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Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC

Switchbacks FC Locked in a Win Against Rhode Island FC

May 17, 2024 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC News Release


Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC's Ronaldo Damus battles the Rhode Island FC's Frank Nodarse
Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC's Ronaldo Damus battles the Rhode Island FC's Frank Nodarse
(Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC)

Colorado Springs, CO - The Colorado Springs Switchbacks locked in another win for the 2024 USL Championship season as they battled Rhode Island, ending with a final score of 3-1.

After a two-game road trip, the Switchbacks were glad to be back with the electric atmosphere of Weidner Field. The game had a quick start with Rhode Island player #15 Frank Nodarse making the first goal of the night. In the 13', #8 Jack Panayotou, took a corner kick passing the ball over to Nodarse who headed it in. With the early goal, the Switchbacks took their attacking style to a new level.

The Switchbacks quickly responded to Rhode Island with #9 Ronaldo Damus scoring in the 27'. After Rhode Island headed the ball into the air, Damus swiftly took possession and brought it into the box, calmly striking the ball into the back of the net.

A notable moment in the match, was when #8 Jonas Fjeldberg subbed in during the second half and had instantly changed the dynamic of the game. After coming on, Fjeldberg received the ball on the right wing from #5 Koa Santos off a throw-in and took on Rhode Island left back #16 Gabriel Alves. Fjeldberg beat Alves to the ball, allowing it to skip past a second Rhode Island player, and tried crossing it to Damus. The ball took a deflection off Rhode Island's defender and goalie before it hit the heel of #24 Karifa Yao, and rolled into the back of the net.

The good guys secured the three points against Rhode Island with one final penalty kick goal. In the attacking box, Damus was shoved down by #3 Stephen Turnbull, resulting in a penalty kick. Damus took a deep breath, ran up to the ball, and lasered it down the middle, while the goalkeeper #1 Ruiz Ojeda dove left.

Mark your calendars for June 1st as the Switchbacks play at Weidner Field to celebrate Soccer for all Night as they take on the Oakland Roots! For tickets to that match, and all others, head HERE.

Post Match Quotes:

James Chambers

Overall thoughts

"I think we had a feeling that we would be a little bit flat, because of the schedule of last week (with the midweek game and Saturday game) and then a game on Friday (today). That's no excuse but we did start flat, conceded from the set piece. The boys absolutely immense especially when we're down, down energy levels, it was absolutely immense."

Three games in a row mentality from your standpoint and your opponent

"It's nice getting a free shot from 12 yards, isn't it? The reality is that the boys have been a little bit more aggressive in 1 v 1. When you get defenders that actually defend and if they defend well great, but then you when you go after them next time, and you're waiting for them to slip up, we've done that over the last couple of weeks, that means yeah we could've had a few more goals, been a bit more clinical in the final third. But we're happy, we're just motoring along, but we have to keep going."

Jonas Fjeldberg: On making an immediate impact after being subbed on

"It's just, I had to be patient all season, I've been struggling with my toe, so I'm just very happy to be back 100% and getting that trust from Coach. I've been slowly putting more and more minutes and all credit to him (Coach Chambers) for giving me the opportunity - it was about time I contributed something."

On how to keep up the momentum of five games unbeaten and four straight wins

"We focus on keeping the momentum, we have a lot of confidence right now but Chambers - he's good at reminding us there's a difference between confidence and arrogance, and we're just working really hard - the more confidence we get the harder we work in training. It's been an amazing four weeks and we keep building on this."

Duke LaCroix:

On how the wins on the field impact the mentality of the locker room

"We got off to a slow start in the season but we felt we were doing the right things, the luck wasn't really going our way. We weren't lackadaisical but we weren't able to put all the pieces together for the full ninety minutes. The last couple of games we were able to do that for the full ninety, so it's great to see the turnaround, and we're still climbing, we still have a lot of work to do - we're nowhere near where we want to be, but it feels good to put a couple wins in a row, especially for a home game."

On the team's defensive play and strategy to earn those PK moments

"I think all across the pitch guys are doing their jobs and fulfilling their responsibility to the fullest extent. Even guys that come off the bench, everyone who comes in steps up, knows the role that they have to fulfill, and they're gonna do it to the utmost ability. So that's just a reflection of that over the last couple of games. But defensively we're being more robust and offensively we're creating chances, we're dangerous, and we're going for it with gusto."

On the atmosphere and the dedication of fan's coming out after a slow start to the season

"The fans show support through thick and thin - yeah the weather sometimes hasn't been going our way the last few home games, but tonight they definitely came out in force, and we feed off their energy, I think, for those ninety minutes and the other teams definitely feel that. They come at altitude, it's loud, it's noisy, the lights are going. The announcers are letting them know the altitude is serious here, so after 15-20 minutes, we're all over teams, and late in the game we're getting opportunite and making chances."

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Match Statistics:

Saves: COS: Christian Herrera: (3) RHI: Koke Vegas (1)

Goals: COS: Damus (27'), RH Own Goal Yao (65'), Damus (PK) (87') RHI: Nodarse (A: Panayotou) (13')

Disciplines: RHI: YC: Turnbull (34'), Ybarra (45'), Kwizera (60'), Saydee(85')

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Images from this story

Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC's Ronaldo Damus battles the Rhode Island FC's Frank Nodarse
Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC's Ronaldo Damus battles the Rhode Island FC's Frank Nodarse
   

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