.”
Niki Jackson, signed on loan from the Colorado Rapids before the draw against S2, made his Switchbacks debut when he came on in the 55th minute as a replacement for Shane Malcolm. Jackson trained with the Switchbacks during the week and should be available for selection against Orange County, along with fellow attackers AJ Ajeakwa, Marty Maybin, and Tobenna Uzo.
“From watching OC, right now they are one of the best teams in the West,” said Saeed Robinson. “They know how to manage the game and they play to their strengths and they pass the ball very well. We know it will be a hard game. They’re second and they have been very good so far to be honest. It’s a fun place to play and another long trip but we’ll have a good week at home to prepare.”
“I’m glad OC will have a midweek game and not us for once,” said Jordan Burt. “They’re a good team and they’ve got some new players that we’ll have to look at. Having the week to work and then watch them will help us look at the players we’ll be up against. We’ve had good games with them in the past.”
Switchbacks defender Taylor Hunter was named a starter on the USL’s Team of the Week after his performance in holding the Sounders FC 2 goalless last weekend. It’s the second time in the young 2018 USL regular season that Hunter has been named to the USL’s Team of the Week.
“It’s good to be recognized – just like it was the first time this season. But I’d rather have the three points against Seattle from Saturday,” said Taylor Hunter. “Our number one goal is to keep clean-sheets and the rest will come. Defensively we’ve done well. We’ll work this week on putting away goals and take that on the road and play against a good team who are strong out there.”
“It makes me think that people are watching the games more closely to see that it’s not just the defenders who score goals that deserve to be recognized,” said Trittschuh when asked about Hunter. “Taylor was great against S2 and it’s great that was seen. But it’s not just him; you could have picked any of our back four to make the Team of the Week. We just need to find goals. Hopefully the surface this weekend will help us. We’ll go to OC to win and see what we can do.”
On May 5th the Switchbacks will return to Weidner Field as they host Reno 1868 FC with Colorado Technical University sponsoring a Cinco de Mayo cushion giveaway.
