Opponent: Sacramento Republic FC
Match Date: April 6th
Location: Weidner Field.
Doors Open: 5:00pm MT. Tickets are available HERE for Colorado Night!!
Last Meeting: Switchbacks 2, Sacramento Republic 0. September 23rd , 2023, Weidner Field in Colorado Springs. Goals from Romario Williams (29’) and Jairo Henriquez (90+2’).
How to Listen: 740 KVOR with the Voices of the Switchbacks, Ryan Kaufman and Roland Vargish – coverage starts at 5:30pm.
Coach Chamber’s Comments: “We obviously evaluate the first three games, and some things didn’t bounce our way and some things we needed to be a little bit better at. The performance in San Antonio we thought from an application standpoint was fantastic. Some decisions didn’t go our way that should have gone our way on a different night, and I think for us it’s a case of evaluating that as a whole [and] working this week on areas we need to improve on. The players have really bought into what we want to try and do, and we’re just focused on getting better and getting ourselves on the board. I don’t think it’s going to be long until we do that, but we also have to stay the course too. “It’s big to have [Koa Santos] back [available for selection on Saturday, following a red card against Detroit City and subsequent one game suspension that was served against San Antonio]. It’s a learning experience – it’s part of a young players’ development [in terms of] understanding the momentum in the game and making those decisions. Look, we’ve all been there before and we’ve all learned from it. He’s responded in a fantastic manner [and] trained really, really well and we’re excited to have him back in the squad. “I can’t keep putting into words [how much it means to play at Weidner Field] because it is indescribable. It really is. We felt like we let the fans down the last time we were here [against Detroit]. The momentum we had from the start of the second half to the 60 th minute [and] the red card was incredible, and we want that for 90 minutes on Saturday night. We owe them [the fans at Weidner Field] but we also want them to row in behind the players. The players are working their tails off to continue to get better and to get results and we want everybody to enjoy
themselves on Saturday night.”
Opposition Outlook: “[Sacramento has] started the season quite well – obviously unbeaten [and with] a couple of good results,” continued Head Coach Chambers. “[Russell] Cicerone and [Cristian] Parano [are players we look at]. I think [Trevor} Amann has gone in there and made a real impact. They have some top players all over the field. They scored late the other night, so we’re under no illusions what’s coming into the building. [Sacramento were] Champions last year in the Western Conference so look; we’re not naïve. We’re looking forward to it [and] I think we’re eager to get ourselves on the board.”
Vargish’s Views: Last season, Sacramento Republic were far and away the best regular season team in the USL Championship’s Western Conference. Undoubtedly buoyed by their 87 th minute winner against Memphis 901 FC last Saturday, Sacramento arrive undefeated in Colorado Springs behind a couple wins and two draws in 2024. A former Kalamazoo Outrage midfielder, Republic Head Coach Mark Briggs has assembled a roster laden with talent and experience that looks as difficult to beat as any team in the league through the first month of the season. The Switchbacks’ win over Sacramento in Colorado Springs last September was hard fought and a harbinger of Saturday’s match. The scheduling gods have not been kind to the Switchbacks through the first three matchdays, and a return to action against Sacramento presents a terribly tall task. Home points are always possible in the unique confines – and in front of the raucous crowd – that only exist in the rarified air of Weidner Field. And with a trip to
the Valley of the Sun on the horizon, the Switchbacks will put in a 90-minute performance they can be proud of on Saturday night. Fans demand it. Coaches demand it. And Ryan and Roland really want it.