Following a priceless win in Orange County, the Switchbacks return to downtown Colorado Springs as they host top-of-the-table Sacramento Republic on Saturday evening at Weidner Field. Gates open at 5pm, with tickets remaining available HERE
What the Switchbacks Say:
Goalkeeper Christian Herrera. Herrera was named the USL Championship Player of the Week after his sensational performance in the Switchbacks’ victory last Friday evening against Orange County SC. “I’m [happier] for the result [than the personal accolades after the win in OC]. The saves and all that is just my job – it’s what I’m supposed to do. I’m more happy for the team and to keep us trending upwards.”
Switchbacks Head Coach Stephen Hogan:
“Player of the Week [and] Team of the Week for Christian – you need it when you’re going in for a defensive set-up. You need your keeper to be
big, and you know we’ve had some in-depth conversations with him in terms of like why he lost the [starting] position, and this was what has to happen for trust and belief to build back up. That’s a big part for me with any player – you don’t want to lose it because the minute you lose it, it’s going to be very hard to get back in or consistently back in. And he’s now gaining a lot of stuff, and he’s got another big test on Saturday night because he’s going to be hounded at times – he’s going to have to show up again.
“We went in [to Orange County] with that objective [to win] and it actually came to. Everything that we talked about all week happened. I think on the ball and our moments on the ball was a bit better [than] Orange County’s moments on the ball, because we can actually play some
really good football. The defensive stuff was fantastic. Romario’s [Williams] running, Stevie’s [Echevarria] running – as we call it the s**t work that has to be done especially on the road – was phenomenal. And that’s what really got us into that 60, 65th minute in a good decent spell.
We took our chance with a superstar goal. Tyreek [Magee] is just on fire when he does that – it was great.”
Sneak Peek at Sactown:
Sacramento is currently the only team in the USL Championship’s Western Conference to have clinched a playoff position. They have compiled a record of 15-5-10 in 2023, including a 4-0 victory over the Switchbacks on April 15th at Heart Health Park in the Golden State. “For my money [Sacramento are the best team in the league],” said Head Coach Hogan. “They’re the only team [that we’ve played] that I’ve said, yeah, they’re really, really good. They’re fast, they’re structurally sound all over the field, [and] their movement off the ball is phenomenal. We’re at home so we have to make them uncomfortable and that’s the plan. “You look at their right back, [Jack] Gurr – he’s a fantastic player,” continued Hogan. “He’s probably the best player in that position in the league for my money. [Russell] Cicerone [is key] with the goals he’s scored. [Luis] Felipe is an aerial threat. Ro Ro [Rodrigo López] when he’s floating everywhere [is so dangerous]. He’s very good on the ball [and] if you don’t close him down, he’ll find a pass. [Sacramento] have to be their best, I get it, [in order] to beat us here, but they have to also deal with what we’re going to go with in-transition moments and in breaking line moments. Obviously at home we are very dangerous.”
Vargish’s View:
The hallmarks are all here for another blockbuster night at Weidner Field. Just five regular season matches remain for the Switchbacks to clinch a place in the 2023 Playoffs, with Saturday’s test against Sacramento representing a massive hurdle. The Switchbacks have recorded some brilliant wins in downtown Colorado Springs and will need to lean on their tenacity and tempo to unsettle a Republic team that will no doubt have one eye on a potential playoff rematch.