USL Week 21: Switchbacks Move Back to Top of West

August 10, 2015 - United Soccer League Championship (USL) News Release

TAMPA, Fla. - The race for first place took another twist in the USL's Western Conference this weekend, with Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC becoming the latest side to rule the roost after a big road win in Sacramento. Elsewhere, the battle to remain above the red line continued in the Eastern Conference, as Keystone rivals Pittsburgh and Harrisburg both took important wins.

FEATURED GAMES

Harrisburg City Islanders 3, Richmond Kickers 2

The Harrisburg City Islanders boosted their playoff hopes as they held off a comeback by the Richmond Kickers to take a victory at Skyline Sports Complex. Yann Ekra opened the scoring just before the half-hour mark as he headed home the rebound of Jose Barril's free kick. Harrisburg added to its lead with two goals in five minutes in the second half as Brett Jankouskas drove home a finish from 20 yards in the 56th minute and Dante Leverock headed home a corner in the 61st. Richmond pushed back strongly and earned a penalty midway through the half that Jason Yeisley converted. A second penalty was awarded for the Kickers with four minutes to go as Yeisley scored his 11th goal of the season, but the City Islanders held on for an important three points.

Pittsburgh Riverhounds 3, Toronto FC II 1

The Pittsburgh Riverhounds remained three points ahead of the City Islanders in sixth place in the Eastern Conference with a victory at the Ontario Soccer Centre. In an even first half, Rob Vincent opened the scoring for the Riverhounds in the 11th minute with a fine strike from 20 yards. Toronto almost equalized a few minutes later, only for Molham Babouli's header to go just wide of the post, but Pittsburgh doubled its lead just before the half-hour mark as Kevin Kerr played in Lebo Moloto for a good first-time finish. The Riverhounds struck again late in the second half as Miro Cabrilo made it three, and while Raheem Edwards put home a good late goal for Toronto, Pittsburgh comfortably held on to take the victory.

OKC Energy FC 4, Portland Timbers 2 3

Danni Kî=B6nig scored a hat trick as Energy FC took a four-goal first half lead, and then had to hold on after a furious comeback by T2 at Merlo Field. Kî=B6nig opened the scoring in the 19th minute with a good header from Peter Toth's cross. OKC then scored three goals in five minutes as Kyle Greig and Kî=B6nig twice struck to make it 4-0 in the 34th minute. Portland hit back just before the halftime break through George Fochive, however, and when Fochive scored a second 23 seconds into the second half it looked like the comeback was on. New addition Michael Seaton also found the net for T2 with 11 minutes to go, but OKC's defense stiffened as Evan Newton finished with four saves to hold onto three points and second place in the West at the end of the weekend's action.

Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC 1, Sacramento Republic FC 0

Rony Argueta had the only goal, and the Switchbacks mounted an impressive defensive display as they took a victory against Republic FC in front of a capacity crowd of 11,442 at Bonney Field. Argueta struck in just the third minute as he found space in the left channel, and sent a perfect curling finish into the top-right corner of the net. Sacramento worked hard to get back into the game but was repeatedly stifled by a well-organized Switchbacks defense. Sacramento finished the contest with 11 shots, but only twice forced saves from Colorado Springs goalkeeper Devala Gorrick as Republic FC slid to sixth place in the USL's Western Conference standings.

QUOTABLE

"I'm just happy for the players and happy for the community. The only thing that our real kind of job is as a soccer club in this town is to bring joy to the fans. And finally we were able to do that." - Wilmington Hammerheads FC Coach Carson Porter after his side took its first home win of the season, 4-2 against the New York Red Bulls II

"We were not satisfied with the way the first half went. We lacked pace and play in the offensive zone. The message was to change the pace and attack more. Afterwards, we kept defending well. The play was more interesting in the second half." - FC Montreal Coach Philippe Eullaffroy after his side took a 3-1 win on the road against Saint Louis FC

"It seems this year the teams are a lot better. The league has gotten a lot stronger. Colorado is a great side and all credit is due to them. I just feel we've been on the short end of the stick all year, of chances created but not being able to put the ball into the nets." - Sacramento Republic FC defender Emrah Klimenta after his side fell 1-0 to Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC

"Just to score goals, that's cool, but to score a hat trick, that's always special [unless] you're Lionel Messi, which I'm not, so I'm really happy right now." OKC Energy FC forward Danni Kî=B6nig after his hat trick helped earn a 4-3 win against the Portland Timbers 2

BY THE NUMBERS

10,000 - OKC Energy FC midfielder Gareth Evans became the first player to reach 10,000 minutes of action in the USL regular season in Saturday's game against Portland. Later that night, Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC midfielder Luke Vercollone joined him as he passed the threshold in his side's game with Sacramento.

700 - Tulsa Roughnecks FC forward Sammy Ochoa scored the 700th goal in the USL this season as he earned his side a point in a 1-1 draw with Real Monarchs SLC on Saturday night.

125 - FC Montreal's Maxime Crepeau recorded the 125th shutout in the USL this season in Montreal's 4-0 win against Louisville last Wednesday.

10 - FC Montreal took 10 points from its five-game road trip, and is now 5-1-1 in the second half of the USL season

7 - OKC Energy FC's Danni Kî=B6nig scored the seventh hat trick in the USL this season on Saturday, and is now just one goal behind former two-time USL Most Valuable Player Kevin Molino's single-season record of 20 goals.

STANDINGS

EASTERN CONFERENCE

Team GP W L T GF GA Pts

Rochester Rhinos 21 12 1 8 26 11 44

Louisville City FC 20 11 4 5 38 22 38

Charleston Battery 21 9 4 8 31 19 35

Richmond Kickers 22 8 5 9 35 29 33

New York Red Bulls II 22 9 8 5 36 37 32

Pittsburgh Riverhounds 21 9 8 4 45 35 31

Harrisburg City Islanders 19 8 7 4 33 37 28

Charlotte Independence 18 6 6 6 23 22 24

Saint Louis FC 21 5 9 7 22 32 22

FC Montreal 21 6 12 3 26 30 21

Toronto FC II 18 4 11 3 14 31 15

Wilmington Hammerheads FC 21 3 12 6 16 32 15

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Team GP W L T GF GA Pts

Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC 21 12 7 2 40 23 38

OKC Energy FC 22 10 5 7 36 29 37

Seattle Sounders FC 2 22 11 8 3 37 32 36

LA Galaxy II 22 11 8 3 32 24 36

Orange County Blues FC 21 10 8 3 28 30 33

Sacramento Republic FC 21 10 8 3 31 25 33

Tulsa Roughnecks FC 23 9 9 5 39 37 32

Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 23 8 10 5 34 42 29

Portland Timbers 2 22 8 12 2 31 37 26

Arizona United SC 21 8 12 1 25 46 25

Austin Aztex 21 7 11 3 22 27 24

Real Monarchs SLC 20 2 11 7 20 31 13

RESULTS

Tuesday, August 4

OKC Energy FC 2, LA Galaxy II 0

Wednesday, August 5

Charlotte Independence 2, New York Red Bulls II 2

FC Montreal 4, Louisville City FC 0

Tulsa Roughnecks FC 1, Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC 0

Saturday, August 8

Wilmington Hammerheads FC 4, New York Red Bulls II 2

Harrisburg City Islanders 3, Richmond Kickers 2

Pittsburgh Riverhounds 3, Toronto FC II 1

FC Montreal 3, Saint Louis FC 1

Real Monarchs SLC 1, Tulsa Roughnecks FC 1

Orange County Blues FC 1, Austin Aztex 0

OKC Energy FC 4, Portland Timbers 2 3

Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 3, Seattle Sounders FC 2 0

Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC 1, Sacramento Republic FC 0

Sunday, August 9

Rochester Rhinos 1, Richmond Kickers 1

Arizona United SC 2, LA Galaxy II 1

SCHEDULE

Wednesday, August 12

FC Montreal vs. Toronto FC II, 12:30 p.m. ET

Harrisburg City Islanders vs. Louisville City FC, 7 p.m. ET

New York Red Bulls II vs. Charlotte Independence, 7:30 p.m. ET

Thursday, August 13

Tulsa Roughnecks FC vs. Real Monarchs SLC, 8:30 p.m. ET

Friday, August 14

Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC vs. Sacramento Republic FC, 9 p.m. ET

Saturday, August 15

Toronto FC II vs. Richmond Kickers, 3 p.m. ET

Pittsburgh Riverhounds vs. Charlotte Independence, 7 p.m. ET

Rochester Rhinos vs. Wilmington Hammerheads FC, 7:05 p.m. ET

Charleston Battery vs. Saint Louis FC, 7:30 p.m. ET

OKC Energy FC vs. Real Monarchs SLC, 8 p.m. ET

Austin Aztex vs. LA Galaxy II, 8:30 p.m. ET

Tulsa Roughnecks FC vs. Louisville City FC, 8:30 p.m. ET

Arizona United SC vs. Orange County Blues FC, 10:30 p.m. ET

Sunday, August 16

Portland Timbers 2 vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2, 10 p.m. ET

HOW TO FOLLOW

Every game of the 2015 USL season can be seen live, free and in HD on YouTube (www.Youtube.com/USL), with updates from across the league also available via Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC vs. Sacramento Republic FC

United Soccer League Championship Stories from August 10, 2015

• Sacramento Republic FC Release Forward David Estrada - Sacramento Republic FC
• Austin Aztex Offer Free Rides for Match against LA Galaxy II this Saturday - Austin Aztex
• LA Galaxy II Acquire Midfielder Bryan Olivera - LA Galaxy II
• USL Week 21: Switchbacks Move Back to Top of West - USL
• OC Blues FC Signs Goalkeeper Josh Cohen - Orange County SC

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