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Four Corners Cup action and summer fireworks return to Weidner Field this Saturday as the Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC host the Real Monarchs of Salt Lake City.  Colorado Technical University will be sponsoring a pre-game T Shirt giveaway for the first 500 fans and a post-match fireworks display.

The Real Monarchs have not played since notching a 5-3 win over the Rio Grande Valley FC Toros on June 8th at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman, Utah.  Honduran striker Douglas Martinez notched a brace against RGV FC, while the Monarchs’ leading goal scorer Maikel Chang added to his club-topping goal tally of six with a 22nd minute strike.  Former Switchbacks winger Masta Kacher started for the Monarchs before eventually being substituted just before full-time.

Real Salt Lake, the Major League Soccer parent club of the Real Monarchs, will visit the Chicago Fire on Saturday evening in a matchup of cross-conference MLS clubs who are both chasing a playoff spot.  The Monarchs, just like their big brothers of Real Salt Lake, are a possession based team who attempt vanquishing opponents through a thousand passes and constant off the ball movement, although in 2019 the Monarchs have, at times, adopted a more straightforward approach according to Switchbacks Head Coach Steve Trittschuh: “Martinez is a very good player.  Chang is playing well at the moment too. He has the freedom to move in their system so we have to limit his space and stay compact defensively. They can be direct and they look over the top so we’ve got to be ready for that and ready to play. They still want to keep the ball and move opponents side to side, but they’ll be more direct when they need to and we have to be aware of that on Saturday.  We need to keep pressure on the ball and force them to pass when they’re uncomfortable.”

Four Corners Cup action and summer fireworks return to Weidner Field this Saturday as the Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC host the Real Monarchs of Salt Lake City.  Colorado Technical University will be sponsoring a pre-game T Shirt giveaway for the first 500 fans and a post-match fireworks display.

The Real Monarchs have not played since notching a 5-3 win over the Rio Grande Valley FC Toros on June 8th at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman, Utah.  Honduran striker Douglas Martinez notched a brace against RGV FC, while the Monarchs’ leading goal scorer Maikel Chang added to his club-topping goal tally of six with a 22nd minute strike.  Former Switchbacks winger Masta Kacher started for the Monarchs before eventually being substituted just before full-time.

Real Salt Lake, the Major League Soccer parent club of the Real Monarchs, will visit the Chicago Fire on Saturday evening in a matchup of cross-conference MLS clubs who are both chasing a playoff spot.  The Monarchs, just like their big brothers of Real Salt Lake, are a possession based team who attempt vanquishing opponents through a thousand passes and constant off the ball movement, although in 2019 the Monarchs have, at times, adopted a more straightforward approach according to Switchbacks Head Coach Steve Trittschuh: “Martinez is a very good player.  Chang is playing well at the moment too. He has the freedom to move in their system so we have to limit his space and stay compact defensively. They can be direct and they look over the top so we’ve got to be ready for that and ready to play. They still want to keep the ball and move opponents side to side, but they’ll be more direct when they need to and we have to be aware of that on Saturday.  We need to keep pressure on the ball and force them to pass when they’re uncomfortable.”

“The Monarchs sometimes get a decent number of first-teamers playing with them but they’re a good side no matter what,” said Switchbacks striker Mike Seth early Tuesday morning.  “We have just got to focus on ourselves and prepare the best we can. We need to try to get back in the swing of things after our extended stay in Texas and try to get our bodies right for the weekend.”

A hectic day of botched travel followed the Switchbacks’ loss in Edinburg, Texas to the RGV FC Toros on Saturday evening.  With a spring storm rolling through north Texas, the Switchbacks were unable to connect through Dallas Fort Worth International after leaving McAllen, Texas and were eventually rerouted through Austin.   

“It actually turned out ok because the guys spent time together talking and bonding,” said Trittschuh.  “We didn’t get back to town until around midnight on Monday, but with it being about the weather, it was out of our hands.  We had to sit on the plane for about three hours in Austin, but we’ve got this week to get that out of our system and be ready for Saturday.”

“The Monarchs sometimes get a decent number of first-teamers playing with them but they’re a good side no matter what,” said Switchbacks striker Mike Seth early Tuesday morning.  “We have just got to focus on ourselves and prepare the best we can. We need to try to get back in the swing of things after our extended stay in Texas and try to get our bodies right for the weekend.”

A hectic day of botched travel followed the Switchbacks’ loss in Edinburg, Texas to the RGV FC Toros on Saturday evening.  With a spring storm rolling through north Texas, the Switchbacks were unable to connect through Dallas Fort Worth International after leaving McAllen, Texas and were eventually rerouted through Austin.   

“It actually turned out ok because the guys spent time together talking and bonding,” said Trittschuh.  “We didn’t get back to town until around midnight on Monday, but with it being about the weather, it was out of our hands.  We had to sit on the plane for about three hours in Austin, but we’ve got this week to get that out of our system and be ready for Saturday.”

“That was a different experience for us,” said midfielder Jordan Schweitzer.  “Not many guys on the team have experienced that kind of day. But as with everything, we tried to make the most of it while we were waiting to get home.  Salt Lake will be fresh so we expect a team that’s eager to play and chomping at the bit to get back to live games. We have to focus on a good week of preparation.”

A bright spot in the Switchbacks’ loss last Saturday were the club debuts of former United States Air Force Academy standouts Tucker Bone and Austin Dewing.  

“Of course I would have liked a much better result, but that being said; it was an absolute thrill to be on the field and working hard and trying to make this team better,” said Austin Dewing.  “We played Salt Lake in the preseason – they’re a very good team. We have a lot of respect for every team in this league and we approach each game and every team with the same attitude. It’s going to be a good game and I’m glad to be a part of this group.”

“That was a different experience for us,” said midfielder Jordan Schweitzer.  “Not many guys on the team have experienced that kind of day. But as with everything, we tried to make the most of it while we were waiting to get home.  Salt Lake will be fresh so we expect a team that’s eager to play and chomping at the bit to get back to live games. We have to focus on a good week of preparation.”

A bright spot in the Switchbacks’ loss last Saturday were the club debuts of former United States Air Force Academy standouts Tucker Bone and Austin Dewing.  

“Of course I would have liked a much better result, but that being said; it was an absolute thrill to be on the field and working hard and trying to make this team better,” said Austin Dewing.  “We played Salt Lake in the preseason – they’re a very good team. We have a lot of respect for every team in this league and we approach each game and every team with the same attitude. It’s going to be a good game and I’m glad to be a part of this group.”

“It felt good to get out there and get those first jitters out of my system,” said Tucker Bone.  “I’m looking forward to getting more time and building with the team and playing my game and doing everything to help the team get results.”

“They both did well when they came in and gave us something different,” said Trittschuh of the debuts of Dewing and Bone.  “We have some options now and César [Romero] is back with us too. I’ve told the guys that we’ve left it open this week – the players who are training well this week will play on Saturday and it’s our job to make sure that the players who are ready and showing the desire to play are out there this weekend.”

After Saturday’s match, the Switchbacks will make their first trip to Bold Stadium as they face the expansion Austin Bold FC on June 29th.  The Switchbacks will return to Weidner Field to host Orange County SC on a 4th of July Spectacular, with post game fireworks presented by Oakwood Homes and a pre-match blanket giveaway.

“It felt good to get out there and get those first jitters out of my system,” said Tucker Bone.  “I’m looking forward to getting more time and building with the team and playing my game and doing everything to help the team get results.”

“They both did well when they came in and gave us something different,” said Trittschuh of the debuts of Dewing and Bone.  “We have some options now and César [Romero] is back with us too. I’ve told the guys that we’ve left it open this week – the players who are training well this week will play on Saturday and it’s our job to make sure that the players who are ready and showing the desire to play are out there this weekend.”

After Saturday’s match, the Switchbacks will make their first trip to Bold Stadium as they face the expansion Austin Bold FC on June 29th.  The Switchbacks will return to Weidner Field to host Orange County SC on a 4th of July Spectacular, with post game fireworks presented by Oakwood Homes and a pre-match blanket giveaway.