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USL Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC

Switchbacks FC Start Independence Day Weekend Double Header with Big Win

July 1, 2022 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC News Release


Colorado Springs, CO - The Switchbacks FC made a huge comeback after two losses, earning a clean sheet against Sacramento Republic FC for a final score of 3-0.

The team saw some heavy hitters back in the line up this evening, and with five in the back they were making it clear they weren't interested in allowing any goals tonight. In the 14th minute of the match #23 Elvis Amoh got the Switchbacks on the board as he accepted a through ball from #11 Ngalina and chipped it over the Sacramento goalkeeper from the center of the box to the bottom left corner.

The Switchbacks held a passing accuracy of 86.8% in the first half of the match, and this would prove fruitful in the 35th minute as #10 Hadji Barry notched a goal from outside the box into the top left corner of the net off an assist from Amoh. Barry would earn a brace only three minutes into the second half, as #5 Mahoney passed the ball back to Barry, allowing Barry to make a low shot in from the center of the box to the bottom left corner of the net.

The Switchbacks FC are 10-0-0 when scoring the opening goal in their matches, and that would prove true tonight as Sacramento Republic FC was unable to get anything on the board earning COS goalkeeper Jeff Caldwell his sixth clean sheet of the season.

The Switchbacks FC have a double header this weekend, and will play San Diego Loyal SC at home this Monday for a 4th of July Fireworks Extravaganza match on ESPN2. The match's pregame presentation will include a formal presentation of the 2021 MVP Trophy to Hadji Barry. Tickets to that match, and all others, are available HERE.

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Game Statistics:

Man of the Match: Hadji Barry

Scoring Summary// COS: Amoh (14') (A:Ngalina); Barry (35') (A: Amoh); Barry (48') (A: Mahoney)

Saves// COS: Caldwell (3) |SAC: Vittielo (2)

Discipline// COS: YC: Hodge (40'), Ockford (43'), Makangila (76') | SAC: YC: Gurr (54')

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Post Game Quotes

Brendan Burke:

Overall thoughts:

"We needed that. That was a great response to two tough games. I thought we performed okay with San Antonio and then with Hartford but it was really important for us to rebound and to do it against a team in good form. It just says everything about this group and what we're capable of."

On Sacramento's defense:

On both ends of the field we were sharp. Most importantly we were committed to helping each other on both ends of the field. We did the hard running off the ball to get into good positions and it lead to Elvis's [Amoh] goal, freed up some space for Hadji [Barry] for his goals, but more importantly we defended it as a group of eleven guys."

On the importance of players [like Echevarria and Makangila] stepping up to the start:

"It was huge. When you get a couple games under your belt you start to perform at a higher and higher level and I think you saw that from both of those guys tonight. They were excellent in the middle of the midfield."

On Barry's family mentality:

"He makes everyone feel like family. He's been over here a long time on his own and he's got some extended family here. But it's got to be a special feeling for him and his brother [to have his brother here], and his brother will be here to see him receive the MVP award on Monday from last year and I'm happy for him."

Matt Mahoney:

On playing against [his old team] Sacramento Republic FC:

"It's the same coach but obviously there's a lot of turnover in the USL, and not a lot of the guys that I played with are still there. But you always love going and proving teams wrong. So it is what it is, there's no love lost there. [I'm] Just glad we got the three points and the clean sheet."

On the importance of holding Sacramento to a clean sheet:

"It's huge. I mean going to the semi-finals in the Open Cup is not an easy feat. We know they've been one of the best teams in the league ever since they've come into the league. And they've shown that this year, I think they're third or fourth ranked. To get three points against a top team like that is huge."

Jeff Caldwell:

On getting the clean sheet:

"Anytime it's a clean sheet it's a team effort. When we defend collectively and do our bits and pieces we're hard to break down. So that was a team effort, it was good to get one, it's been a while so it's good to get that feeling back and the belief back in the group that we can see games out. And obviously it's a good way to rebound from the last two games.

On using that momentum going into Monday's match:

"You can look at this period in one of two ways, instead of looking at it as a grind in a short stretch, now we can go in on Monday really building on tonight's performance and going and putting another three in the win column."

Hadji Barry:

Overall performance:

"I thought it was a very good performance by the team. We talked about coming in here and really defending the home field. Obviously the last two games were not easy, but I thought we played really well the last two games and just didn't get the result that we wanted, so we wanted to have the same type of performance and just take our chances and I thought we did that tonight. So it's a good performance by the group and good to get three points in front of our home fans."

On using the momentum going into Monday:

"Definitely tonight was a top-five clash. We respect Sacramento, we know they're one of the best teams in form both domestically and in the US Open Cup. So it wasn't an easy game but we know what we were capable of and we were just thinking about playing our game and respecting them as an opponent but not fearing them. So we just went out there and did our job and got the results."

On getting to score a goal in front of his brother:

"Man I just want to thank God for blessing me with this type of performance in front of my brother. It's been a long time coming and I couldn't have asked for a better performance in front of him. He'll be here again on Monday and hopefully I can have an even better one for him then."

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