Just four regular season games remain at Weidner Field as the Switchbacks host defending champions San Antonio FC on Saturday evening in downtown Colorado Springs for Superhero Night. Tickets remain available HERE, with the first fans through the gates at 6pm receiving a
superhero mask or wand, courtesy of Jacobs.
Duke Lacroix will be unavailable for the Switchbacks on Saturday after being called into the Haitian national team for their upcoming CONCACAF Nations League matches against Cuba and Jamaica. Lacroix could face Switchbacks teammate Romario Williams on September 12th at Independence Park in Kingston, Jamaica, as Williams – the Switchbacks’ leading scorer – will be representing the Reggae Boyz. Williams’ Jamaica will first face Honduras on Friday evening in Kingston, ruling Williams out of Saturday’s Switchbacks match against San Antonio.
What the Switchbacks Say:
Switchbacks Head Coach Stephen Hogan: “The last two days we’re figuring out the balance of it and understanding like okay, Romario’s gone and Duke’s gone – and good for them they deserve it. Duke deserves the chance – he’s never actually had the call-up because he’s missed it [previously] due to injury. Romario has deservedly got it [too]…because of the goals he scores [and] you know [Jamaica] need that player in the box [who] can score goals, and he’s done that for us. I’m very, very proud [for] both of them. In terms of our [lineup] changes [that’s] naturally going to happen. Certain [reasons are] from performance, but the other thing is obviously the red cards are coming back and they’re going to be involved. “We can exploit [San Antonio] – really, really exploit them at times, and they have to be worried about one or two things that we’re going to do…it’s going to be a good, exciting game and hopefully then after that, like normal, we take our chances. We love [being home at Weidner Field]. You know the fans are amazing, and everyone’s great here. The guys love playing here [and] it’s a different team when we’re at home, and you know we need to get back on the winning track at home.”
San Antonio Sneak Peak:
San Antonio are winless since a 2-1 victory over RGVFC on August 16th and followed that match with three consecutive nil-nil draws before falling 2-1 to FC Tulsa last Sunday in the Sooner State. In just the third match of the 2023 season, San Antonio defeated the Switchbacks 1-0 on March 25th at Toyota Field in the Alamo City behind an 83rd minute goal from Ghanian midfielder Mohammed Abu. SAFC have only conceded 28 goals in the entirety of this season’s league campaign.
“We know exactly what we’re seeing [with San Antonio] and I think everyone in the league talks about [their physicality],” continued Head Coach Hogan. “They have a mentality [and] they have an idea [and] they have a structure that they play to, and you know it doesn’t suit nearly everyone in the league, but it suits them. And that’s why they’re champions. They’ve stuck to [their identity] and they’re aggressive enough to just try and throw it down your face every game. So yeah, we have to deal with that first and foremost.”
Vargish’s View:
Saturday is going to be epic. San Antonio are San Antonio: they’re strong, they’re physical, they’re up toward the top of the table, and they’re primed for another deep run into the USL Championship Playoffs. This weekend isn’t going to be as straightforward as big, strong, and experienced San Antonio versus the fast, cunning, and exuberant Switchbacks. If only soccer were that simple. But a distinct dynamic will be on show, with the Switchbacks tasked with dictating tempo against a SAFC team that’s more than happy to partake in a match devoid of discernable flow.
