Sports stats



USL Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC

Switchbacks FC Win in Home Opener against Reigning Champs Orange County SC

March 12, 2022 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC News Release


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

Colorado Springs, CO - The Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC 2022 season started off with an opportunity for redemption as they took on the 2021 USL Championship champions, and the team that knocked them out of the playoffs, Orange County SC.

While the board didn't reflect any action for most of the first half, the Switchbacks held the power on the field and got the lead in the 37th minute when Cam Lindley sent a pass to the top where Michee Ngalina was able to pick it up and finish the ball from the left of the penalty box into the bottom right corner. Johnson saw a few chances in the first half, getting the ball into position but going just high both times.

The second half of the match saw the Switchbacks quickly double their lead, as Malik Johnson was able to grab a return pass from Amoh, and in a beautiful mirror of Ngalina's goal, slide in behind the OCSC backline from the right of the box to hit the bottom left corner of the net.

A higher intensity game in the back half, both teams accrued multiple yellow cards in short order. OC had a few chances, including Iloski bringing the ball up to the crossbar, and in the 82 minute, OC got on the board as Iloski won a challenge outside the penalty area. Erdmann had a big time save in the 88' in front of the goal to prevent OC from getting a tying score, and unable to find another equalizing opportunity, OC left the match empty handed for their first result of the 2022 campaign.

Post-Game Quotes

Brendan Burke - Head Coach

Overall thoughts on the game: "Great start to the season starting off against the defending champs. I thought we were thoroughly on top of them for most of the game, got a little hairy there at the end but the important thing is that we got three points to start the season which we did not do last season. We got off to a good start and I liked what I saw from every guy that played a part in the game tonight."

On the field strategy for tonight's matchup: "Michee scores, Malik scores so both your wingers score. That's a good night. Hadji and Elvis were all over the field. Doing a lot of dirty work and a lot of dirty running that allowed us to defend higher up the field and I walk away from our first game really happy with the execution."

On Hadji (Barry's) new role: "We played him in the ten-spot tonight, he's the leader of the team at this point, everyone knows it. He is a marked man in and around the box. He came to us as a staff and said, "Whatever I have to do to bring a trophy here, that's what I'll do. If it means not scoring goals, then I won't score goals." So, he has bought in, in a big way."

On Dennis Erdmann's presence: "You saw his experience; it was coming through in spades. In all the physical duels and his timing and how he absorbed their runs. I mean that's what we went and got him for, he was excellent tonight, and he was a big difference in how the game played out."

On the atmosphere in the crowd tonight: "It wasn't even full tonight; I was amazed at how many people came out given how cold it is. Being early March and we already have an environment like this, I can't wait until the season gets going."

Michee Ngalina

On his first game and goal: "You know this is home, I just feel comfortable to be back and to get work. I was happy to be back here and keep pushing with the group and it felt good."

On the team's first game and win over OC: "We've been preparing for that game hard and pushing really hard and all of us were ready to go. That was the mentality of everyone in the club and that's why we gave 100% in the game and got that win.

On the fans in the stadium: "It's always fun to see the fans man. They come in to support us and after the game we have to show them some love. That's why we keep working for them and we are really happy to see them back here in the stadium to support us."

Jeff Caldwell

On the fans as a home team player: "It was amazing, that was the easiest half of soccer I think I have ever played in my life. The guys were unbelievable so the south end didn't really have me very much because I was 50 yards away! The atmosphere was amazing, that's one of the draws to come out here as I got to experience it on the other side of things and to be a part of it and be successful day one is a good feeling."

On being on the defensive side of the ball: "I think we did an excellent job of preparing both from the coaching staff and executing in the week of training. The first one is always difficult because there is a little bit of uncertainty around the team, but we came in the first five minutes, and you could tell that we were ready. We were prepared and then we executed everything that we set out to do."

On his first win as a Switchback: "To get the win means a lot, (I) would have liked to get the clean sheet so we will tighten a few things up. Me personally, I will tighten a couple of things up, but at the end of the day 3 points is 3 points at home against the defending champs. So, it doesn't get much better, it could get a little better but couldn't get much better for the start."

Malik Johnson

On the chemistry of the team: "Throughout the preseason me and Elvis had good link up play against Tulsa, and in other games as well. I played it to him, and it was played in behind and I knew he was going to play it to me so once I got the ball I was 1v1 with the keeper and finished it."

On being a home player vs. an opponent at Weidner Field: "The fans brought the energy tonight and everything motivated us out on the pitch to go and push the extra effort."

On the team's control of the game: "Throughout the preseason we trained intense, training is intense, so it translates to the game. Orange County, they are a good team, but we kept them on their heels. We kept pushing and kept pushing and we got three points in the end."

Game Statistics:

Man of the Match// Michee Ngalina

Scoring Summary// COS: Ngalina: (37'); Johnson (51') | OC: Iloski (82')

Saves// COS: Caldwell (2) | OC: Rakovsky (3)

Discipline// COS: YC: Barry (19'), Erdmann (54'), Ockford (69'), Lindley (61'), Echevarria (88') Belmar (90+6) | OC: YC: Henry (8'), Acosta (70'), Borelli (90+4')

Check out the Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC Statistics




Images from this story

Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC forward Michee Ngalina vs. Orange County SC
Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC forward Michee Ngalina vs. Orange County SC
(Isaiah Downing)		   

• Discuss this story on the United Soccer League Championship message board...

United Soccer League Championship Stories from March 12, 2022


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.

Other Recent Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC Stories



Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central