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USL Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC

Switchbacks FC Hit the Road with a 2-0 Record for 2022 Campaign

March 19, 2022 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC News Release


Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC forward Hadji Barry vs. Monterey Bay FC
Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC forward Hadji Barry vs. Monterey Bay FC
(Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC, Credit: Mark Reis)

Colorado Springs, CO - The Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC earned their second win tonight as they took on new side Monterey Bay F.C and came out on top 1-0.

The first bit of action of the game came in the 21' when Switchbacks goalie Jeff Caldwell's block of Seku Conneh's shot left the net open. The ball found its way to Arun Basuljevic on the left side of the net, but the tight angle of the shot had the ball pass just in front of the line and out of bounds on the other side.

With 5 minutes left to go in the first half, the Switchbacks took the lead as Hadji Barry made a deft opening with his pass from just outside the penalty box that was picked up and put away on a low cross by Elvis Amoh.

The Switchbacks continued to close down the attacking opportunities for MBFC, and picked up the one man advantage in the 65' as Mobi Fehr was given his second yellow card resulting in an ejection. With an extra man on the field, Barry had a chance at his first goal of the season in the 76', but the chance resulted in a low save from Monterey Bay's goalkeeper Rafael Diaz.

With two wins under their belt the Switchbacks head on the road to take on Memphis 901 FC on March 26th. They'll return to Weidner Field on April 6th as they take on Northern Colorado Hailstorm in round two of the Lamar Hunt U.S Open Cup.

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Post-Game Quotes

Brendan Burke - Head Coach

Overall thoughts on the game:

"I thought that we didn't get a grip on the game until about 20 minutes in which is not like us. We didn't start that well, but I thought once we did, we had a vice grip on the game, and we really controlled the flow of it. I haven't seen any of the stats yet, but I would imagine we really dominated in possession even before they took the second yellow there. So I am happy with that, we want to be a possession-based team. We probably left 3 or 4 goals on the table tonight but luckily we kept the clean sheet; so when you keep a clean sheet you have that luxury. I walk away happy, two home wins to start the season sets you up for success the rest of the way."

On the Switchbacks winning their two opening games for the first time since 2016 :

"There's belief, there's understanding, there's a couple of guys that I haven't even really been able to get involved yet that I class as starting quality players. We are looking forward to those opportunities coming but we need the primary group to continue to gel to put us in a position to now go on the road and get results on the road. Which is just much harder in this business than doing so at home."

On the change in the team accomplishing clean sheets vs. last season:

"I mean it's veteran experience and that's part of what we sprinkled into the roster in the off season. On nights like tonight, where you are probably not at your best to be fair as a group, especially in front of goal we weren't tonight, but that's where that experience can carry you to the finish line."

Hadji Barry

On his assist for Amoh to get the goal:

"I think Cam played me a very good ball over the top of the defenders, and I just got my guy 1v1, I took him to the left and I saw Elvis. I just passed to him and he did the rest. It was good to get that goal, cause we needed it."

On the resiliency of the team:

"It's the whole group, everybody's working for each other, and we want to give our goalkeeper a clean sheet. That will give him the confidence to go into some other games, because we know we are going to need them. To get a 1-0 win at home is very pivotal, we know it wasn't our best game, but we got the most important thing which was the win."

Jeff Caldwell

On getting his first clean sheet for the 2022 campaign:

"Feels great, similar to last week it was a group effort for sure. It's a good sign when I have to make sure that I am staying engaged. But we played really well both with the ball and without the ball. Obviously, the game changed a bit after the red card, but still getting that first one off of your back in terms of the clean sheet is big for the back four and the goalkeeper but also for the group. Now we know how to do it, we know we can do it, and we'll tighten things up and make it even cleaner next week."

On the missed chance by Monterey Bay:

"I mean that's why I'm there, I thought we were really good on the whole. I think they slipped through and then its just kind of chaos in there, there's a collision and I tried to make the play, I didn't know to much about the second bit, but we were covered in behind and got out with a zero."

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Game Statistics:

Man of the Match// Elvis Amoh

Scoring Summary// COS: Amoh (40')

Saves// COS: Caldwell (1) | MB: Diaz (3)

Discipline// COS: YC: Erdmann (23'), Belmar (80'), Lindley (89') | MB: YC: Fehr (35'), Robinson (56'), Murphy (70'); RC: Fehr (65')

Check out the Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC Statistics




Images from this story

Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC forward Hadji Barry vs. Monterey Bay FC
Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC forward Hadji Barry vs. Monterey Bay FC
(Mark Reis)		   

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