It’s Back to School Night at Weidner Field on Friday as the Switchbacks FC welcome El Paso Locomotive FC to downtown Colorado Springs. Gates open at 6pm, with the first 1,000 fans receiving a Switchbacks backpack, courtesy of GE Johnson. Tickets are available HERE.
Since defeating the Switchbacks 1-0 on July 9th at Southwest University Park in Far West Texas, the Locomotive have lost four games in a row. The match against the Switchbacks saw 11 bookings, including red cards to Switchbacks defender Matt Mahoney and the Locomotive’s leading scorer Luis Solignac.
Last Saturday the Switchbacks fought to a wild 3-3 draw with last season’s USL Championship winners, Orange County SC, at Championship Soccer Stadium in Irvine, California. A 92nd minute penalty kick equalizer from Hadji Barry followed goals from Michee Ngalina and Elvis Amoh for the Switchbacks.
What the Switchbacks Say:
Newest member of the Switchbacks, Bret Halsey, who was SIGNED by the Switchbacks on Tuesday: “It’s been pretty nice [to be in Colorado Springs]. I got in here on Saturday, first training on Sunday, and I’m feeling really good and getting used to the altitude – I’m from Salt Lake City so it’s not too bad. I’m really enjoying it [with the Switchbacks] and looking forward to the game on Friday.”
Switchbacks Head Coach and General Manager Brendan Burke: “[Bret Halsey] brings versatility and high end potential. He was drafted in the top-10 in MLS for a reason. We view him as potentially playing right back but he’s also very capable and was drafted out of the center of midfield, so we like that. He’s technically clean and he played in a great college program at UVA and when he’s been healthy he’s had really good training in MLS. We needed the bodies – we’re just working [Zach] Zandi back and will hopefully get Macca [Macauley King] back in a couple weeks. Health is our primary concern going into the home stretch.
“[We have] five out of the next six at home – which is massive. We could do without the midweek game in Sacramento [next Wednesday], but that’s the way our schedule has gone this year – it’s just been horrendous and it’s something we have to overcome. But to be at home [on Friday] is a massive boost to the group.”
Little Look at El Paso:
“Both teams are in a position where they need and want points to position themselves well for the playoffs, and these are both playoff teams; there’s no doubt about that,” said Brendan Burke. “[El Paso] will play for set pieces – they have a good number nine in [Luis] Solignac who can score with his head. [Aaron] Gómez can score with his head. So they have guys that are an aerial threat as well as being really good with their feet, and they’re another very experienced team. Most of their team is 30-plus, with a couple younger guys sprinkled in. Their guys have been places and won things.”
“I played against [El Paso] in Salt Lake City with the [Real] Monarchs, and [El Paso Locomotive] are definitely very quick and they like to keep the ball – that’s what we’ve been preparing for,” said Bret Halsey. “[Weidner Field] is a really nice stadium and I’m looking forward to [Friday].”
Vargish’s View: El Paso are experienced, physical, and remain in the playoff picture in the USL Championship’s Western Conference due to their strong start to the season. Argentine striker Luis Solignac is a top threat in the entire league, and the Switchbacks must corral him if they’re to keep El Paso’s offense quiet.
Being back at Weidner Field for the first time in three weeks is huge for a Switchbacks team that are 7-3-1 in Colorado Springs this season. Friday’s match sets up as a classic case of contrasts: the dynamic offense of the Switchbacks that’s built on speed and movement against an El Paso Locomotive team that have a stout defensive foundation and live to put teams under pressure from crosses and set pieces. The Switchbacks are going to need to stand tall defensively and will get three points against El Paso if their offense can continue to gel with new faces like El Salvador international Jairo Henríquez and a potential debut of Bret Halsey.