Switchbacks News

The Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC make their way to the Rose City to take on the Portland Timbers 2 this Saturday evening at Merlo Field on the campus of the University of Portland.  Last weekend, wild, winter-like conditions blasted Colorado Springs causing a near-three-hour delay before the Switchbacks fell 2-0 to visiting Reno 1868 FC.

“The weather and the delay affected us against Reno,” said Switchbacks Head Coach Steve Trittschuh on Wednesday morning.  “Professional players are creatures of habit, and it was hard for us not knowing when the game would start. In the first half we played well but it’s the same story; we just didn’t take our chances.  Reno’s first goal was a bad mistake – we couldn’t clear the ball. But the players have had a good attitude. We talked on Tuesday as a group and I told them we’ve been playing well, but that we just need more quality when we have chances.”

The Switchbacks outshot Reno 24 to 15, and both outcrossed and out-possessed the visitors from the Biggest Little City in the World last Saturday at Weidner Field.  Mike Seth was unlucky to not win his team a first half penalty kick after a Reno handball, and now the Switchbacks will spend the week preparing in Colorado Springs to face the USL Championship’s Western Conference leaders in T2.

“Portland are getting a lot of results at the top of the table,” said Switchbacks captain Jordan Burt.  “It’s a good place to play and we’ve always done well there in the past. The guys love playing on the good field there and we’ll be looking to bounce back.”

“We have to get a result this week because we fell short against Reno,” said center back Jamal Jack.  “It will be tough in training because we’ll be fighting for spots – the players will do their best this week because we all want to play in Portland.”

On Saturday the Timbers 2 defeated Sacramento Republic 1-0 behind a 29th minute penalty kick from Gambian captain Modou Jadama.  The win moved T2 into first place in the USL Championship Western Conference, with Head Coach Cameron Knowles’ team tied on points with red-hot New Mexico United – although T2 have a game in hand.

“Portland are a good, solid team,” said Trittschuh.  “They have good players in attack and they’re doing well this season.  We always play well on the road on a good field – and Portland have the best field in the league.  [Foster] Langsdorf and [Brayan] Hurtado very good players. [Eryk] Williamson and Todd Wharton played well against Sacramento – Portland have good players and their defense is solid and they have a lot of MLS experience.  They’re playing well, so we’ve got to go and play our game and take our chances.”

June 17th of 2018 saw the Switchbacks run away 4-1 winners at Merlo Field, fueled by a brace from Jordan Burt.  Later this season, the Switchbacks will host T2 on Wednesday, August 7th at Weidner Field with Centura Orthopedics sponsoring a cowbell giveaway for the first 500 fans in attendance.  

“Portland are playing well offensively so we need to get off to a good start and we have to be better and that starts at training today,” said Rony Argueta on Tuesday morning.  “This week we will work to get some good insight about Portland. From what I’ve seen, they’re really organized and they’ll build from the back no matter what. Portland are a young team and they’re full of energy and we know it’s a difficult place to play.  It’s tough to forget about the game against Reno and put it away, but we have to because if we don’t move on, we lose focus on what’s next.”

The Switchbacks face a tight turnaround after Saturday’s match in the great Pacific Northwest, as they will return to Colorado Springs before making their way to Oklahoma for a midweek showdown with the Tulsa Roughnecks FC on April 24th.  May 4th will see the Switchbacks return to Weidner Field as they host 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 Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC make their way to the Rose City to take on the Portland Timbers 2 this Saturday evening at Merlo Field on the campus of the University of Portland.  Last weekend, wild, winter-like conditions blasted Colorado Springs causing a near-three-hour delay before the Switchbacks fell 2-0 to visiting Reno 1868 FC.

“The weather and the delay affected us against Reno,” said Switchbacks Head Coach Steve Trittschuh on Wednesday morning.  “Professional players are creatures of habit, and it was hard for us not knowing when the game would start. In the first half we played well but it’s the same story; we just didn’t take our chances.  Reno’s first goal was a bad mistake – we couldn’t clear the ball. But the players have had a good attitude. We talked on Tuesday as a group and I told them we’ve been playing well, but that we just need more quality when we have chances.”

The Switchbacks outshot Reno 24 to 15, and both outcrossed and out-possessed the visitors from the Biggest Little City in the World last Saturday at Weidner Field.  Mike Seth was unlucky to not win his team a first half penalty kick after a Reno handball, and now the Switchbacks will spend the week preparing in Colorado Springs to face the USL Championship’s Western Conference leaders in T2.

“Portland are getting a lot of results at the top of the table,” said Switchbacks captain Jordan Burt.  “It’s a good place to play and we’ve always done well there in the past. The guys love playing on the good field there and we’ll be looking to bounce back.”

“We have to get a result this week because we fell short against Reno,” said center back Jamal Jack.  “It will be tough in training because we’ll be fighting for spots – the players will do their best this week because we all want to play in Portland.”

On Saturday the Timbers 2 defeated Sacramento Republic 1-0 behind a 29th minute penalty kick from Gambian captain Modou Jadama.  The win moved T2 into first place in the USL Championship Western Conference, with Head Coach Cameron Knowles’ team tied on points with red-hot New Mexico United – although T2 have a game in hand.

“Portland are a good, solid team,” said Trittschuh.  “They have good players in attack and they’re doing well this season.  We always play well on the road on a good field – and Portland have the best field in the league.  [Foster] Langsdorf and [Brayan] Hurtado very good players. [Eryk] Williamson and Todd Wharton played well against Sacramento – Portland have good players and their defense is solid and they have a lot of MLS experience.  They’re playing well, so we’ve got to go and play our game and take our chances.”

June 17th of 2018 saw the Switchbacks run away 4-1 winners at Merlo Field, fueled by a brace from Jordan Burt.  Later this season, the Switchbacks will host T2 on Wednesday, August 7th at Weidner Field with Centura Orthopedics sponsoring a cowbell giveaway for the first 500 fans in attendance.  

“Portland are playing well offensively so we need to get off to a good start and we have to be better and that starts at training today,” said Rony Argueta on Tuesday morning.  “This week we will work to get some good insight about Portland. From what I’ve seen, they’re really organized and they’ll build from the back no matter what. Portland are a young team and they’re full of energy and we know it’s a difficult place to play.  It’s tough to forget about the game against Reno and put it away, but we have to because if we don’t move on, we lose focus on what’s next.”

The Switchbacks face a tight turnaround after Saturday’s match in the great Pacific Northwest, as they will return to Colorado Springs before making their way to Oklahoma for a midweek showdown with the Tulsa Roughnecks FC on April 24th.  May 4th will see the Switchbacks return to Weidner Field as they host 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.

Reno 1868 FC visit Weidner Field this Saturday evening as the Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC look to solidify their position inside the top ten of the USL Championship’s Western Conference table.  The first 500 fans in attendance will receive a drawstring backpack, courtesy of Capelli Sport, and the second part of the Switchbacks poster series, courtesy of the Gazette newspaper.

Both of Saturday’s opponents fell to defeats last weekend, with Reno 1868 going down 3-1 in Salt Lake City to the Real Monarchs, while the Switchbacks were beaten 2-0 in the Golden State by Orange County SC.  

Reno 1868 have a roster stacked full of talent, with Zach Carroll, Brent Richards, and Duke Lacroix marshalling the defense in front of two goalkeepers that have seen USL Championship time in 2019: Matt Bersano and James Marcinkowski.  Former Seattle University Redhawks standouts Nathan Aune and Sergio Rivas are also on Reno’s books, with Rivas having appeared as a second-half substitute in Saturday’s loss in Utah.

Jamaican hitman Brian Brown leads Reno’s goal-chart with four, with the effervescent striker forming a deadly partnership alongside Corey Hertzog.  “To stop Brian Brown we have to deny him the ball,” said Switchbacks Assistant Coach and former Jamaican international Wolde Harris. “He’s strong, athletic, and fast so we’ve got to be on our toes and know where he is at all times.  But what’s most important is to deny him service. [Corey] Hertzog is a good player too. He’s mobile and he looks to get in behind and stretch the defense and it’s going to be key to stop their service and keep them out of good spaces.”

“We’re a good defensive team – we just gave two soft goals in OC,” said Shane Malcolm.  “We need to limit players like Brown and we have to cut off his service and play him out of the game.”

The Switchbacks defeated Reno 1868 during preseason in the Wasatch Winter Cup 4-1 behind a brace from Ish Jome and goals from Malcolm and Mike Seth.  “Preseason is preseason – I think it will be a different team and a different game,” said Seth. “They’re a good team with a lot of talent. We’ve got to show up and be ready at home.  We know it’ll be tough for them to play here and we need to take advantage of being home.”

“We had an opportunity to play them in preseason, which is always good,” said Jordan Schweitzer.  “Reno have a better understanding of each other now, and we have the same thing. It’s difficult for teams to come into Weidner Field and get a win.  I expect Reno to come in and battle and we understand that it will be a fight.”

Former Penn State Nittany Lions star Hertzog, who leads Reno with two assists in 2019, missed an early penalty kick against the Real Monarchs last Saturday, and was removed at halftime as part of a double substitution by Head Coach Ian Russell.  The changes brought Reno an 81st minute goal from one of the aforementioned subs, Aidan Apodaca.  

“We know that Brown has got speed and strength and we have got to watch him,” said Switchbacks Head Coach Steve Trittschuh.  “He has an eye for goal, so we’ve got to be aware of him – but they’ve got other dangerous players. Reno are a good, solid team and they play their system well under Ian [Russell] who is a good coach.  We have got to have better intensity than we did in OC and we’ve got to play better. The speed of our play has to be quicker to break things down and of course we can’t give up re-start goals like we did in OC.”

“I’m sure Reno will come in flying so we need to be ready on Saturday,” said midfielder Alex Molano early Wednesday morning – his birthday.  “It feels good to be back at home and we’ll need to take advantage of that and win our games at home.”

The Switchbacks will visit Greater Nevada Field in The Biggest Little City in the World on July 27th.  A trip to the Rose City to face the Portland Timbers 2 awaits the Switchbacks on April 20th following Saturday’s match against Reno 1868.  A first midweek game of 2019 will follow, with the Switchbacks making their way to ONEOK Field for an April 24th showdown with the table-topping Tulsa Roughnecks FC.  The Switchbacks will return to Weidner Field on May 4th as they host El Paso Locomotive FC on $3 margarita night, with the first 500 fans receiving a bucket hat courtesy of Pikes Peak National Bank.

Reno 1868 FC visit Weidner Field this Saturday evening as the Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC look to solidify their position inside the top ten of the USL Championship’s Western Conference table.  The first 500 fans in attendance will receive a drawstring backpack, courtesy of Capelli Sport, and the second part of the Switchbacks poster series, courtesy of the Gazette newspaper.

Both of Saturday’s opponents fell to defeats last weekend, with Reno 1868 going down 3-1 in Salt Lake City to the Real Monarchs, while the Switchbacks were beaten 2-0 in the Golden State by Orange County SC.  

Reno 1868 have a roster stacked full of talent, with Zach Carroll, Brent Richards, and Duke Lacroix marshalling the defense in front of two goalkeepers that have seen USL Championship time in 2019: Matt Bersano and James Marcinkowski.  Former Seattle University Redhawks standouts Nathan Aune and Sergio Rivas are also on Reno’s books, with Rivas having appeared as a second-half substitute in Saturday’s loss in Utah.

Jamaican hitman Brian Brown leads Reno’s goal-chart with four, with the effervescent striker forming a deadly partnership alongside Corey Hertzog.  “To stop Brian Brown we have to deny him the ball,” said Switchbacks Assistant Coach and former Jamaican international Wolde Harris. “He’s strong, athletic, and fast so we’ve got to be on our toes and know where he is at all times.  But what’s most important is to deny him service. [Corey] Hertzog is a good player too. He’s mobile and he looks to get in behind and stretch the defense and it’s going to be key to stop their service and keep them out of good spaces.”

“We’re a good defensive team – we just gave two soft goals in OC,” said Shane Malcolm.  “We need to limit players like Brown and we have to cut off his service and play him out of the game.”

The Switchbacks defeated Reno 1868 during preseason in the Wasatch Winter Cup 4-1 behind a brace from Ish Jome and goals from Malcolm and Mike Seth.  “Preseason is preseason – I think it will be a different team and a different game,” said Seth. “They’re a good team with a lot of talent. We’ve got to show up and be ready at home.  We know it’ll be tough for them to play here and we need to take advantage of being home.”

“We had an opportunity to play them in preseason, which is always good,” said Jordan Schweitzer.  “Reno have a better understanding of each other now, and we have the same thing. It’s difficult for teams to come into Weidner Field and get a win.  I expect Reno to come in and battle and we understand that it will be a fight.”

Former Penn State Nittany Lions star Hertzog, who leads Reno with two assists in 2019, missed an early penalty kick against the Real Monarchs last Saturday, and was removed at halftime as part of a double substitution by Head Coach Ian Russell.  The changes brought Reno an 81st minute goal from one of the aforementioned subs, Aidan Apodaca.  

“We know that Brown has got speed and strength and we have got to watch him,” said Switchbacks Head Coach Steve Trittschuh.  “He has an eye for goal, so we’ve got to be aware of him – but they’ve got other dangerous players. Reno are a good, solid team and they play their system well under Ian [Russell] who is a good coach.  We have got to have better intensity than we did in OC and we’ve got to play better. The speed of our play has to be quicker to break things down and of course we can’t give up re-start goals like we did in OC.”

“I’m sure Reno will come in flying so we need to be ready on Saturday,” said midfielder Alex Molano early Wednesday morning – his birthday.  “It feels good to be back at home and we’ll need to take advantage of that and win our games at home.”

The Switchbacks will visit Greater Nevada Field in The Biggest Little City in the World on July 27th.  A trip to the Rose City to face the Portland Timbers 2 awaits the Switchbacks on April 20th following Saturday’s match against Reno 1868.  A first midweek game of 2019 will follow, with the Switchbacks making their way to ONEOK Field for an April 24th showdown with the table-topping Tulsa Roughnecks FC.  The Switchbacks will return to Weidner Field on May 4th as they host El Paso Locomotive FC on $3 margarita night, with the first 500 fans receiving a bucket hat courtesy of Pikes Peak National Bank.