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Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC

Switchbacks FC Fall for First Time in 2022 Season against Memphis 901 FC

April 16, 2022 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC News Release


Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC with possession against Memphis 901 FC
Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC with possession against Memphis 901 FC
(Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC)

Colorado Springs, CO - The Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC end their perfect record after a frustrating loss to Memphis 901 FC that ended 1-2.

The game started with high energy, and a huge early save by Springs goalkeeper Jeff Caldwell kept Memphis from getting on the board five minutes in. Caldwell recorded another huge save in the 26th minute as Memphis's Dodson slipped his way past the defensive line. The Switchbacks had several chances in the first half that they couldn't capitalize on, including a missed header by Elvis Amoh off a cross by Michee Ngalina, and with a few minutes left in the half Hadji Barry received a breakaway pass from Zach Zandi that was unfortunately captured by Memphis goalie Trey Muse. Only a minute later Memphis would get on the board for the first time as Molloy tucked into the bottom left corner of the net.

Memphis opened the second half with another quick goal, as Goodrum headed in the ball of a free kick from Molloy in the 59th minute. The Switchbacks almost got their first goal of the night when Ngalina had a beautiful free kick on the left side of the box that curved to just ping off the top of the crossbar. Matt Mahoney was able to get COS on the board in the 91', heading in the ball to the bottom left corner of the net off a corner kick from Zach Zandi, but the Switchbacks ran out of time before they were able to tie it up, leaving the score at a disappointing 1-2.

The Switchbacks will take to the road again for their April 23rd match against FC Tulsa. They will return home on May 5th as they take on Rio Grande Valley FC in a Cinco de Mayo showdown. Tickets to that match, and all other matches, available HERE.

Post Game Quotes:

Head Coach Brendan Burke:

Overall thoughts:

"I'd start by saying I can't answer questions about the referees. That said, we weren't good enough, we didn't respond well enough to fight through everything they created for us early in the game. I think it threw us off- - we needed to be stronger mentally, as a staff, as players, all of us. It was a big curve ball, the first five minutes of the game were kind of bizarre, but we didn't respond well and that's on us."

On the last four minutes of gameplay:

"We got outworked tonight in the first half, in the second half we started to respond, but we got outplayed. Memphis was good and deserved credit. There was quality in their performance, there was energy and physicality in their performance. I thought they were good, and they deserved points out of tonight. Us at our best would've been a much different story, but I would say seven or eight of our players had an off night tonight and when that happens that's a major uphill battle."

On Caldwell's performance in the goal:

"This is really the first time that Jeff has been tested in a game this season, or I felt like he was tested somewhat consistently. I thought he played fine, I thought he played well. Hopefully, that makes him a little bit more connected to the group then he was before, cause honestly, he hasn't had a lot to do up to this point in the season. Maybe it was a good thing to spark his connection to the group."

On getting ready for Tulsa:

"It takes a few days to absorb this honestly. The guys need to get away from each other, to get away from us for a few days, that's normal. Haven't gone through a loss since last season since the playoffs. I would say we earned that loss, collectively. Now we just have to absorb it in the right way and make sure we respond in the right way."

Matt Mahoney:

On the team's overall performance:

"Obviously, 5-0 is a great start but it was inevitable that we were going to lose at some point. That was a good team, but the problem was we didn't match their fight. They came out, they didn't play great soccer, but they fought. For us to do that on our home pitch, we kind of need to raise that another level. We knew it wasn't good enough, but we still have 28 more games and we're five and one now so we'll bounce back. We have another game next weekend, and we'll go again."

On moving forward for next week:

"It's just a learning moment, every game is a learning moment. That was our toughest game of the year so far, taking the loss. We'll look at the film and watch what we did wrong, watch what we did well because we had chances of course as we do every game. We're going to evaluate, and we'll go again."

Zach Zandi:

On the end game fight to get on the board:

"I think that showed a little bit of character but we're all disappointed, it wasn't our best performance but all we can do is look forward to the next game and improve. There's a lot to learn from that game and that's really all we can do."

On creating chances without finishing:

"I think that showed a little bit of character but we're all disappointed, it wasn't our best performance but all we can do is look forward to the next game and improve. There's a lot to learn from that game and that's really all we can do."

Game Statistics:

Scoring Summary// COS: Mahoney (91') | MEM: Molloy (43'), Goodrum (59')

Saves// COS: Caldwell (3) | MEM: Muse (4)

Discipline// COS: YC: Ockford (7'), Barry (7'), Lindley (83') | MEM: YC: Dodson (39'), Smith (51'), Muse (61')

Check out the Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC Statistics




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Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC with possession against Memphis 901 FC
Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC with possession against Memphis 901 FC
   

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