Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC Earn First Point at Weidner Field

Colorado Springs, CO (June 5, 2021) – An early goal, a late goal, and a pair of red cards saw the Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC draw 1-1 with San Antonio FC on Saturday night at Weidner Field.

The Switchbacks once again came out on the front foot with an early goal in the sixth minute of the game. Making his debut, Deshane Beckford played a through ball into the path of Hadji Barry who finished from a very tight angle on the right side of the goal, seeing his shot hit the side netting on the left side of the goal. Barry now has four goals in four games to start the 2021 season.

In first half stoppage time, a skirmish near the touch line resulted in Santiago Patino from San Antonio and Michael Edwards from the Switchbacks both see red cards to play the second half ten men versus ten men.

With 30 minutes to go, a cross from San Antonio force the ball to roll towards the goal before Jimmy Ockford slid in at the last moment to clear the ball off the goal line. Zach Zandi had an opportunity to double the hosts lead in the 78th minute when a pass from Barry found him seven yards out from goal but his shot was also cleared off the goal line.

Two minutes from full time, a free kick fell to the foot of Justin Dhillon who scored for San Antonio from close range. As stoppage time began, Michee Ngalina hit a half volley from the right side of the six yard box that San Antonio's goalkeeper, Matt Cardone, got fingertips on the shot to tip it on to the crossbar.

The 1-1 draw saw the Switchbacks earn their first points of the 2021 campaign at Weidner Field.

The Switchbacks FC are on the road next weekend as the club takes on El Paso Locomotive FC at 6:30pm MT on June 12. The Switchbacks are back at Weidner Field on Wednesday, June 16, against Tacoma Defiance with gates opening at 6pm MT. The first 500 fans in attendance will receive a free Switchbacks mask, courtesy of Capelli Sport.- Tickets are available HERE.

Colorado Springs, CO (June 5, 2021) – An early goal, a late goal, and a pair of red cards saw the Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC draw 1-1 with San Antonio FC on Saturday night at Weidner Field.

The Switchbacks once again came out on the front foot with an early goal in the sixth minute of the game. Making his debut, Deshane Beckford played a through ball into the path of Hadji Barry who finished from a very tight angle on the right side of the goal, seeing his shot hit the side netting on the left side of the goal. Barry now has four goals in four games to start the 2021 season.

In first half stoppage time, a skirmish near the touch line resulted in Santiago Patino from San Antonio and Michael Edwards from the Switchbacks both see red cards to play the second half ten men versus ten men.

With 30 minutes to go, a cross from San Antonio force the ball to roll towards the goal before Jimmy Ockford slid in at the last moment to clear the ball off the goal line. Zach Zandi had an opportunity to double the hosts lead in the 78th minute when a pass from Barry found him seven yards out from goal but his shot was also cleared off the goal line.

Two minutes from full time, a free kick fell to the foot of Justin Dhillon who scored for San Antonio from close range. As stoppage time began, Michee Ngalina hit a half volley from the right side of the six yard box that San Antonio’s goalkeeper, Matt Cardone, got fingertips on the shot to tip it on to the crossbar.

The 1-1 draw saw the Switchbacks earn their first points of the 2021 campaign at Weidner Field.

The Switchbacks FC are on the road next weekend as the club takes on El Paso Locomotive FC at 6:30pm MT on June 12. The Switchbacks are back at Weidner Field on Wednesday, June 16, against Tacoma Defiance with gates opening at 6pm MT. The first 500 fans in attendance will receive a free Switchbacks mask, courtesy of Capelli Sport.- Tickets are available HERE.

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Brendan Burke On the game's result tonight: "I thought we were fantastic tonight for the better part of the game. That was really encouraging. If we play like that eventually were going to take our chances; there could have been four or five goals in that for us tonight against one of the best teams in the league, so I'm extremely proud of how our guys played. Unfortunately there was some outside factors that influenced how the first half turned out. We never really got control of the game from an officiating standpoint, which is tough, but we need to work through those moments and be smarter and not get sucked into fistfights and things like that. But I couldn't be more proud in general of how the group responded to what we saw from San Antonio."  On consistently scoring early in Weidner Field:  "We're well prepared, and we're going to continue to be well prepared going into games. And Hadji exemplifies that, he's as professional and well prepared a player as I've ever worked with." Hadji Barry On Beckford's assist tonight: "It's very good to have Deshane back today, we were all looking forward to him playing in this game. Unfortunately he had to come out at halftime because of tactical changes, but I think he was fantastic in the first half, with his speed they couldn’t handle him. I'm looking forward to games coming up, I think we’re going to do better."    On getting consistently early goals at Weidner Field: "It feels good, would have been better with the win, but I've scored three games on this field which feels good. I'm all about the team: team achievement, team accomplishments, but I am happy I am able to contribute to the team. Hopefully we can turn these into wins soon."    Jimmy Ockford On his goal clearing save in the second half: "I was just looking to cover my keeper, I saw Sean being aggressive coming out so my first instinct is to cover the goal if I see the goal keeper stepping, so in my mind I just needed to beat the attacker to the ball and that’s what happened. It got kicked out for a corner." On energy in the second half and different chances: "The guys brought the energy and it was a good response in the second half. I think knowing that we were a man down it was going to be an even tougher game because we have even more space, a little bit more running but yeah we have a resilient team and we persevered but it was just an unfortunate result."

Brendan Burke On the game’s result tonight: “I thought we were fantastic tonight for the better part of the game. That was really encouraging. If we play like that eventually were going to take our chances; there could have been four or five goals in that for us tonight against one of the best teams in the league, so I’m extremely proud of how our guys played. Unfortunately there was some outside factors that influenced how the first half turned out. We never really got control of the game from an officiating standpoint, which is tough, but we need to work through those moments and be smarter and not get sucked into fistfights and things like that. But I couldn’t be more proud in general of how the group responded to what we saw from San Antonio.”  On consistently scoring early in Weidner Field:  “We’re well prepared, and we’re going to continue to be well prepared going into games. And Hadji exemplifies that, he’s as professional and well prepared a player as I’ve ever worked with.” Hadji Barry On Beckford’s assist tonight: “It’s very good to have Deshane back today, we were all looking forward to him playing in this game. Unfortunately he had to come out at halftime because of tactical changes, but I think he was fantastic in the first half, with his speed they couldn’t handle him. I’m looking forward to games coming up, I think we’re going to do better.”    On getting consistently early goals at Weidner Field: “It feels good, would have been better with the win, but I’ve scored three games on this field which feels good. I’m all about the team: team achievement, team accomplishments, but I am happy I am able to contribute to the team. Hopefully we can turn these into wins soon.”    Jimmy Ockford On his goal clearing save in the second half: “I was just looking to cover my keeper, I saw Sean being aggressive coming out so my first instinct is to cover the goal if I see the goal keeper stepping, so in my mind I just needed to beat the attacker to the ball and that’s what happened. It got kicked out for a corner.” On energy in the second half and different chances: “The guys brought the energy and it was a good response in the second half. I think knowing that we were a man down it was going to be an even tougher game because we have even more space, a little bit more running but yeah we have a resilient team and we persevered but it was just an unfortunate result.”

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• Man of the Match// Hadji Barry
• Scoring Summary// COS: Barry (6') | SA: Dhillon (88')
• Saves// COS: Melvin (1) | SA: Cardone (4)
• Discipline// COS: YC: Mahoney (15'), Beckford (17'), Makangila (49') – RC: Edwards (45+1') | SA: YC: Patino (34') – RC: Patino (45+1')

• Man of the Match// Hadji Barry
• Scoring Summary// COS: Barry (6′) | SA: Dhillon (88′)
• Saves// COS: Melvin (1) | SA: Cardone (4)
• Discipline// COS: YC: Mahoney (15′), Beckford (17′), Makangila (49′) – RC: Edwards (45+1′) | SA: YC: Patino (34′) – RC: Patino (45+1′)