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For the second time this season, the Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC travel to Oklahoma City to face the OKC Energy FC.  This Saturday’s match is key for the Switchbacks, who dropped points on Tuesday evening at Weidner Field against a vigorous Orange County SC.  Still inside the USL’s playoff cut line at the time of writing, the Switchbacks, to a man, have adopted a backs-to-the-wall, battlefield approach ahead of Saturday’s showdown.  

“We’ve moved on from Tuesday and we know that this weekend will be a battle,” said AJ Ajeakwa who produced a man-of-the-match performance against Orange County.  “We have to take our chances – that’s what this game is all about. We’ve made good chances and now we need to put them away.”

“OKC have changed the way they play now,” said Switchbacks Head Coach Steve Trittschuh.  “They got a good result against San Antonio last night. It’s a smaller field so we’ve got to battle.  We have to have a better start…Tuesday was not acceptable. We are creating chances, it’s just been the small mistakes that have been killing us.  We can’t give up a goal so early when we’re trying to hold our line like we did against OC. That was…not ok. We have to be good defensively and we’ll start with that and being nice and compact and not give up space to OKC.  Mentally, that’s how we have to approach Saturday and we must get into the game early.”

Numbers were thin for the Switchbacks against Orange County, as only five substitutes were available.  Center back Pascal Eboussi was forced off with an injury just before the hour mark, and in a boost to the Switchbacks, Steve Trittschuh confirmed that the Cameroonian defender’s injury was not long-term.  

“We’re glad it’s just muscular,” said Trittschuh.  “Pascal has been playing well. Taylor [Hunter] can slide over to center back and Karsten [Hanlin] can come in at right back like we did against OC when Pascal came off – if we need to.  Karsten is a very versatile player and he can handle right back. We just need numbers right now. We’re really short.”

“I feel okay,” said Eboussi after Thursday’s training session at the Pride Soccer complex.  “Tonight, I will just rest.”

Midfielder Luke Vercollone is making inroads toward a return to action for the Switchbacks after being sidelined recently.  “As a team we look forward,” said Vercollone when asked about Tuesday’s defeat. “Right now, we need to take things one game at a time.  The good thing is that we were in it against OC and created a lot of chances versus a good team. We’ve been in every game this season. For Saturday, we just have to lift our heads and look forward – we know it will be a tough match.”

OKC are enduring a frustrating 2018 USL regular season in which Head Coach Steve Cooke’s team have scored more than one goal on just two occasions.  On June 13th the Energy defeated the Portland Timbers 2 at Providence Park 2-1 behind a 62nd minute winner from former Switchbacks defender Christian Ibeagha.  Three days later the Energy fired three goals past Rio Grande Valley FC on their way to a 3-1 win at Taft Stadium in a game that included a 97th minute strike from another former Switchback, winger Miguel González.

Independence Day saw the Energy FC record a hard-fought draw at Toyota Stadium in San Antonio behind a 68th minute finish from Spanish midfielder José Barril.  

English midfielder Callum Ross scored the lone goal on May 19th as OKC defeated the Switchbacks 1-0 at Taft Stadium.  “Tactically we can take some things from our first game in OKC,” said Vercollone.  “It’s a small field and it will be a battle type mindset for us. It might not be a pretty game, but we’ll fight and do our best to play on that surface which is a very bouncy type of turf.  Saturday will be all about who wants it more.”

“Christian Volesky is a goal-scorer,” warned Trittschuh.  “[Jaime] Siaj is also very dangerous for them. They’ve got good, talented players on their team.  Out wide they have players that we need to watch and of course they have Miguel [González] too. Our defense can’t break down like we did on Tuesday – especially this weekend.  We’ve got to get there and handle our business defensively and take some of these chances we’re making.”

The Energy will visit Colorado Springs on August 4th for Back to School Night at Weidner Field, with the first 500 fans receiving a backpack giveaway, courtesy of GE Johnson Construction Company.

The Switchbacks will return to Colorado Springs on July 14th with the Heat Depot sponsoring a Premium Bottle and Bag Giveaway to the first 500 fans in attendance for the visit of Sacramento Republic FC.  A week later, on Video Game Night at Weidner Field, the Switchbacks will host the Tulsa Roughnecks FC with the first 500 fans receiving the third part of the 2018 Poster Giveaway Series, courtesy of the Better Business Bureau. 

For the second time this season, the Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC travel to Oklahoma City to face the OKC Energy FC.  This Saturday’s match is key for the Switchbacks, who dropped points on Tuesday evening at Weidner Field against a vigorous Orange County SC.  Still inside the USL’s playoff cut line at the time of writing, the Switchbacks, to a man, have adopted a backs-to-the-wall, battlefield approach ahead of Saturday’s showdown.  

“We’ve moved on from Tuesday and we know that this weekend will be a battle,” said AJ Ajeakwa who produced a man-of-the-match performance against Orange County.  “We have to take our chances – that’s what this game is all about. We’ve made good chances and now we need to put them away.”

“OKC have changed the way they play now,” said Switchbacks Head Coach Steve Trittschuh.  “They got a good result against San Antonio last night. It’s a smaller field so we’ve got to battle.  We have to have a better start…Tuesday was not acceptable. We are creating chances, it’s just been the small mistakes that have been killing us.  We can’t give up a goal so early when we’re trying to hold our line like we did against OC. That was…not ok. We have to be good defensively and we’ll start with that and being nice and compact and not give up space to OKC.  Mentally, that’s how we have to approach Saturday and we must get into the game early.”

Numbers were thin for the Switchbacks against Orange County, as only five substitutes were available.  Center back Pascal Eboussi was forced off with an injury just before the hour mark, and in a boost to the Switchbacks, Steve Trittschuh confirmed that the Cameroonian defender’s injury was not long-term.  

“We’re glad it’s just muscular,” said Trittschuh.  “Pascal has been playing well. Taylor [Hunter] can slide over to center back and Karsten [Hanlin] can come in at right back like we did against OC when Pascal came off – if we need to.  Karsten is a very versatile player and he can handle right back. We just need numbers right now. We’re really short.”

“I feel okay,” said Eboussi after Thursday’s training session at the Pride Soccer complex.  “Tonight, I will just rest.”

Midfielder Luke Vercollone is making inroads toward a return to action for the Switchbacks after being sidelined recently.  “As a team we look forward,” said Vercollone when asked about Tuesday’s defeat. “Right now, we need to take things one game at a time.  The good thing is that we were in it against OC and created a lot of chances versus a good team. We’ve been in every game this season. For Saturday, we just have to lift our heads and look forward – we know it will be a tough match.”

OKC are enduring a frustrating 2018 USL regular season in which Head Coach Steve Cooke’s team have scored more than one goal on just two occasions.  On June 13th the Energy defeated the Portland Timbers 2 at Providence Park 2-1 behind a 62nd minute winner from former Switchbacks defender Christian Ibeagha.  Three days later the Energy fired three goals past Rio Grande Valley FC on their way to a 3-1 win at Taft Stadium in a game that included a 97th minute strike from another former Switchback, winger Miguel González.

Independence Day saw the Energy FC record a hard-fought draw at Toyota Stadium in San Antonio behind a 68th minute finish from Spanish midfielder José Barril.  

English midfielder Callum Ross scored the lone goal on May 19th as OKC defeated the Switchbacks 1-0 at Taft Stadium.  “Tactically we can take some things from our first game in OKC,” said Vercollone.  “It’s a small field and it will be a battle type mindset for us. It might not be a pretty game, but we’ll fight and do our best to play on that surface which is a very bouncy type of turf.  Saturday will be all about who wants it more.”

“Christian Volesky is a goal-scorer,” warned Trittschuh.  “[Jaime] Siaj is also very dangerous for them. They’ve got good, talented players on their team.  Out wide they have players that we need to watch and of course they have Miguel [González] too. Our defense can’t break down like we did on Tuesday – especially this weekend.  We’ve got to get there and handle our business defensively and take some of these chances we’re making.”

The Energy will visit Colorado Springs on August 4th for Back to School Night at Weidner Field, with the first 500 fans receiving a backpack giveaway, courtesy of GE Johnson Construction Company.

The Switchbacks will return to Colorado Springs on July 14th with the Heat Depot sponsoring a Premium Bottle and Bag Giveaway to the first 500 fans in attendance for the visit of Sacramento Republic FC.  A week later, on Video Game Night at Weidner Field, the Switchbacks will host the Tulsa Roughnecks FC with the first 500 fans receiving the third part of the 2018 Poster Giveaway Series, courtesy of the Better Business Bureau. 

For the second time in four days, the Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC will play at Weidner Field as they host Orange County SC on Tuesday night for an Independence Day Fireworks Extravaganza.  In addition to the post-match fireworks display, the first 1,000 fans in attendance will receive a Switchbacks scarf, courtesy of Oakwood Homes.

The Switchbacks were held to a 1-1 tie by a spirited San Antonio FC on Saturday evening in Colorado Springs in a match that was delayed over two hours after a whirlwind hail storm moved through Weidner Field.  

Jordan Burt, the Switchbacks’ leading goal scorer, gave the home side the lead with a first half stoppage time penalty kick against San Antonio FC.  “It was a relief to see it go in,” said Burt. “I missed some chances earlier in the game, and to be honest; it felt like I’d let the team down. So, I was very thankful the penalty went in.  On Tuesday we’ve got to be better. I’ve got to be better. OC are a good team and we’ve just got to make sure we prepare physically. Hopefully we get back to our best on Tuesday because we’ll need to be better.”

“We’ve just got to recover and move on,” said Switchbacks captain Josh Suggs immediately following Saturday’s draw.  “To not win tonight was extremely frustrating. We had a good first half – it was obviously tough with the conditions but we’re very disappointed with the result.”

“Giving up that goal in the second half was really disappointing,” said Taylor Hunter who started at right back against San Antonio FC.  “We’re at the point of the season where we have to move on and get three points on Tuesday against a good team. We know it will be a hard game – Orange County will be ready for a battle.”

Field conditions at Weidner Field were difficult for both teams on Saturday evening, with the Switchbacks’ ground staff working heroically to get the surface playable after a comical amount of hail blanketed the field before kickoff.  In addition to the worries regarding the pitch for Tuesday’s match, Switchbacks Head Coach Steve Trittschuh confirmed his team will be without key players for the visit of Orange County SC.

“Hopefully the city will roll the field so we’ll see how it plays on Tuesday,” said Trittschuh.  “It obviously needs work and we need it to improve. Luke [Vercollone], Kimmy [Kim Taeseong], and JJ [Tambe] are all out for Tuesday.  We’re down to just sixteen players now. I could only name five subs tonight. We’ve been struggling a little because of that, so we’ve got to make sure the guys get their legs back in the next couple days.  These next few days will be about seeing who is ready to go on Tuesday. We will have to make changes for Tuesday and see on Monday how the players’ legs are and how they’ve responded to treatment.”

Orange County SC have endured a rollercoaster couple of weeks.  A 6-1 thumping of the Tulsa Roughnecks FC on June 23rd at Champions Soccer Stadium at OC Great Park in Irvine, California was followed by a tight, 1-0 loss to high-flying Phoenix Rising FC on Friday evening in The Valley of the Sun.  

On April 28th the Switchbacks lost 1-0 to Orange County SC in Irvine, California after a 6th minute goal from midfielder Aodhan Quinn.  “Orange County are a good team,” said Trittschuh.  “They lost to Phoenix but it was a close game and Phoenix are on a roll.  OC have a lot of new players that we didn’t see in California. So we know we’re facing a new team.  We just have to be good defensively and really pressure OC. Keeping the tempo up while we’re here, at home, is the most important part of our game.”

Danish hitman Thomas Enevoldsen is Orange County’s run-away goals leader with nine.  Enevoldsen is tied with the aforementioned Aodhan Quinn on four assists. Undisputed number one goalkeeper Andre Rawls has kept seven clean sheets in the 2018 USL season for OC, although he will have to produce something special to match the heroics that saw Switchbacks goalkeeper Steward Ceus named the Better Business Bureau Man of the Match on Saturday evening against San Antonio FC.  

After Tuesday’s match, the Switchbacks will travel to Oklahoma City where they will face the OKC Energy FC at Taft Stadium on Saturday, July 7th.  The Switchbacks will return to Colorado Springs on July 14th with the Heat Depot sponsoring a Premium Bottle and Bag Giveaway for the first 500 fans in attendance for the visit of Sacramento Republic FC.  A week later, on Video Game Night at Weidner Field, the Switchbacks will host the Tulsa Roughnecks FC with the first 500 fans receiving the third part of the 2018 Poster Giveaway Series, courtesy of the Better Business Bureau. 

For the second time in four days, the Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC will play at Weidner Field as they host Orange County SC on Tuesday night for an Independence Day Fireworks Extravaganza.  In addition to the post-match fireworks display, the first 1,000 fans in attendance will receive a Switchbacks scarf, courtesy of Oakwood Homes.

The Switchbacks were held to a 1-1 tie by a spirited San Antonio FC on Saturday evening in Colorado Springs in a match that was delayed over two hours after a whirlwind hail storm moved through Weidner Field.  

Jordan Burt, the Switchbacks’ leading goal scorer, gave the home side the lead with a first half stoppage time penalty kick against San Antonio FC.  “It was a relief to see it go in,” said Burt. “I missed some chances earlier in the game, and to be honest; it felt like I’d let the team down. So, I was very thankful the penalty went in.  On Tuesday we’ve got to be better. I’ve got to be better. OC are a good team and we’ve just got to make sure we prepare physically. Hopefully we get back to our best on Tuesday because we’ll need to be better.”

“We’ve just got to recover and move on,” said Switchbacks captain Josh Suggs immediately following Saturday’s draw.  “To not win tonight was extremely frustrating. We had a good first half – it was obviously tough with the conditions but we’re very disappointed with the result.”

“Giving up that goal in the second half was really disappointing,” said Taylor Hunter who started at right back against San Antonio FC.  “We’re at the point of the season where we have to move on and get three points on Tuesday against a good team. We know it will be a hard game – Orange County will be ready for a battle.”

Field conditions at Weidner Field were difficult for both teams on Saturday evening, with the Switchbacks’ ground staff working heroically to get the surface playable after a comical amount of hail blanketed the field before kickoff.  In addition to the worries regarding the pitch for Tuesday’s match, Switchbacks Head Coach Steve Trittschuh confirmed his team will be without key players for the visit of Orange County SC.

“Hopefully the city will roll the field so we’ll see how it plays on Tuesday,” said Trittschuh.  “It obviously needs work and we need it to improve. Luke [Vercollone], Kimmy [Kim Taeseong], and JJ [Tambe] are all out for Tuesday.  We’re down to just sixteen players now. I could only name five subs tonight. We’ve been struggling a little because of that, so we’ve got to make sure the guys get their legs back in the next couple days.  These next few days will be about seeing who is ready to go on Tuesday. We will have to make changes for Tuesday and see on Monday how the players’ legs are and how they’ve responded to treatment.”

Orange County SC have endured a rollercoaster couple of weeks.  A 6-1 thumping of the Tulsa Roughnecks FC on June 23rd at Champions Soccer Stadium at OC Great Park in Irvine, California was followed by a tight, 1-0 loss to high-flying Phoenix Rising FC on Friday evening in The Valley of the Sun.  

On April 28th the Switchbacks lost 1-0 to Orange County SC in Irvine, California after a 6th minute goal from midfielder Aodhan Quinn.  “Orange County are a good team,” said Trittschuh.  “They lost to Phoenix but it was a close game and Phoenix are on a roll.  OC have a lot of new players that we didn’t see in California. So we know we’re facing a new team.  We just have to be good defensively and really pressure OC. Keeping the tempo up while we’re here, at home, is the most important part of our game.”

Danish hitman Thomas Enevoldsen is Orange County’s run-away goals leader with nine.  Enevoldsen is tied with the aforementioned Aodhan Quinn on four assists. Undisputed number one goalkeeper Andre Rawls has kept seven clean sheets in the 2018 USL season for OC, although he will have to produce something special to match the heroics that saw Switchbacks goalkeeper Steward Ceus named the Better Business Bureau Man of the Match on Saturday evening against San Antonio FC.  

After Tuesday’s match, the Switchbacks will travel to Oklahoma City where they will face the OKC Energy FC at Taft Stadium on Saturday, July 7th.  The Switchbacks will return to Colorado Springs on July 14th with the Heat Depot sponsoring a Premium Bottle and Bag Giveaway for the first 500 fans in attendance for the visit of Sacramento Republic FC.  A week later, on Video Game Night at Weidner Field, the Switchbacks will host the Tulsa Roughnecks FC with the first 500 fans receiving the third part of the 2018 Poster Giveaway Series, courtesy of the Better Business Bureau. 

It’s World Cup Night at Weidner Field this Saturday evening as the red-hot Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC welcome San Antonio FC.  The first 500 fans in attendance will receive a vuvuzela, courtesy of Weidner Apartment Homes.

The Switchbacks won their second match in a row last Saturday night, as Shane Malcolm thrilled the largest-ever sellout crowd at Weidner Field with a stunning, inch-perfect free kick winner in the 86th minute.  

“Seeing the ball finally touching the back of the net was a huge relief,” said Malcolm on Tuesday afternoon.  “For about eighty minutes I kind of felt like nobody would win – it was just one of those games. Our goal is to win all our home games in front of our fans.  We just want to keep this thing going because winning feels good and these last two have been great.”

Malcolm’s late strike – a USL Goal of the Week candidate – confirmed the Guam international as the Man of the Match in a game that saw excellent individual performances across the Switchbacks’ lineup.  

“Winning cures a lot of things,” said Switchbacks Head Coach Steve Trittschuh.  “We’ve been telling the guys for a while now that we need to find ways to win – we did that on Saturday.  It’s a good sign at this point in our season. Our rhythm has really improved with Karsten [Hanlin] in the team.  It allows Saeed [Robinson] and AJ [Ajeakwa] to come off the bench if that’s how we decide to line up. And Jordan Schweitzer, he’s been really good for us – he’s done well all season long and he takes a lot of pressure off the back four.  He makes the middle go. Karsten has really helped our backline too. He keeps the ball moving and has a good relationship with Schweitzer and bringing him in has helped. Our whole back four is playing well. Taylor [Hunter] had a good game at right back too and that’s an important position for us.”

“We were solid but of course there’s always room for improvement,” said Switchbacks goalkeeper Steward Ceus.  The Haitian international kept his fourth clean sheet of the season on Saturday against Fresno behind a team-wide defensive display.  “Our back six – I call it that with Schweitz there too – is starting to find our game. These two wins in a row have been huge for us, for our team morale and our belief.  The guys believe and it gives us great momentum going forward into these two at home.”

The Switchbacks will have their shortest turnaround of the season after Saturday’s match with a return to Weidner Field next Tuesday evening for the visit of Orange County SC.  “We’ll address Orange County after Saturday, but we need everybody,” stressed Trittschuh. “Luke [Vercollone] is probably out and Kimmy [Tae-Seong Kim] will miss out too, but we’ve just got to keep on moving.  San Antonio are a team that has been changing their shape recently and they have good players. Omar Gordon is a really solid player. [José] Escalante is good too. Charlie Ward has come into the middle of their midfield and helped them out.  Defensively they’re good…we just don’t know how they’ll line up with all the ways [Head Coach] Darren [Powell] has been changing their shape. As for ourselves on Saturday: there’s no reason to change things. In the first half against Fresno we were too slow and we can’t start that way this weekend.  We need to keep improving and working on the little parts of our game.”

Jamaican midfielder Owayne ‘Omar’ Gordon leads SAFC in goals with 3, with striker Alex Bruce and midfielder Mikey Lopez tied on two goals apiece.  

San Antonio FC will arrive in Colorado Springs just outside the playoff cut-line in the USL’s Western Conference, while the Switchbacks currently occupy the 8th and final playoff position.  SAFC have played three fewer matches than the Switchbacks and will host Steve Trittschuh’s men on July 25th at Toyota Field in the Alamo City.  SAFC lost their last USL match 2-0 in bruising fashion on Saturday evening against Reno 1868 FC at Toyota Field.  

The heatwave that has hit Colorado Springs is tipped to cool ever so slightly by Saturday evening, with the Switchbacks enduring near triple-digit on-field temperatures at practice to start their week of preparation.  A day of rest, rehydration, and recovery is slated for Wednesday, with midday training sessions set for Thursday and Friday ahead of SAFC’s arrival.

“We’ve got to make teams chase us, especially at home with the conditions and our crowd and now the heat,” said Trittschuh after the leading the Switchbacks through a physical session in the blazing afternoon sun on Tuesday.  “That’s why we’re training now. We’re training a little bit later to try and get used to the heat and make sure it’s a little warmer outside for us. We’ve also got to be ready to deal with the conditions on our trip to OKC. Whatever it’s like this weekend we’ll be ready to use it to our advantage.”
A fireworks display will follow the July 3rd visit of Orange County SC as part of an Independence Day Fireworks Extravaganza at Weidner Field.  The first 1,000 fans in attendance will also receive a Switchbacks scarf, courtesy of Oakwood Homes.  

It’s World Cup Night at Weidner Field this Saturday evening as the red-hot Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC welcome San Antonio FC.  The first 500 fans in attendance will receive a vuvuzela, courtesy of Weidner Apartment Homes.

The Switchbacks won their second match in a row last Saturday night, as Shane Malcolm thrilled the largest-ever sellout crowd at Weidner Field with a stunning, inch-perfect free kick winner in the 86th minute.  

“Seeing the ball finally touching the back of the net was a huge relief,” said Malcolm on Tuesday afternoon.  “For about eighty minutes I kind of felt like nobody would win – it was just one of those games. Our goal is to win all our home games in front of our fans.  We just want to keep this thing going because winning feels good and these last two have been great.”

Malcolm’s late strike – a USL Goal of the Week candidate – confirmed the Guam international as the Man of the Match in a game that saw excellent individual performances across the Switchbacks’ lineup.  

“Winning cures a lot of things,” said Switchbacks Head Coach Steve Trittschuh.  “We’ve been telling the guys for a while now that we need to find ways to win – we did that on Saturday.  It’s a good sign at this point in our season. Our rhythm has really improved with Karsten [Hanlin] in the team.  It allows Saeed [Robinson] and AJ [Ajeakwa] to come off the bench if that’s how we decide to line up. And Jordan Schweitzer, he’s been really good for us – he’s done well all season long and he takes a lot of pressure off the back four.  He makes the middle go. Karsten has really helped our backline too. He keeps the ball moving and has a good relationship with Schweitzer and bringing him in has helped. Our whole back four is playing well. Taylor [Hunter] had a good game at right back too and that’s an important position for us.”

“We were solid but of course there’s always room for improvement,” said Switchbacks goalkeeper Steward Ceus.  The Haitian international kept his fourth clean sheet of the season on Saturday against Fresno behind a team-wide defensive display.  “Our back six – I call it that with Schweitz there too – is starting to find our game. These two wins in a row have been huge for us, for our team morale and our belief.  The guys believe and it gives us great momentum going forward into these two at home.”

The Switchbacks will have their shortest turnaround of the season after Saturday’s match with a return to Weidner Field next Tuesday evening for the visit of Orange County SC.  “We’ll address Orange County after Saturday, but we need everybody,” stressed Trittschuh. “Luke [Vercollone] is probably out and Kimmy [Tae-Seong Kim] will miss out too, but we’ve just got to keep on moving.  San Antonio are a team that has been changing their shape recently and they have good players. Omar Gordon is a really solid player. [José] Escalante is good too. Charlie Ward has come into the middle of their midfield and helped them out.  Defensively they’re good…we just don’t know how they’ll line up with all the ways [Head Coach] Darren [Powell] has been changing their shape. As for ourselves on Saturday: there’s no reason to change things. In the first half against Fresno we were too slow and we can’t start that way this weekend.  We need to keep improving and working on the little parts of our game.”

Jamaican midfielder Owayne ‘Omar’ Gordon leads SAFC in goals with 3, with striker Alex Bruce and midfielder Mikey Lopez tied on two goals apiece.  

San Antonio FC will arrive in Colorado Springs just outside the playoff cut-line in the USL’s Western Conference, while the Switchbacks currently occupy the 8th and final playoff position.  SAFC have played three fewer matches than the Switchbacks and will host Steve Trittschuh’s men on July 25th at Toyota Field in the Alamo City.  SAFC lost their last USL match 2-0 in bruising fashion on Saturday evening against Reno 1868 FC at Toyota Field.  

The heatwave that has hit Colorado Springs is tipped to cool ever so slightly by Saturday evening, with the Switchbacks enduring near triple-digit on-field temperatures at practice to start their week of preparation.  A day of rest, rehydration, and recovery is slated for Wednesday, with midday training sessions set for Thursday and Friday ahead of SAFC’s arrival.

“We’ve got to make teams chase us, especially at home with the conditions and our crowd and now the heat,” said Trittschuh after the leading the Switchbacks through a physical session in the blazing afternoon sun on Tuesday.  “That’s why we’re training now. We’re training a little bit later to try and get used to the heat and make sure it’s a little warmer outside for us. We’ve also got to be ready to deal with the conditions on our trip to OKC. Whatever it’s like this weekend we’ll be ready to use it to our advantage.”
A fireworks display will follow the July 3rd visit of Orange County SC as part of an Independence Day Fireworks Extravaganza at Weidner Field.  The first 1,000 fans in attendance will also receive a Switchbacks scarf, courtesy of Oakwood Homes.  

On Saturday evening at Weidner Field the Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC will look to continue their offensive resurgence as they host Fresno FC on Fireworks Night.  The first 500 fans in attendance will receive a Switchbacks T-Shirt courtesy of Springs Automotive Group. Fireworks will follow the match that kicks off at 7pm MT.

The Switchbacks stormed to a 4-1 win against the Portland Timbers 2 last Sunday behind a brace from Jordan Burt, a Marty Maybin USL Goal of the Week contender and a smart finish by AJ Ajeakwa.  

Fresno FC are themselves coming off a 4-1 victory after brushing aside the Swope Park Rangers on Sunday at Chukchansi Park in California.  Former Switchbacks captain Rony Argueta started for Fresno FC in his customary central midfield spot alongside Argentine Juan Pablo Caffa. Jemal Johnson leads Fresno FC in goals after picking up his seventh in Sunday’s win over SPR.    

Switchbacks Assistant Coach Wolde Harris took charge of Tuesday’s training session in Colorado Springs, as Head Coach Steve Trittschuh is currently in Kansas City as he works towards his coaching Pro License.  Trittschuh will return to Colorado later in the week and will take his customary place on the Switchbacks’ sideline this weekend.

“We’re in communication all the time…Steve has actually called me already during this practice!” said Harris on Tuesday afternoon.  “We know what we want to do. We’ll use the altitude and our energy and we are really looking forward to build on the win in Portland.  We are really focused on what we did last weekend and we will continue to work on our game this week. Just today, training has been high tempo and high energy – we’ll keep that up all week.”

Jordan Burt was named to the USL’s Team of the Week after his brace against the Timbers 2.  Burt was a constant threat going forward for the Switchbacks who overwhelmed T2 on their way to four second half goals.  

“We really needed that second half – it was great for us to get the road win.  Hopefully the win will help give us some momentum going forward,” said Burt before being asked about facing off against former teammate Rony Argueta.  “It’s always great to see guys you played with and I always wish them well. It will be fun to battle against him. As for Team of the Week, it was great to be noticed, but the most important thing was to get the win on the road and we’ll build off that in the next couple of games.”

“I’m really looking forward to this weekend,” said Marty Maybin who scored a sensational goal against T2 to open his 2018 account.  “I’m hoping to get a good run of games, especially at home. It’s been a frustrating season for me with being injured and then suspended for a game, which I thought was harsh.  That goal just comes from months of being ready and being checked in. I was glad to finally get one to go in and hopefully I can use that to start a bit of a run for myself and to help the team.  We’ve got to make the conditions here very hard for Fresno on Saturday. And it’ll be great to see Rony. During the game we’ll be rivals of course, but we’ll have a little chat before and after and it’ll be nice to see him.”

Saturday’s match will be the first of three in a row at Weidner Field for the Switchbacks, who will host San Antonio FC on June 30th before a lighting turnaround sees Wolde Harris and the Switchbacks face off against Orange County SC on Tuesday, July 3rd.  The Switchbacks will visit Fresno FC for their penultimate game of the 2018 USL regular season on Friday October 5th.

“Our focus is on ourselves,” stressed Harris.  “Last weekend we saw Josh [Phillips] again and this weekend Rony.  We know Rony’s skill sets and quality, but we’ll go out and practice and prepare for our game.  The focus is on our game and to build off what we did well last weekend. Scoring four last weekend – for the second time this season – showed what we’ve been working on.  I really expect Fresno to come here and play and try to impose themselves. We’re not sure tactically exactly what they’ll do, but we know they’ll be ready…and so will we.”

Weidner Apartment Homes will sponsor a Vuvuzela giveaway on June 30th for the visit of San Antonio FC on World Cup Night at Weidner Field.  

Orange County SC’s visit will see an Independence Day Fireworks Extravaganza that includes a pre-match scarf giveaway, courtesy of Oakwood Homes on July 3rd.  

On Saturday evening at Weidner Field the Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC will look to continue their offensive resurgence as they host Fresno FC on Fireworks Night.  The first 500 fans in attendance will receive a Switchbacks T-Shirt courtesy of Springs Automotive Group. Fireworks will follow the match that kicks off at 7pm MT.

The Switchbacks stormed to a 4-1 win against the Portland Timbers 2 last Sunday behind a brace from Jordan Burt, a Marty Maybin USL Goal of the Week contender and a smart finish by AJ Ajeakwa.  

Fresno FC are themselves coming off a 4-1 victory after brushing aside the Swope Park Rangers on Sunday at Chukchansi Park in California.  Former Switchbacks captain Rony Argueta started for Fresno FC in his customary central midfield spot alongside Argentine Juan Pablo Caffa. Jemal Johnson leads Fresno FC in goals after picking up his seventh in Sunday’s win over SPR.    

Switchbacks Assistant Coach Wolde Harris took charge of Tuesday’s training session in Colorado Springs, as Head Coach Steve Trittschuh is currently in Kansas City as he works towards his coaching Pro License.  Trittschuh will return to Colorado later in the week and will take his customary place on the Switchbacks’ sideline this weekend.

“We’re in communication all the time…Steve has actually called me already during this practice!” said Harris on Tuesday afternoon.  “We know what we want to do. We’ll use the altitude and our energy and we are really looking forward to build on the win in Portland.  We are really focused on what we did last weekend and we will continue to work on our game this week. Just today, training has been high tempo and high energy – we’ll keep that up all week.”

Jordan Burt was named to the USL’s Team of the Week after his brace against the Timbers 2.  Burt was a constant threat going forward for the Switchbacks who overwhelmed T2 on their way to four second half goals.  

“We really needed that second half – it was great for us to get the road win.  Hopefully the win will help give us some momentum going forward,” said Burt before being asked about facing off against former teammate Rony Argueta.  “It’s always great to see guys you played with and I always wish them well. It will be fun to battle against him. As for Team of the Week, it was great to be noticed, but the most important thing was to get the win on the road and we’ll build off that in the next couple of games.”

“I’m really looking forward to this weekend,” said Marty Maybin who scored a sensational goal against T2 to open his 2018 account.  “I’m hoping to get a good run of games, especially at home. It’s been a frustrating season for me with being injured and then suspended for a game, which I thought was harsh.  That goal just comes from months of being ready and being checked in. I was glad to finally get one to go in and hopefully I can use that to start a bit of a run for myself and to help the team.  We’ve got to make the conditions here very hard for Fresno on Saturday. And it’ll be great to see Rony. During the game we’ll be rivals of course, but we’ll have a little chat before and after and it’ll be nice to see him.”

Saturday’s match will be the first of three in a row at Weidner Field for the Switchbacks, who will host San Antonio FC on June 30th before a lighting turnaround sees Wolde Harris and the Switchbacks face off against Orange County SC on Tuesday, July 3rd.  The Switchbacks will visit Fresno FC for their penultimate game of the 2018 USL regular season on Friday October 5th.

“Our focus is on ourselves,” stressed Harris.  “Last weekend we saw Josh [Phillips] again and this weekend Rony.  We know Rony’s skill sets and quality, but we’ll go out and practice and prepare for our game.  The focus is on our game and to build off what we did well last weekend. Scoring four last weekend – for the second time this season – showed what we’ve been working on.  I really expect Fresno to come here and play and try to impose themselves. We’re not sure tactically exactly what they’ll do, but we know they’ll be ready…and so will we.”

Weidner Apartment Homes will sponsor a Vuvuzela giveaway on June 30th for the visit of San Antonio FC on World Cup Night at Weidner Field.  

Orange County SC’s visit will see an Independence Day Fireworks Extravaganza that includes a pre-match scarf giveaway, courtesy of Oakwood Homes on July 3rd.  

The Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC travel west to the Rose City this Father’s Day in search of a priceless three points against the high-flying Portland Timbers 2.  T2 sit in second place in the USL’s Western Conference at the time of writing, with the Switchbacks just outside the playoff picture having fallen 1-0 to the Swope Park Rangers on Saturday at Weidner Field.

“Portland are in second – they must be doing something right up there,” said winger Saeed Robinson.  “I don’t know if they’ll bring the same team for our game because they play this week, but they’ll be confident because they got a good result and a clean sheet against us.  We need a result from this game. We need to fix things so we can be in the playoff race. If we keep losing we’ll keep digging a hole for ourselves and soon we won’t be able to get out of it.”

The Switchbacks fell 1-0 to the Timbers 2 at Weidner Field on March 24th as Sierra Leonean striker Augustine Williams gave T2 all three points with an 82nd minute strike.  T2 face the Oklahoma City Energy FC at Providence Park in downtown Portland on Wednesday evening.  Sunday’s match against the Switchbacks will take place at Merlo Field on the campus of the University of Portland.    

“We are still searching for a goal-scorer,” said Switchbacks Head Coach Steve Trittschuh.  “Our defense is playing well and they did again last weekend. The final product isn’t there.  I thought [Karsten] Hanlin did well coming in for us. And we’ll have Sam [Hamilton] this weekend.  He’s a big player when he’s around…We just have to keep plugging away. Marty [Maybin] will get a shot this weekend.  We’ve got to see where the quality is going to come from in front of goal. The chances are there but not the end product.  I told the players at the start of the week that I’m searching for the players with desire to win and score goals. They know that every position is up for grabs.  The tempo and the competitive nature of the guys has been up so far this week and that’s what we need.”

Maybin returns to contention for the Switchbacks after the striker served a one-match suspension in the 1-0 defeat to the Swope Park Rangers.  “I’m glad to be back,” said the Northern Irishman. “I can’t wait to get some game time and be back out there with the boys. We’ve got to pick up points now in every game.  They’re all must-win from now on. This weekend we’re going against a good side but it’s a massive opportunity for us to get out and play.”

Foster Langsdorf leads T2 in goals with 5, with Victor Arboleda and the aforementioned Augustine Williams tied with 4 goals.  Former Switchbacks defender Josh Phillips was named to the USL’s Team of the Week after his game-winning goal in T2’s 1-0 victory over Rio Grande Valley FC last Saturday evening at H-E-B Park.  “Portland are playing well,” said Trittschuh. “They have good new players, a new coach, and they’re doing really well. They brought in experienced guys to work alongside the younger ones they have and it’s working for them.”

The match against T2 will be the lone Sunday fixture for the Switchbacks in 2018, with Father’s Day carrying its own weight for different Switchbacks players.  “Portland will be a good challenge – it’s always tough to play there,” said veteran Luke Vercollone. “We’ve got to move past the last couple results and be ready for a good challenge.  And it’s always good motivation to play for something larger than yourself and I think about that all the time with my family. Two years ago on Father’s Day I had two goals in Vancouver and that’s a powerful reminder for me and something I’ll try to do again this Sunday.”

“Father’s Day is a very special day for me,” said Saeed Robinson.  “My Dad taught me everything about soccer and he’s not here anymore.  He never got to see me play professionally – the last game he saw was before I graduated from college.  I’ll do my best to be out there and play with the right emotion for him. Sunday will be a good game. Portland are playing really well and we really need the win and a good game.”
Following Saturday’s game, the Switchbacks will return to Colorado Springs for three consecutive matches at Weidner Field starting with a June 23rd tilt against former Switchbacks captain Rony Argueta and Fresno FC.  The first 500 fans in attendance will receive a Switchbacks t-shirt, courtesy of Springs Automotive Group and there will be a fireworks display after the match.

The Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC travel west to the Rose City this Father’s Day in search of a priceless three points against the high-flying Portland Timbers 2.  T2 sit in second place in the USL’s Western Conference at the time of writing, with the Switchbacks just outside the playoff picture having fallen 1-0 to the Swope Park Rangers on Saturday at Weidner Field.

“Portland are in second – they must be doing something right up there,” said winger Saeed Robinson.  “I don’t know if they’ll bring the same team for our game because they play this week, but they’ll be confident because they got a good result and a clean sheet against us.  We need a result from this game. We need to fix things so we can be in the playoff race. If we keep losing we’ll keep digging a hole for ourselves and soon we won’t be able to get out of it.”

The Switchbacks fell 1-0 to the Timbers 2 at Weidner Field on March 24th as Sierra Leonean striker Augustine Williams gave T2 all three points with an 82nd minute strike.  T2 face the Oklahoma City Energy FC at Providence Park in downtown Portland on Wednesday evening.  Sunday’s match against the Switchbacks will take place at Merlo Field on the campus of the University of Portland.    

“We are still searching for a goal-scorer,” said Switchbacks Head Coach Steve Trittschuh.  “Our defense is playing well and they did again last weekend. The final product isn’t there.  I thought [Karsten] Hanlin did well coming in for us. And we’ll have Sam [Hamilton] this weekend.  He’s a big player when he’s around…We just have to keep plugging away. Marty [Maybin] will get a shot this weekend.  We’ve got to see where the quality is going to come from in front of goal. The chances are there but not the end product.  I told the players at the start of the week that I’m searching for the players with desire to win and score goals. They know that every position is up for grabs.  The tempo and the competitive nature of the guys has been up so far this week and that’s what we need.”

Maybin returns to contention for the Switchbacks after the striker served a one-match suspension in the 1-0 defeat to the Swope Park Rangers.  “I’m glad to be back,” said the Northern Irishman. “I can’t wait to get some game time and be back out there with the boys. We’ve got to pick up points now in every game.  They’re all must-win from now on. This weekend we’re going against a good side but it’s a massive opportunity for us to get out and play.”

Foster Langsdorf leads T2 in goals with 5, with Victor Arboleda and the aforementioned Augustine Williams tied with 4 goals.  Former Switchbacks defender Josh Phillips was named to the USL’s Team of the Week after his game-winning goal in T2’s 1-0 victory over Rio Grande Valley FC last Saturday evening at H-E-B Park.  “Portland are playing well,” said Trittschuh. “They have good new players, a new coach, and they’re doing really well. They brought in experienced guys to work alongside the younger ones they have and it’s working for them.”

The match against T2 will be the lone Sunday fixture for the Switchbacks in 2018, with Father’s Day carrying its own weight for different Switchbacks players.  “Portland will be a good challenge – it’s always tough to play there,” said veteran Luke Vercollone. “We’ve got to move past the last couple results and be ready for a good challenge.  And it’s always good motivation to play for something larger than yourself and I think about that all the time with my family. Two years ago on Father’s Day I had two goals in Vancouver and that’s a powerful reminder for me and something I’ll try to do again this Sunday.”

“Father’s Day is a very special day for me,” said Saeed Robinson.  “My Dad taught me everything about soccer and he’s not here anymore.  He never got to see me play professionally – the last game he saw was before I graduated from college.  I’ll do my best to be out there and play with the right emotion for him. Sunday will be a good game. Portland are playing really well and we really need the win and a good game.”
Following Saturday’s game, the Switchbacks will return to Colorado Springs for three consecutive matches at Weidner Field starting with a June 23rd tilt against former Switchbacks captain Rony Argueta and Fresno FC.  The first 500 fans in attendance will receive a Switchbacks t-shirt, courtesy of Springs Automotive Group and there will be a fireworks display after the match.

The Swope Park Rangers play the role of the Galactic Empire as they invade Weidner Field this Saturday evening to face off against the Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC on Star Wars Cancer Awareness Night, presented by Penrose-St. Francis Health Services.  The first 500 fans will receive a saber in red or blue, while all Switchbacks players will wear named and numbered Chewbacca themed tops during pre-game warmups. The Chewie jersey’s will be auctioned off to fans, with all proceeds benefiting the Penrose-St. Francis Health Foundation.

The Switchbacks could give a debut to former University of Denver Pioneer Karsten Hanlin.  Hanlin joined the club on Monday from the Real Monarchs SLC. The former Cherry Creek High School Bruin featured 78 times for DU over a four-year college career before the Colorado native made his way to the USL with the Monarchs.  

“Karsten is with us and that’s big,” said Switchbacks Head Coach Steve Trittschuh.  “We’ve also got a kid from Atlanta [United] on trial with us right now and we’ll see in the next couple days what happens there.  Niki [Jackson] and Sam [Hamilton] will be ready for Saturday. Sam traveled to Nashville with the Rapids, but didn’t get to play so he’ll be back with the group here on Thursday.”

Scorching conditions saw the Switchbacks fall 4-1 to the Las Vegas Lights FC at Cashman Field in Nevada on Saturday evening.  A red card for Marty Maybin compounded frustrations for the Switchbacks in the 80th minute, as the Switchbacks were putting the Lights’ defense under considerable pressure in the second half.  

“We found out from the league, and he’s [Marty Maybin] only getting one game,” confirmed Trittschuh when asked about Maybin’s suspension.  “It was unfortunate, but when you put your elbows up you take a chance. It was a frustrating situation at time for us because we had momentum and that killed it.  But a lot of things got to us. The weather, the field, and the atmosphere – we didn’t deal with them well. It got to the guys a bit. The whole experience there was a circus and not very professional at all.  We didn’t match Vegas’ energy and gave up bad goals. We’ve got to get that right this weekend – we have to come out and play hard. We did decent things against Vegas, but the boys were flat and that can’t happen this Saturday.”

“I don’t think anything drastic changes,” said midfielder Jordan Schweitzer when asked about re-booting the Switchbacks’ offense before Saturday.  “It was a one-off game in Vegas. We still created chances and to be honest; we got caught up in the circus that is Vegas. We didn’t handle it well and perform the way we can.  That affected us more than anything. This week we have to reboot and make sure we allow ourselves to play.”

A 7th minute strike from Tyler Blackwood won the match for the Swope Park Rangers against the visiting Switchbacks on April 4th at Children’s Mercy Park.  SPR currently sit in 7th place in the USL’s Western Conference at the time of writing – just two points above the Switchbacks.  10-men SPR lost 2-0 at Toyota Stadium to Saint Louis FC last Sunday after goals from Corey Hertzog and Joey Calistri.  

“Swope Park are a good team,” said Trittschuh.  “I said it when we played them earlier this season that I thought they were the best team in the West at the time.  They’ve got a lot of players who fit their team…but let’s see who shows up because we don’t know who will play this weekend.  We have to play with energy. I keep saying it, but we do because they have good players. [Hadji] Barry is a handful and Belmar is a very good player in this league.  We’ve got to prepare the way we have to in order to play our best at home and we know how to do that.”

“I’m looking forward to being back home,” said Schweitzer.  “It’s a place where we continue to grow and a place that’s becoming a fortress for us – maybe not results-wise just yet – but it’s our home and we love to play in front of our fans.”

Following Saturday’s match, the Switchbacks will travel to the Rose City to face the Portland Timbers 2 on June 17th at Merlo Field on the campus of the University of Portland.  T2 defeated the Switchbacks 1-0 on March 25th at Weidner Field behind an 82nd minute strike from Augustine Williams.
The Switchbacks will return to Weidner Field on June 23rd as they host former captain Rony Argueta and Fresno FC.  A fireworks display will follow the match, with Springs Automotive Group sponsoring a T-Shirt Giveaway for the first 500 fans in attendance.

The Swope Park Rangers play the role of the Galactic Empire as they invade Weidner Field this Saturday evening to face off against the Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC on Star Wars Cancer Awareness Night, presented by Penrose-St. Francis Health Services.  The first 500 fans will receive a saber in red or blue, while all Switchbacks players will wear named and numbered Chewbacca themed tops during pre-game warmups. The Chewie jersey’s will be auctioned off to fans, with all proceeds benefiting the Penrose-St. Francis Health Foundation.

The Switchbacks could give a debut to former University of Denver Pioneer Karsten Hanlin.  Hanlin joined the club on Monday from the Real Monarchs SLC. The former Cherry Creek High School Bruin featured 78 times for DU over a four-year college career before the Colorado native made his way to the USL with the Monarchs.  

“Karsten is with us and that’s big,” said Switchbacks Head Coach Steve Trittschuh.  “We’ve also got a kid from Atlanta [United] on trial with us right now and we’ll see in the next couple days what happens there.  Niki [Jackson] and Sam [Hamilton] will be ready for Saturday. Sam traveled to Nashville with the Rapids, but didn’t get to play so he’ll be back with the group here on Thursday.”

Scorching conditions saw the Switchbacks fall 4-1 to the Las Vegas Lights FC at Cashman Field in Nevada on Saturday evening.  A red card for Marty Maybin compounded frustrations for the Switchbacks in the 80th minute, as the Switchbacks were putting the Lights’ defense under considerable pressure in the second half.  

“We found out from the league, and he’s [Marty Maybin] only getting one game,” confirmed Trittschuh when asked about Maybin’s suspension.  “It was unfortunate, but when you put your elbows up you take a chance. It was a frustrating situation at time for us because we had momentum and that killed it.  But a lot of things got to us. The weather, the field, and the atmosphere – we didn’t deal with them well. It got to the guys a bit. The whole experience there was a circus and not very professional at all.  We didn’t match Vegas’ energy and gave up bad goals. We’ve got to get that right this weekend – we have to come out and play hard. We did decent things against Vegas, but the boys were flat and that can’t happen this Saturday.”

“I don’t think anything drastic changes,” said midfielder Jordan Schweitzer when asked about re-booting the Switchbacks’ offense before Saturday.  “It was a one-off game in Vegas. We still created chances and to be honest; we got caught up in the circus that is Vegas. We didn’t handle it well and perform the way we can.  That affected us more than anything. This week we have to reboot and make sure we allow ourselves to play.”

A 7th minute strike from Tyler Blackwood won the match for the Swope Park Rangers against the visiting Switchbacks on April 4th at Children’s Mercy Park.  SPR currently sit in 7th place in the USL’s Western Conference at the time of writing – just two points above the Switchbacks.  10-men SPR lost 2-0 at Toyota Stadium to Saint Louis FC last Sunday after goals from Corey Hertzog and Joey Calistri.  

“Swope Park are a good team,” said Trittschuh.  “I said it when we played them earlier this season that I thought they were the best team in the West at the time.  They’ve got a lot of players who fit their team…but let’s see who shows up because we don’t know who will play this weekend.  We have to play with energy. I keep saying it, but we do because they have good players. [Hadji] Barry is a handful and Belmar is a very good player in this league.  We’ve got to prepare the way we have to in order to play our best at home and we know how to do that.”

“I’m looking forward to being back home,” said Schweitzer.  “It’s a place where we continue to grow and a place that’s becoming a fortress for us – maybe not results-wise just yet – but it’s our home and we love to play in front of our fans.”

Following Saturday’s match, the Switchbacks will travel to the Rose City to face the Portland Timbers 2 on June 17th at Merlo Field on the campus of the University of Portland.  T2 defeated the Switchbacks 1-0 on March 25th at Weidner Field behind an 82nd minute strike from Augustine Williams.
The Switchbacks will return to Weidner Field on June 23rd as they host former captain Rony Argueta and Fresno FC.  A fireworks display will follow the match, with Springs Automotive Group sponsoring a T-Shirt Giveaway for the first 500 fans in attendance.

For the first time in franchise history, the Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC travel to Las Vegas for USL regular season action as they face the Lights FC on Saturday night.  Saturday evening saw the Switchbacks reward their home crowd with a dominant 3-0 win against Saint Louis FC at Weidner Field.

“It was a good win but I wish we could have had a game like that earlier,” said Switchbacks Head Coach Steve Trittschuh.  “But I’m really glad we were able to stick this one out. It should have been 3-0 at halftime for us! We came out in the second half and were able to keep that level going forward and keep Saint Louis from having many chances.  The guys are tired mentally and physically but they got through it. It’s a great three points for us.”

Luke Vercollone opened the scoring for the Switchbacks from the penalty spot before Saeed Robinson doubled the home side’s lead with a thundering strike just after the hour mark.  Robinson’s goal was nominated for USL Goal of the Week. Vercollone added a crisp finish for the Switchbacks’ third in stoppage time after a brilliant piece of build-up play from Shane Malcolm.  Vercollone was named a starter on the USL’s Team of the Week after his performance.

“I was just telling my son that I haven’t had a brace in years!” said Vercollone as he walked toward the locker room.  “It was huge to win tonight because we had so many games in the last few weeks and we needed it. To be home and get the week to work before Vegas will really help us.  It’s going to be a good trip.”

“It felt great – really great to get the goal,” said Saeed Robinson.  “It gave me confidence in the game because I needed that goal to push me.  Hopefully I can build off it and take more chances. All we need to do – and all I need to do – is put away our chances.  We’re making a lot of them and playing together.”

“Saeed hit it really well,” said Trittschuh.  “He’s been dangerous every game. You could see the relief after he scored – it’s great for him.  Luke as well – shows up huge when we needed him. But now we’ve got to give the guys a couple days off with the stretch we’ve had.  We’ve got to be sure we get them through this week in the right way. They’ve got to get their legs under them because Vegas is going to be a high-intensity game because of the way Vegas play.  We’ve got to match their intensity and energy and bring our own level of focus when we get out there.”

Three straight losses have the Lights FC sitting in 13th place in the USL’s Western Conference at the time of writing.  The Lights FC fell to a 7-2 mauling at the hands of the Los Angeles Galaxy II on Saturday evening at the StubHub Center behind a whirlwind performance from Los Dos striker Ethan Zubak.  Zubak scored four goals, with Ariel Lassiter adding a pair. Japanese midfielder Daigo Kobayashi was perhaps the lone bright spot for the Las Vegas Lights as the all-action veteran bagged both for the visitors.  

A 70th minute goal from Luke Vercollone sealed all three points for the Switchbacks on May 11th at Weidner Field against the Lights FC.  The Switchbacks out-shot the Lights by 16 to 9, with Las Vegas not registering a single shot on Steward Ceus’ net.  Ceus again started and kept a clean sheet for the Switchbacks on Saturday in the rampant win over Saint Louis FC.

“We executed the game plan,” said Ceus.  “It gives us a lot of confidence. We’re doing well with our defending and pressing and we’ll keep that going forward – we have to.”

“After the win against a team like Saint Louis we’ll be pumped to get ready for a scrappy game in Las Vegas on a small field,” said Robinson.  “The atmosphere there looks intense – playing there is maybe like coming to play us here. We’re expecting a rough, hard, scrappy game. That field in Vegas really suits them because it’s small and they don’t use a lot of speed.  We have to be ready.”

The Lights FC share Cashman Field with the Las Vegas 51s; the Triple-A baseball affiliate of the New York Mets.  Triple digit temperatures are expected next weekend in the City of Lights, with mandatory water-breaks a must despite the 8pm kickoff.

“It’s that time of year where every team has a strong home advantage with the weather and the bigger crowds,” said Trittschuh.  “We’ve got to deal with the conditions there and stay focused on what we have to do. Las Vegas are very direct and physical so we have to match that and battle with them.”

The Switchbacks return to Weidner Field on June 9th as they host the Swope Park Rangers on Star Wars Cancer Awareness Night.  The first 500 fans will receive a saber giveaway, courtesy of Penrose-St. Francis Health Services.  Switchbacks players will be wearing Chewbacca-themed jerseys during pre-game warmups and fans will have a chance to purchase these tops with all proceeds from sales going directly to the Penrose-St. Francis Cancer Research Foundation.

For the first time in franchise history, the Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC travel to Las Vegas for USL regular season action as they face the Lights FC on Saturday night.  Saturday evening saw the Switchbacks reward their home crowd with a dominant 3-0 win against Saint Louis FC at Weidner Field.

“It was a good win but I wish we could have had a game like that earlier,” said Switchbacks Head Coach Steve Trittschuh.  “But I’m really glad we were able to stick this one out. It should have been 3-0 at halftime for us! We came out in the second half and were able to keep that level going forward and keep Saint Louis from having many chances.  The guys are tired mentally and physically but they got through it. It’s a great three points for us.”

Luke Vercollone opened the scoring for the Switchbacks from the penalty spot before Saeed Robinson doubled the home side’s lead with a thundering strike just after the hour mark.  Robinson’s goal was nominated for USL Goal of the Week. Vercollone added a crisp finish for the Switchbacks’ third in stoppage time after a brilliant piece of build-up play from Shane Malcolm.  Vercollone was named a starter on the USL’s Team of the Week after his performance.

“I was just telling my son that I haven’t had a brace in years!” said Vercollone as he walked toward the locker room.  “It was huge to win tonight because we had so many games in the last few weeks and we needed it. To be home and get the week to work before Vegas will really help us.  It’s going to be a good trip.”

“It felt great – really great to get the goal,” said Saeed Robinson.  “It gave me confidence in the game because I needed that goal to push me.  Hopefully I can build off it and take more chances. All we need to do – and all I need to do – is put away our chances.  We’re making a lot of them and playing together.”

“Saeed hit it really well,” said Trittschuh.  “He’s been dangerous every game. You could see the relief after he scored – it’s great for him.  Luke as well – shows up huge when we needed him. But now we’ve got to give the guys a couple days off with the stretch we’ve had.  We’ve got to be sure we get them through this week in the right way. They’ve got to get their legs under them because Vegas is going to be a high-intensity game because of the way Vegas play.  We’ve got to match their intensity and energy and bring our own level of focus when we get out there.”

Three straight losses have the Lights FC sitting in 13th place in the USL’s Western Conference at the time of writing.  The Lights FC fell to a 7-2 mauling at the hands of the Los Angeles Galaxy II on Saturday evening at the StubHub Center behind a whirlwind performance from Los Dos striker Ethan Zubak.  Zubak scored four goals, with Ariel Lassiter adding a pair. Japanese midfielder Daigo Kobayashi was perhaps the lone bright spot for the Las Vegas Lights as the all-action veteran bagged both for the visitors.  

A 70th minute goal from Luke Vercollone sealed all three points for the Switchbacks on May 11th at Weidner Field against the Lights FC.  The Switchbacks out-shot the Lights by 16 to 9, with Las Vegas not registering a single shot on Steward Ceus’ net.  Ceus again started and kept a clean sheet for the Switchbacks on Saturday in the rampant win over Saint Louis FC.

“We executed the game plan,” said Ceus.  “It gives us a lot of confidence. We’re doing well with our defending and pressing and we’ll keep that going forward – we have to.”

“After the win against a team like Saint Louis we’ll be pumped to get ready for a scrappy game in Las Vegas on a small field,” said Robinson.  “The atmosphere there looks intense – playing there is maybe like coming to play us here. We’re expecting a rough, hard, scrappy game. That field in Vegas really suits them because it’s small and they don’t use a lot of speed.  We have to be ready.”

The Lights FC share Cashman Field with the Las Vegas 51s; the Triple-A baseball affiliate of the New York Mets.  Triple digit temperatures are expected next weekend in the City of Lights, with mandatory water-breaks a must despite the 8pm kickoff.

“It’s that time of year where every team has a strong home advantage with the weather and the bigger crowds,” said Trittschuh.  “We’ve got to deal with the conditions there and stay focused on what we have to do. Las Vegas are very direct and physical so we have to match that and battle with them.”

The Switchbacks return to Weidner Field on June 9th as they host the Swope Park Rangers on Star Wars Cancer Awareness Night.  The first 500 fans will receive a saber giveaway, courtesy of Penrose-St. Francis Health Services.  Switchbacks players will be wearing Chewbacca-themed jerseys during pre-game warmups and fans will have a chance to purchase these tops with all proceeds from sales going directly to the Penrose-St. Francis Cancer Research Foundation.

“We’re going to go out and play our game.  Saint Louis will be tough, but we’ll beat them.”  – Luke Vercollone.

USL action is back at Weidner Field this Saturday evening as the Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC host Saint Louis FC.  The first 500 fans in attendance will receive a Ziggy Bobblehead, courtesy of Fox 21 News.

Both of Saturday’s opponents were knocked out of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup in the third round in midweek. The Switchbacks were desperately unlucky to lose on Wednesday night at Toyota Field on penalty kicks to San Antonio FC.  Saint Louis FC were beaten 1-0 by Louisville City FC at Lynn Stadium in Kentucky.

In USL play the Switchbacks sit in 7th place and a playoff spot in the Western Conference at the time of writing.  The Switchbacks and Saint Louis FC are among four teams in the USL’s Western Conference tied with 14 points, along with San Antonio FC and Reno 1868 FC.  Saint Louis FC currently occupy 9th place, as the Switchbacks hold the first tiebreaker, having won an additional match in USL play.

Kyle Greig is Saint Louis FC’s runaway leading scorer with 5 goals in 2018 USL action.  Kadeem Dacres and Lewis Hilton each have two assists for Saint Louis FC and Head Coach Anthony Pulis.  San Diego native Jake Fenlason has established himself as Saint Louis FC’s number one goalkeeper behind a defense led by Jonathan Barden, Sam Fink, Sean Reynolds, and Kyle Culbertson.  To add to their options going forward, on Monday Saint Louis FC announced the re-signing of striker Seth Rudolph.

Greig sealed all three points for Saint Louis FC on March 31st against the Switchbacks at Toyota Stadium with a 5th minute goal.  “Saint Louis are a very good team,” said Jordan Burt.  “They gave us a great game last time. I think it’ll be a good night for us – we’ve been playing well.  It’s been a long week but it’s great to be home. I’m sure we’ll have plenty of energy for tomorrow night.”

“Greig is a good player and you’ve got to battle him,” said Switchbacks Head Coach Steve Trittschuh.  “He’s a very good player off the ball and on the shoulder of the last defender. But it’s not just about Greig.  I really like [Lewis] Hilton in the middle. And Saint Louis have added guys as well, so we’re not sure how many of those guys we’ll see tomorrow night.  Just yesterday they brought in two players from Orlando City. We’ve got to play well and really keep our speed of play up. Tomorrow will be really important for us to keep moving quicker so Saint Louis can’t get their shape set up.  Saint Louis battle, they fight, and they’ll be up for it. They’re more direct, so we must make sure that we’re winning the second-balls. Getting on top of them early will be important because we can’t let them play.”

Major League Soccer’s Orlando City sent midfielder Cameron Lindley and striker Pierre da Silva to Saint Louis FC on Thursday, and both players could feature on Saturday evening at Weidner Field.  A name who will not be on show on Saturday evening is Saint Louis FC club captain Jonathan Barden. Barden was sent off in stoppage time in Saint Louis FC’s 1-1 draw with Orange County SC on May 12th.  Saint Louis FC Head Coach Anthony Pulis was also sent off and will miss tomorrow’s match at Weidner Field.

Switchbacks Head Coach Steve Trittschuh confirmed that Niki Jackson and Sam Hamilton – both on loan from the Colorado Rapids – will be in contention for minutes on Saturday evening for the Switchbacks.  “The legs are tired – five games in something like 15 days has been tough. But we have Niki [Jackson] and Sam [Hamilton] ready for tomorrow. That will help because having just seventeen players has been tough and they have quality.  As always, we’ve got to make sure we stay solid defensively. If we can keep our shape and keep together defensively then it always gives us a chance for all three points. We’ve got to find that energy we’ve been playing with at home and bring it to the game.” 

Both Jackson and Hamilton trained with the Switchbacks at a scorching Weidner Field on Friday afternoon, as the Switchbacks had just a single session to prepare for the visit of Saint Louis FC after returning to Colorado on Thursday.

“It’s been a lot, but we’ll be fine,” confirmed Luke Vercollone about the short rest.  “It’s good to be back home and it will definitely help us take it to Saint Louis tomorrow night.”

“We’ll be alright physically,” said Switchbacks captain Josh Suggs.  “There’s no excuses. It’s good to be home – hopefully we can use Weidner Field as a boost.”

On June 2nd the Switchbacks will make their first trip to Las Vegas to face the Lights FC at Cashman Field.  A Star Wars lightsaber giveaway awaits the first 500 fans when the Switchbacks return to Weidner Field on June 9th to face the Swope Park Rangers on Cancer Awareness Night presented by Penrose-St. Francis Health Services.

“We’re going to go out and play our game.  Saint Louis will be tough, but we’ll beat them.”  – Luke Vercollone.

USL action is back at Weidner Field this Saturday evening as the Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC host Saint Louis FC.  The first 500 fans in attendance will receive a Ziggy Bobblehead, courtesy of Fox 21 News.

Both of Saturday’s opponents were knocked out of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup in the third round in midweek. The Switchbacks were desperately unlucky to lose on Wednesday night at Toyota Field on penalty kicks to San Antonio FC.  Saint Louis FC were beaten 1-0 by Louisville City FC at Lynn Stadium in Kentucky.

In USL play the Switchbacks sit in 7th place and a playoff spot in the Western Conference at the time of writing.  The Switchbacks and Saint Louis FC are among four teams in the USL’s Western Conference tied with 14 points, along with San Antonio FC and Reno 1868 FC.  Saint Louis FC currently occupy 9th place, as the Switchbacks hold the first tiebreaker, having won an additional match in USL play.

Kyle Greig is Saint Louis FC’s runaway leading scorer with 5 goals in 2018 USL action.  Kadeem Dacres and Lewis Hilton each have two assists for Saint Louis FC and Head Coach Anthony Pulis.  San Diego native Jake Fenlason has established himself as Saint Louis FC’s number one goalkeeper behind a defense led by Jonathan Barden, Sam Fink, Sean Reynolds, and Kyle Culbertson.  To add to their options going forward, on Monday Saint Louis FC announced the re-signing of striker Seth Rudolph.

Greig sealed all three points for Saint Louis FC on March 31st against the Switchbacks at Toyota Stadium with a 5th minute goal.  “Saint Louis are a very good team,” said Jordan Burt.  “They gave us a great game last time. I think it’ll be a good night for us – we’ve been playing well.  It’s been a long week but it’s great to be home. I’m sure we’ll have plenty of energy for tomorrow night.”

“Greig is a good player and you’ve got to battle him,” said Switchbacks Head Coach Steve Trittschuh.  “He’s a very good player off the ball and on the shoulder of the last defender. But it’s not just about Greig.  I really like [Lewis] Hilton in the middle. And Saint Louis have added guys as well, so we’re not sure how many of those guys we’ll see tomorrow night.  Just yesterday they brought in two players from Orlando City. We’ve got to play well and really keep our speed of play up. Tomorrow will be really important for us to keep moving quicker so Saint Louis can’t get their shape set up.  Saint Louis battle, they fight, and they’ll be up for it. They’re more direct, so we must make sure that we’re winning the second-balls. Getting on top of them early will be important because we can’t let them play.”

Major League Soccer’s Orlando City sent midfielder Cameron Lindley and striker Pierre da Silva to Saint Louis FC on Thursday, and both players could feature on Saturday evening at Weidner Field.  A name who will not be on show on Saturday evening is Saint Louis FC club captain Jonathan Barden. Barden was sent off in stoppage time in Saint Louis FC’s 1-1 draw with Orange County SC on May 12th.  Saint Louis FC Head Coach Anthony Pulis was also sent off and will miss tomorrow’s match at Weidner Field.

Switchbacks Head Coach Steve Trittschuh confirmed that Niki Jackson and Sam Hamilton – both on loan from the Colorado Rapids – will be in contention for minutes on Saturday evening for the Switchbacks.  “The legs are tired – five games in something like 15 days has been tough. But we have Niki [Jackson] and Sam [Hamilton] ready for tomorrow. That will help because having just seventeen players has been tough and they have quality.  As always, we’ve got to make sure we stay solid defensively. If we can keep our shape and keep together defensively then it always gives us a chance for all three points. We’ve got to find that energy we’ve been playing with at home and bring it to the game.” 

Both Jackson and Hamilton trained with the Switchbacks at a scorching Weidner Field on Friday afternoon, as the Switchbacks had just a single session to prepare for the visit of Saint Louis FC after returning to Colorado on Thursday.

“It’s been a lot, but we’ll be fine,” confirmed Luke Vercollone about the short rest.  “It’s good to be back home and it will definitely help us take it to Saint Louis tomorrow night.”

“We’ll be alright physically,” said Switchbacks captain Josh Suggs.  “There’s no excuses. It’s good to be home – hopefully we can use Weidner Field as a boost.”

On June 2nd the Switchbacks will make their first trip to Las Vegas to face the Lights FC at Cashman Field.  A Star Wars lightsaber giveaway awaits the first 500 fans when the Switchbacks return to Weidner Field on June 9th to face the Swope Park Rangers on Cancer Awareness Night presented by Penrose-St. Francis Health Services.