Vargish’s View: Switchbacks Look for Repeat Result In Saturday Match Against Las Vegas Lights FC
Fresh from a thunderous 4-0 victory last weekend at Weidner Field, the Switchbacks return to downtown Colorado Springs to face the Las Vegas Lights on Saturday night. Tickets are available HERE, with the first 2,000 fans through the gates at 6pm receiving a picnic blanket courtesy of Banning Lewis Ranch.
A trio of Switchbacks were named to the USL Championship Team of the Week following the 4-0 win against Orange Country, with Jairo Henriquez, Drew Skundrich and Romario Williams all making the starting XI. On Tuesday the Switchbacks announced the signing on Juan Tejada from Indy Eleven.
What the Switchbacks Say:
Head Coach Stephen Hogan: “We’re very excited to add [Tejada] to the group. He’s another [high] character piece that’s going to show up and work and [he] has the willingness to get his head down. The big thing for him here is his pressing capabilities and those consistent capabilities over the length of a game. I talked to [Tampa Bay Rowdies Head Coach] Neill Collins about him, and he was like, ‘if you put him in that 18, with the chances you’re creating; he’s going to score goals.’ We want [Juan] back to that time [in Tampa Bay]. In Indy he felt he wasn’t appreciated, so he didn’t get his chances – and that happens with rosters – but I think here he’s going to get chances and he’s going to be on the field to hopefully score goals. That’s the whole reason we wanted him. He’s a natural [number] nine, but it’s similar to Jonas [Fjeldberg] where he can play anywhere behind that position because of his understanding of the game. He has that sort of [Zach] Zandi mold where his brain takes over and he can adjust to different positions – especially in an aggressive team. And that was the second reason we just pulled the trigger immediately [to sign Tejada].”
Romario Williams: “It meant everything [to win 4-0 against Orange County]. Obviously we were on a bad run of form but throughout everything we were positive and we were optimistic. We lost every game by a single goal, so we were right there. Obviously we had some costly mistakes and conceding first on the road in this league is very difficult. I think the guys stuck to the gameplan [last] Saturday and executed well on both sides of the ball; we had a solid team performance. Four goals [from] four different goal-scorers – I think that speaks volumes about the performance as a group.
“It meant everything [to be named on the USL Championship Team of the Week] but obviously that’s a testament to my teammates as well. It’s an all-around collective effort. I was pleased with my performance – maybe I could have had another goal or two – but it’s something to build on for sure. We take the positives, we clean up mistakes, learn from it, and we try to execute better this weekend.”
Look at Las Vegas:
The 1-6-6 Lights enter Weider Field at the bottom of the Western Conference, courtesy of the lowest points total in the 2023 USL Championship. “All the coaches and GM’s talk about it all the time; Vegas are not as bad as that [league] position,” said Head Coach Hogan. “They have gotten a ton of draws [this season] and they’re structured and they’re aggressive. They’ve got some serious experience on that team. You can’t take them lightly. We can break them down because of how aggressive they are, but if we slip-up or if we get complacent and if we don’t execute certain things, they’ll punish us. Saturday is not like you’re playing the last place team and you’re [just] going to get three points; that’s not happening in our minds. Hopefully this kicks us on and gives us some momentum into an RGV game [next Wednesday] that could be massive.”
“We just have to come out [on Saturday] with the right intensity – the same way we came out against Orange County,” added Romario Williams. “[Las Vegas are] a team that’s struggling right now, but they’re coming in here for a positive result. We have to match their intensity and execute the way we did against Orange County – but even better. [We need] a notch above what we did against Orange County. There are no easy games in this league. I don’t think a team [being] at the bottom of the league shows what they really are. We approach every single game with the right mindset. It doesn’t matter if [our opponent] is top of the league, middle of the table, or bottom of the league; we’re coming to get three points and we can’t underestimate anyone.”
Vargish’s View:
It’s no secret that the Lights have struggled mightily this season. There is genuine quality on Las Vegas’ roster, and great credit must be given to the Lights’ stubbornness in playing open, attacking, attractive soccer. On Saturday at Weidner Field, the Switchbacks must replicate the same tempo and efficiency they showed in the dominant win against Orange County.
The first goal this weekend will be crucial. If Vegas can score early, the complexion of the match will change as the Lights will be able to bunker in and look to do nothing more than stymie the Switchbacks. A quick strike from Stephen Hogan’s team could open the floodgates against a Las Vegas team that’s assuredly low on confidence and who have not been able to turn a deficit into a victory in 2023.
