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USL Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC

Switchbacks FC Fall at Weidner Field to Orange County SC

July 2, 2021 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC News Release


Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC vs. Orange County SC
Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC vs. Orange County SC
(Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC, Credit: Isaiah Downing)

Colorado Springs, CO - The Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC fell to Orange County SC 2-0 at Weidner Field on Thursday night.

On a rainy night, the Switchbacks started bright as Deshane Beckford created space on the left side of the penalty are before hitting a low shot to the left post that was turned wide by Abraham Romero. Michee Ngalina created another opportunity for the Switchbacks down the right side of the penalty area as he played a cross to Hadji Barry but Barry couldn't direct the driven cross on target.

Orange County got on the board first in the 18th minute as Brent Richards played a cross to the head of 6' 6" Eero Markkanen as he directed the ball inside the right post from six yards out.

Barry went close to an notching his 11th goal of the season in the 24th minute with a curling effort that was turned wide of the right post by Romero, while Beckford also fired wide of the left post for the hosts a few minutes later. The Switchbacks created another opportunity as Ngalina beat a defender on the dribble near the left touchline and played a pass to an outreaching Sebastian Anderson who directed his shot just wide of the right post.

The Switchbacks were looking to equalize in the second half as Ngalina got behind the Orange County defense and played a pass to Barry running into the penalty area but the pass was just too far out of Barry's reach. With just 14 minutes remaining, Barry played Ngalina into the right side of the penalty area but his shot struck the base of the near post before going out for a goal kick. Jimmy Ockford came up for a corner kick in the final minutes of the game as he rose up over a defender near the right post and directed his header downwards and just wide of the post.

Orange County found a second goal in the 90th minute as Eric Calvillo pounced on a loose ball inside the penalty area before squeezing a shot by Sean Melvin to double the visitor's lead before fulltime.

The Switchbacks FC are back at Weidner Field to host a 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular show after the game against Real Monarchs SLC on July 4. The game is presented by Phil Long Dealerships, who are providing seat cushions to the first 500 fans in the gates at 4pm MT, with kickoff set for 6:30pm MT.

Post-Game Quotes

Brendan Burke

Overall thoughts on the game:

"I couldn't be happier with my team. We're a thin squad, but we're rotating and we trust everyone in the group and I thought they performed tonight. I thought we carried the game for the vast majority of it. We played a team that was committed to getting their entire group behind the ball and they did a great job of that, so credit to them, but I thought the guys performed well, we just didn't have that final pass, the final touch. But I thought we had 8 to 10 clearcut goal scoring chances and on an average night three or four of those are goals."

On the quick turnaround to the game on the fourth:

"I do think it can help. I just said to the guys, you performed. Down to a man, there was nobody that was poor tonight and you shouldn't walk away feeling that way. We have to control what we can control so it's about taking care of their bodies, and getting good rest. But it can help definitely I mean when you have that taste in your mouth, when you create that much and then walk away with nothing, you want nothing more than to get back on the field. I'm sure half those guys, mentally anyways, would want to get back on that field tonight if we let them.

Phillip Mayaka:

On playing a really tough defensive team:

"I mean we are a transition team, and they kind of sat back and we didn't have a chance to do more of that transition, we kind of kept the ball trying to play through them.But they were so compact so we had to come out and try and get some crosses in but we didn't manage to do that today."

On the fans turning out despite the weather:

"First of all I just want to say thank you because they took time from their day and they came out for us. It was raining and they stuck with us and they gave us all the support we needed. Sorry for the disappointment, but we're going to bounce back and give you three points next game."

Matt Mahoney:

On bouncing back with such a quick turnaround:

"I think it's the best thing to be able to have a short turnaround and be able to come back on Sunday. There's less time to think. I know after our first loss against San Antonio at the beginning of the season we had two weeks and that was brutal, so I say just learn from it, it is what it is. We were on a good streak so unfortunately tonight was a night we lost, but now we have a chance on Sunday again against a 2 team to go out and hopefully get a good win."

On playing in the rain:

"Honestly I didn't think it affected us too much, if anything it probably could have helped us. You know with turf it get's a little slick but I think with the athleticism we have on our team I think we could have done a little better. But after they got that goal they sat back and so it was hard to break them down and get in behind, and they did a good job at studying our strikers. We still had a chance to score, unfortunately some nights they don't go in, and the other team had only maybe two or three chances and they scored. Sometimes that's how the game goes so luckily we have a game on Sunday to regroup in a couple days and hopefully go get another win."

Game Statistics

Man of the Match// Philip Mayaka

Scoring Summary// COS: None | OC: Markkanen (18'), Calvillo (90')

Saves// COS: Melvin (2) | OC: Romero (4)

Discipline// COS: YC: Torres (71'), Mayaka (74') | OC: YC: Alston (3'), Romero (77')

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Images from this story

Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC midfielder Michee Ngalina (right) vs. Orange County SC
Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC midfielder Michee Ngalina (right) vs. Orange County SC
(Isaiah Downing)		 Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC forward Austin Dewing (left) vs. Orange County SC
Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC forward Austin Dewing (left) vs. Orange County SC
(Isaiah Downing)		 Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC huddle up vs. Orange County SC
Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC huddle up vs. Orange County SC
(Isaiah Downing)
Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC midfielder Jose Torres takes a corner kick vs. Orange County SC
Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC midfielder Jose Torres takes a corner kick vs. Orange County SC
(Isaiah Downing)		 Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC vs. Orange County SC
Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC vs. Orange County SC
(Isaiah Downing)		  



United Soccer League Championship Stories from July 2, 2021


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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