USL San Antonio FC

San Antonio FC Shuts Out Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC 1-0 to Advance to Western Conference Semifinal

Published on October 21, 2023 under United Soccer League Championship (USL)
San Antonio FC News Release


SAN ANTONIO - San Antonio FC shut out Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC 1-0 tonight, sending the team through to the USL Championship Western Conference Semifinal.

Jorge Hernandez recorded the lone goal in the 55th minute, stepping in front of a pass in the box before burying the shot.

Goalkeeper Nick Marsman and the SAFC defense held Colorado Springs scoreless, thanks to two saves by Marsman and five blocked shots by outfield players. Marsman joins Jordan Farr as the only two SAFC players to record shutouts in the postseason, with SAFC now posting a clean sheet in four of the last six home playoff matches.

Next Up

San Antonio FC will travel to take on the top-seeded Sacramento Republic FC on Friday, Oct. 27 at 9:30 p.m. CT. The Conference Semifinal match can be streamed on ESPN+, with SAFC looking to advance to a third-straight Western Conference Final with a win.

Postgame Notes:

San Antonio FC advances to the USL Championship Western Conference Semifinal for the third-straight season.

SAFC is unbeaten in the last 61 matches when scoring first, going 50-0-11 in the stretch that dates back to 2020.

Midfielder Jorge Hernandez's goal in the 55th minute was his first of the playoffs, after scoring twice in the regular season.

Goalkeeper Nick Marsman made two saves to earn the shutout.

SAFC earns at least one playoff win for the third-straight season.

Attendance: 7,304

Quotes:

Head Coach Alen Marcina

(On the win...)

"Two very good teams, both teams coming into this - Colorado Springs was riding a seven-game unbeaten streak. And we were riding a seven-game unbeaten streak at home. And only one team now can say it's eight. And that's us. So I'm proud of the guys, to get the result. To move on into playoffs. We asked the guys to give three percent more focus, three percent more hunger over the course of 90 minutes and they did so. Incredibly proud of them for that."

(On the atmosphere at Toyota Field...)

"Amazing atmosphere. We love our fans, they make Toyota Field a fortress. Everybody can see that, we love playing at home we love fighting for our fans. And the players, each is motivated by something different. Each has a responsibility, and part of that is our responsibility to our fans and putting our best foot forward. You can't promise or guarantee a win, but we can promise and guarantee that we leave everything we have out on that field. And the guys did so tonight."

Goalkeeper Nick Marsman

(On the performance...)

"I think the atmosphere was amazing, ... all the home games but especially now it's a great support here. And I think we were ready, we focused all this week on this game. We spoke a lot, and actions matter. And I think we showed today that we were here today to win, and I'm very proud of the guys."

(On the end of the regular season... )

"I think it was a tough and long regular season. And then you go into the end of the regular season where you already know you're going to play [in the] playoffs. And I think when the playoffs are there, it brings out a different energy. Different mentality, and yeah I think then it's when everyone is ready to go - and hopefully we're going to continue like this."

Midfielder Jorge Hernandez

(On the performance...)

"It's felt like the last couple weeks we haven't had the best games, but I felt like you know this is playoffs and playoffs... it's win or go home. I felt like everybody was bought in, to execute our game plan and just show that everybody was bought in."

(On his goal...)

"They had done that play where they bump it to the six, and then he goes wide. They did it twice in the first half, and for some reason I felt like they were going to do it again. So I changed the rhythm and I intercepted the play, and I'm in the box so you know in the box you've got to have killer instincts."

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United Soccer League Championship Stories from October 21, 2023


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