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It’s $3 Margarita Night at Weidner Field as El Paso Locomotive FC make their first ever visit to Colorado Springs to face the Switchbacks FC on Saturday evening.  Pikes Peak National Bank will be sponsoring a bucket hat giveaway for the first 1000 fans.

The Switchbacks have not played since falling to the Tulsa Roughnecks FC 2-0 on Wednesday, April 24th.  On Tuesday morning the Switchbacks returned to practice – albeit indoors due to the spring snow that wafted through Colorado Springs on Monday night.  “The days off help us just re-set the mind,” said center back Jamal Jack. “We’re back now and we have to come out this week and work hard every day and win our games at home.”

“The break was good for everybody,” said Switchbacks Head Coach Steve Trittschuh.  “The players were able to get away mentally after a tough week with all the travel and a short turnaround.  It was time for them to get a break and regenerate and now we’re here to get back at it.”

“We got away mentally and now we’ve got to come back focused,” said defender Kris Reaves.  “We’ll take a look during the week at El Paso, but this week we’ll focus on our game and the details that make us better.  We’ll get things right this week so we can get a good result on Saturday.”

El Paso notched their second ever win in USL Championship play last Saturday, as they defeated Reno 1868 FC 1-0 at Southwest University Park in the western tip of Texas.  Argentine midfielder Sebastián Contreras won the match for the Locomotive with a 76th minute penalty kick after Jerome Kiesewetter was hauled down in the box.  Contreras and Kiesewetter lead El Paso’s attacking line against Reno, with Irishman Richie Ryan and Scotsman Nick Ross patrolling the center of midfield.  

Berlin born, United States international Kiesewetter spent his formative years in the Hertha Berlin, VfB Stuttgart, and Fortuna Düsseldorf organizations, before making his way stateside to sign with the El Paso Locomotive FC.  Haitian defender Mechack Jérôme was named as a starter on the USL Championship Team of the Week after his performance for the Locomotive FC in helping keep Reno 1868 FC scoreless last Saturday.

“El Paso have good players and they’ve been able to put together a team with a lot of experience – they’re a dangerous team,” said Trittschuh on Tuesday morning.  “We always play well at home and we need to win our games here. Later this week we’ll see who the Rapids will send us. We need all the guys this week to be ready and focused and we’ll need them to show up on Saturday and go for the win.”

Mexican striker Edson Partida and Maine native Derek Gebhard are tied on El Paso’s goal charts with two strikes apiece in 2019.  Former Bradley University Brave Logan Ketterer has posted back-to-back clean sheets for the Locomotive FC, after holding Reno 1868 FC scoreless a week after doing the same to the Austin Bold FC.  Ketterer is one of six Locomotive players to have appeared in all seven matches for El Paso in 2019.

“We’ll look at El Paso this week, but for me the focus right now is on what we do well,” said Switchbacks captain Jordan Burt.  “We’ve put together some good games but just need that final piece. We are close to being a great team – we just need to put it together.”

Following Saturday’s match, the Switchbacks will head to Sin City to face the Las Vegas Lights FC on May 11th, before returning to Weidner Field on the 18th to host high-flying New Mexico United.  General Dynamics will be sponsoring a vuvuzela giveaway for the first 500 fans through the gates for the match against New Mexico United, with the Switchbacks looking to post a vital win in the race for the inaugural Four Corners Cup.

The Switchbacks will visit the Lone Star State and the home of the Locomotive FC and the El Paso Chihuahuas, Southwest University Park, on Saturday, September 21st.

It’s $3 Margarita Night at Weidner Field as El Paso Locomotive FC make their first ever visit to Colorado Springs to face the Switchbacks FC on Saturday evening.  Pikes Peak National Bank will be sponsoring a bucket hat giveaway for the first 1000 fans.

The Switchbacks have not played since falling to the Tulsa Roughnecks FC 2-0 on Wednesday, April 24th.  On Tuesday morning the Switchbacks returned to practice – albeit indoors due to the spring snow that wafted through Colorado Springs on Monday night.  “The days off help us just re-set the mind,” said center back Jamal Jack. “We’re back now and we have to come out this week and work hard every day and win our games at home.”

“The break was good for everybody,” said Switchbacks Head Coach Steve Trittschuh.  “The players were able to get away mentally after a tough week with all the travel and a short turnaround.  It was time for them to get a break and regenerate and now we’re here to get back at it.”

“We got away mentally and now we’ve got to come back focused,” said defender Kris Reaves.  “We’ll take a look during the week at El Paso, but this week we’ll focus on our game and the details that make us better.  We’ll get things right this week so we can get a good result on Saturday.”

El Paso notched their second ever win in USL Championship play last Saturday, as they defeated Reno 1868 FC 1-0 at Southwest University Park in the western tip of Texas.  Argentine midfielder Sebastián Contreras won the match for the Locomotive with a 76th minute penalty kick after Jerome Kiesewetter was hauled down in the box.  Contreras and Kiesewetter lead El Paso’s attacking line against Reno, with Irishman Richie Ryan and Scotsman Nick Ross patrolling the center of midfield.  

Berlin born, United States international Kiesewetter spent his formative years in the Hertha Berlin, VfB Stuttgart, and Fortuna Düsseldorf organizations, before making his way stateside to sign with the El Paso Locomotive FC.  Haitian defender Mechack Jérôme was named as a starter on the USL Championship Team of the Week after his performance for the Locomotive FC in helping keep Reno 1868 FC scoreless last Saturday.

“El Paso have good players and they’ve been able to put together a team with a lot of experience – they’re a dangerous team,” said Trittschuh on Tuesday morning.  “We always play well at home and we need to win our games here. Later this week we’ll see who the Rapids will send us. We need all the guys this week to be ready and focused and we’ll need them to show up on Saturday and go for the win.”

Mexican striker Edson Partida and Maine native Derek Gebhard are tied on El Paso’s goal charts with two strikes apiece in 2019.  Former Bradley University Brave Logan Ketterer has posted back-to-back clean sheets for the Locomotive FC, after holding Reno 1868 FC scoreless a week after doing the same to the Austin Bold FC.  Ketterer is one of six Locomotive players to have appeared in all seven matches for El Paso in 2019.

“We’ll look at El Paso this week, but for me the focus right now is on what we do well,” said Switchbacks captain Jordan Burt.  “We’ve put together some good games but just need that final piece. We are close to being a great team – we just need to put it together.”

Following Saturday’s match, the Switchbacks will head to Sin City to face the Las Vegas Lights FC on May 11th, before returning to Weidner Field on the 18th to host high-flying New Mexico United.  General Dynamics will be sponsoring a vuvuzela giveaway for the first 500 fans through the gates for the match against New Mexico United, with the Switchbacks looking to post a vital win in the race for the inaugural Four Corners Cup.

The Switchbacks will visit the Lone Star State and the home of the Locomotive FC and the El Paso Chihuahuas, Southwest University Park, on Saturday, September 21st.

The Switchbacks head to Oklahoma for their first midweek USL Championship match of the season as they face the Tulsa Roughnecks FC on Wednesday evening at ONEOK Field.  Saturday evening saw the Switchbacks draw 2-2 with the Portland Timbers 2 in Oregon after a wild second half that included another penalty kick save from the Switchbacks’ Abraham Rodriguez.  

Jordan Burt had given the Switchbacks the lead at Merlo Field in the Rose City against T2 with a penalty kick after Shane Malcolm had been hauled down, only for Foster Langsdorf to equalize for the hosts.  Jordan Schweitzer looked to have won the game for the Switchbacks with a brilliant 84th minute finish, only for Langsdorf to secure the draw for T2 just two minutes later.  

“I think we dropped two points in Portland but in the end, we got a result and that’s what we’ve always talked about needing to do on the road,” said Switchbacks Head Coach Steve Trittschuh on Monday morning.  “From what I’ve seen initially, Tulsa have scored a lot of goals on re-starts so we have to prepare for that. It’s a smaller field so we have to be smart. The time and travel is kind of ridiculous. We didn’t get home until 6pm, the players have a quick regeneration today, then we leave at 6am tomorrow for Tulsa.  We’ll have to make a few changes and I hope they’ll step up. The guys we bring in will be fresh and we need that.”

“The key is to take care of our bodies,” said Jordan Schweitzer at a frigid Weidner Field on Monday.  “We’re here today to get our legs back. At the end of the day, we just have to deal with it and go to Tulsa and perform against a good team.”

“We have to approach Tulsa with the right mentality,” said Switchbacks captain Jordan Burt.  “We know they can score from set pieces. We have to make sure we don’t foul them in dangerous areas, and we have to stay switched on.  Our guys have got to win that battle.”

Roughnecks Head Coach Michael Nsien’s team have not played since falling 3-1 to Fresno FC at Chukchansi Park on April 13th.  Portuguese striker Janú Silva scored the Roughnecks’ lone goal of the game with a towering header in the 39th minute after a crisp cross from Cristhian Altamirano on the right wing.

Brazil’s Luca Lobo tops Tulsa’s stat line and is tied for the USL’s lead in goals with 7 in 2019.  Fellow Brazilian Rodrigo da Costa stands alone atop the Roughnecks’ stat chart in assists with 5, with former Switchbacks forward AJ Ajeakwa having notched an assist in his four appearances this season.  Another past member of the Switchbacks, Nigerian striker Tobenna Uzo, has found his opportunities limited in 2019 with the Roughnecks, as Uzo has logged just 44 minutes from Tulsa’s bench.

“Lobo is a left-back with that many goals – it just shows they score a lot from their re-starts,” said Trittschuh.  “For me looking at them, Tulsa are very athletic as a team so we’ve got to make sure we track them. It will be important for us to create space on that field that’s just 70 yards wide.”

Tulsa have won their last two matches at ONEOK Field by a combined score of 6-1.  On March 23rd, Tulsa blitzed the Tacoma Defiance 4-0 behind a brace from Luca Lobo, and the following Friday the Roughnecks defeated Rio Grande Valley FC 2-1 as Fabián Bastidas scored the winner in first half stoppage time.  

The Roughnecks will face the Switchbacks on Movie Night at Weidner Field on Saturday, July 13th, with the Better Business Bureau sponsoring the 3rd Poster Giveaway of 2019.  

Following the tilt in Tulsa on Wednesday night, the Switchbacks will return to Weidner Field on May 4th as they host USL Championship newcomers El Paso Locomotive FC on $3 margarita night.  Pikes Peak National Bank will be sponsoring a bucket hat giveaway for the first 1,000 fans at Weidner Field.

The Switchbacks head to Oklahoma for their first midweek USL Championship match of the season as they face the Tulsa Roughnecks FC on Wednesday evening at ONEOK Field.  Saturday evening saw the Switchbacks draw 2-2 with the Portland Timbers 2 in Oregon after a wild second half that included another penalty kick save from the Switchbacks’ Abraham Rodriguez.  

Jordan Burt had given the Switchbacks the lead at Merlo Field in the Rose City against T2 with a penalty kick after Shane Malcolm had been hauled down, only for Foster Langsdorf to equalize for the hosts.  Jordan Schweitzer looked to have won the game for the Switchbacks with a brilliant 84th minute finish, only for Langsdorf to secure the draw for T2 just two minutes later.  

“I think we dropped two points in Portland but in the end, we got a result and that’s what we’ve always talked about needing to do on the road,” said Switchbacks Head Coach Steve Trittschuh on Monday morning.  “From what I’ve seen initially, Tulsa have scored a lot of goals on re-starts so we have to prepare for that. It’s a smaller field so we have to be smart. The time and travel is kind of ridiculous. We didn’t get home until 6pm, the players have a quick regeneration today, then we leave at 6am tomorrow for Tulsa.  We’ll have to make a few changes and I hope they’ll step up. The guys we bring in will be fresh and we need that.”

“The key is to take care of our bodies,” said Jordan Schweitzer at a frigid Weidner Field on Monday.  “We’re here today to get our legs back. At the end of the day, we just have to deal with it and go to Tulsa and perform against a good team.”

“We have to approach Tulsa with the right mentality,” said Switchbacks captain Jordan Burt.  “We know they can score from set pieces. We have to make sure we don’t foul them in dangerous areas, and we have to stay switched on.  Our guys have got to win that battle.”

Roughnecks Head Coach Michael Nsien’s team have not played since falling 3-1 to Fresno FC at Chukchansi Park on April 13th.  Portuguese striker Janú Silva scored the Roughnecks’ lone goal of the game with a towering header in the 39th minute after a crisp cross from Cristhian Altamirano on the right wing.

Brazil’s Luca Lobo tops Tulsa’s stat line and is tied for the USL’s lead in goals with 7 in 2019.  Fellow Brazilian Rodrigo da Costa stands alone atop the Roughnecks’ stat chart in assists with 5, with former Switchbacks forward AJ Ajeakwa having notched an assist in his four appearances this season.  Another past member of the Switchbacks, Nigerian striker Tobenna Uzo, has found his opportunities limited in 2019 with the Roughnecks, as Uzo has logged just 44 minutes from Tulsa’s bench.

“Lobo is a left-back with that many goals – it just shows they score a lot from their re-starts,” said Trittschuh.  “For me looking at them, Tulsa are very athletic as a team so we’ve got to make sure we track them. It will be important for us to create space on that field that’s just 70 yards wide.”

Tulsa have won their last two matches at ONEOK Field by a combined score of 6-1.  On March 23rd, Tulsa blitzed the Tacoma Defiance 4-0 behind a brace from Luca Lobo, and the following Friday the Roughnecks defeated Rio Grande Valley FC 2-1 as Fabián Bastidas scored the winner in first half stoppage time.  

The Roughnecks will face the Switchbacks on Movie Night at Weidner Field on Saturday, July 13th, with the Better Business Bureau sponsoring the 3rd Poster Giveaway of 2019.  

Following the tilt in Tulsa on Wednesday night, the Switchbacks will return to Weidner Field on May 4th as they host USL Championship newcomers El Paso Locomotive FC on $3 margarita night.  Pikes Peak National Bank will be sponsoring a bucket hat giveaway for the first 1,000 fans at Weidner Field.