Colorado Springs, CO (October 5, 2019) – The Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC defeated the LA Galaxy II 2-0 in the final home game of 2019 in front of a sell-out crowd of 5,008 people at Weidner Field on Saturday night.
Andre Rawls came up with a huge diving save in the third minute before pushing Kai Koreniuk's shot onto the crossbar to keep the game scoreless early. The hosts got on the board in the 29th minute when Shane Malcolm's cross went all the way through the box for Matt Hundley to score his first professional goal. Saeed Robinson doubled the Switchbacks' lead before halftime after his first effort was saved and his rebound shot hit the underside of the crossbar in spectacular fashion as he was falling down from a tight angle. The Switchbacks' would grind out the 2-0 result in the second half to complete Andre Rawls' sixth clean sheet of the season in Saturday night's five save performance from the goalkeeper to sweep the LA Galaxy II in 2019.
"Coming out of the get-go, we came out on the front foot. We really wanted to prove ourselves out there and give the fans who have been supporting us through this whole year a little treat." said Andre Rawls. "It was good to be able to pull a 2-nil win out here in front of them. They've been great this whole year, supporting us when things haven't gone so well. But they've been there bringing the noise and support and we loved it. To be able to give them a victory at the end of the season here has been real good."
The Switchbacks close out the 2019 season with two consecutive road games. The first comes on October 12th against the Tacoma Defiance and the Switchbacks will close out their season in Texas against San Antonio FC on October 19th.
Colorado Springs, CO (October 5, 2019) – The Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC defeated the LA Galaxy II 2-0 in the final home game of 2019 in front of a sell-out crowd of 5,008 people at Weidner Field on Saturday night.
Andre Rawls came up with a huge diving save in the third minute before pushing Kai Koreniuk’s shot onto the crossbar to keep the game scoreless early. The hosts got on the board in the 29th minute when Shane Malcolm’s cross went all the way through the box for Matt Hundley to score his first professional goal. Saeed Robinson doubled the Switchbacks’ lead before halftime after his first effort was saved and his rebound shot hit the underside of the crossbar in spectacular fashion as he was falling down from a tight angle. The Switchbacks’ would grind out the 2-0 result in the second half to complete Andre Rawls’ sixth clean sheet of the season in Saturday night’s five save performance from the goalkeeper to sweep the LA Galaxy II in 2019.
“Coming out of the get-go, we came out on the front foot. We really wanted to prove ourselves out there and give the fans who have been supporting us through this whole year a little treat.” said Andre Rawls. “It was good to be able to pull a 2-nil win out here in front of them. They’ve been great this whole year, supporting us when things haven’t gone so well. But they’ve been there bringing the noise and support and we loved it. To be able to give them a victory at the end of the season here has been real good.”
The Switchbacks close out the 2019 season with two consecutive road games. The first comes on October 12th against the Tacoma Defiance and the Switchbacks will close out their season in Texas against San Antonio FC on October 19th.
Wolde Harris – On his thoughts on the team's performance tonight: "I think both teams had opportunities early. That's the way football is in the first 15-20 minutes of the game, you have to be on your toes to be proactive and not reactive. I'm happy of the fact that the guys didn't mentally switch off. That's something that we talked about in pregame. Putting a complete performance together is more so on the concentration and focus side than on the physical side, it's really mental. If they can be in tune with each other mentally for most of the time, then I think we can keep compact defensively and offensively we will make better decisions on the ball. I think that's what transpired today. Mistakes are always going to happen in the game, it's really about how you respond."
On Matt Hundley's performance and scoring his first professional goal: "I'm extremely proud of Matt. He hasn't always had the best performances, especially over the last couple of games, he's been up and down. Obviously going from one team up with the Rapids back to here and back and forth isn't easy for a kid his age psychologically to stay on top of his game. But I'm proud that he came out tonight and gave the effort. He was in tune with what everybody was doing. He got the opportunity early and he missed, but he didn't put his head down. He looked forward to the next opportunity and was able to concentrate and execute that next opportunity and put it in the net. I'm proud of him and I'm happy for him, but I'm more happy for the entire team with a great team performance."
On teenager Sebastian Anderson's performance: "Being in that environment every day, he’s used to a high level of play and a higher level of competition. So with him coming in, he added a lot to the team in terms of his knowledge, his experience at the MLS level. Obviously, he wanted to play and it showed."
Matt Hundley – On the team's performance tonight: "I thought it was very positive because it was our last home game so we could send the fans off with a positive message going into next year. Getting a win after such a long stretch is a relief. Tonight was definitely a very positive message."
On his first professional goal: "It was more of a relief, to be honest. It's been too long, I know I can get more out of myself. It was just a relief to finally open my account before hopefully more to come."
Andre Rawls – On his overall thoughts on tonight's performance: "Well-timed and well deserved, I thought. Coming out of the get-go, we came out on the front foot. We really wanted to prove ourselves out there and give the fans who have been supporting us through this whole year a little treat. It was good to be able to pull a 2-nil win out here in front of them. They've been great this whole year, supporting us when things haven't gone so well. But they've been there bringing the noise and support and we loved it. To be able to give them a victory at the end of the season here has been real good."
On his five save performance to earn his sixth clean sheet of the season: "I had a busy first 15-20 minutes or so but then the defense took over and it was a pretty low-key night after that. But it's good, obviously we love to win. But for us defenders, we love a clean sheet too and it was really good for us."
Wolde Harris – On his thoughts on the team’s performance tonight: “I think both teams had opportunities early. That’s the way football is in the first 15-20 minutes of the game, you have to be on your toes to be proactive and not reactive. I’m happy of the fact that the guys didn’t mentally switch off. That’s something that we talked about in pregame. Putting a complete performance together is more so on the concentration and focus side than on the physical side, it’s really mental. If they can be in tune with each other mentally for most of the time, then I think we can keep compact defensively and offensively we will make better decisions on the ball. I think that’s what transpired today. Mistakes are always going to happen in the game, it’s really about how you respond.”
On Matt Hundley’s performance and scoring his first professional goal: “I’m extremely proud of Matt. He hasn’t always had the best performances, especially over the last couple of games, he’s been up and down. Obviously going from one team up with the Rapids back to here and back and forth isn’t easy for a kid his age psychologically to stay on top of his game. But I’m proud that he came out tonight and gave the effort. He was in tune with what everybody was doing. He got the opportunity early and he missed, but he didn’t put his head down. He looked forward to the next opportunity and was able to concentrate and execute that next opportunity and put it in the net. I’m proud of him and I’m happy for him, but I’m more happy for the entire team with a great team performance.”
On teenager Sebastian Anderson’s performance: “Being in that environment every day, he’s used to a high level of play and a higher level of competition. So with him coming in, he added a lot to the team in terms of his knowledge, his experience at the MLS level. Obviously, he wanted to play and it showed.”
Matt Hundley – On the team’s performance tonight: “I thought it was very positive because it was our last home game so we could send the fans off with a positive message going into next year. Getting a win after such a long stretch is a relief. Tonight was definitely a very positive message.”
On his first professional goal: “It was more of a relief, to be honest. It’s been too long, I know I can get more out of myself. It was just a relief to finally open my account before hopefully more to come.”
Andre Rawls – On his overall thoughts on tonight’s performance: “Well-timed and well deserved, I thought. Coming out of the get-go, we came out on the front foot. We really wanted to prove ourselves out there and give the fans who have been supporting us through this whole year a little treat. It was good to be able to pull a 2-nil win out here in front of them. They’ve been great this whole year, supporting us when things haven’t gone so well. But they’ve been there bringing the noise and support and we loved it. To be able to give them a victory at the end of the season here has been real good.”
On his five save performance to earn his sixth clean sheet of the season: “I had a busy first 15-20 minutes or so but then the defense took over and it was a pretty low-key night after that. But it’s good, obviously we love to win. But for us defenders, we love a clean sheet too and it was really good for us.”
- Man of the Match// Matt Hundley
- Scoring Summary// COS: Hundley (29'), Robinson (40') | LA: None
- Saves// COS: Rawls (5) | LA: Lopez (1)
- Discipline// COS: YC: Anderson (48'), Argueta (77'), Romero (79') | LA: YC: Kamara (46'), DePuy (70'), Hilliard-Arce (84')
- Man of the Match// Matt Hundley
- Scoring Summary// COS: Hundley (29′), Robinson (40′) | LA: None
- Saves// COS: Rawls (5) | LA: Lopez (1)
- Discipline// COS: YC: Anderson (48′), Argueta (77′), Romero (79′) | LA: YC: Kamara (46′), DePuy (70′), Hilliard-Arce (84′)
