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Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC

Vargish's View: Switchbacks FC Face Off Against 'New Look' Loudon United

March 31, 2023 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC News Release


The Switchbacks head to the shadow of our nation's capital for a Saturday afternoon showdown with new-look Loudoun United. The match will kick off at 2pm from Segra Field, with coverage by the voice of the Switchbacks, Ryan Kaufman, beginning at 1:30pm on XTRA Sports1300 AM.

Following Saturday's match the Switchbacks will return to Weidner Field in downtown Colorado Springs for a midweek Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup clash on Wednesday evening against the Northern Colorado Hailstorm. On Saturday, April 8th the Switchbacks host the Pittsburgh Riverhounds on Cyan Night with a mini soccer ball giveaway courtesy of Capelli Sport. Tickets for both matches are available HERE

Last Saturday saw the Switchbacks fall to a narrow 1-0 defeat against reigning USL Championship winners San Antonio FC in the Alamo City. Midfielder Jairo Henríquez will be available on Saturday against Loudoun United after playing twice for his native El Salvador and missing the loss in Texas.

What the Switchbacks Say:

Switchbacks Head Coach Stephen Hogan: "[Jairo Henriquez] had a great game [vs. USA on March 27th] and I think everyone watched it and supported him. He had a chance earlier on that if it went in his market value would have went through the roof! He is definitely a different person for us in front of goal and creating assists and picking up the right pockets and all that sort of stuff. He's a different element to our attack that we can add and [with] Zandi it's very fun to watch the two of them play together.

"We deserved something from the game [in San Antonio]. The penalty miss has sort of motivated [Zach Zandi] a little bit more. I talked to him yesterday just to make sure his head was ok and he was like, 'Hoagie, I'm more fired up than anything else.' It's upsetting that we didn't get the point we deserved but on to the next one."

Goalkeeper Christian Herrera: "I think there are a lot of positives [to take] from that game [in San Antonio] and it's just about having the character to bounce back and get a win on the road. Committing to our principles, committing to our style of play and continuing to grow and learn as a team [are the keys to getting a result on Saturday afternoon]. I think we're playing a good brand of soccer and this team wants to win and we're going to win and we just have to keep working."

Look at Loudoun:

The back four of Cole Turner, Gaoussou Samaké, Koa Santos, and Yanis Leerman has remained unchanged through the first three matches of the season for Loudoun and Head Coach Ryan Martin. On March 11th, Loudoun opened 2023 by defeating Memphis 901 3-1 behind a brace from former Stanford Cardinal Zach Ryan and an early opener from Tommy Williamson. Ryan leads Loudoun in goals with three.

"[Loudoun] have a new ownership group and they're still connected with D.C. [United of Major League Soccer] a little bit too," said Head Coach Hogan. "And the players now are not all just - and no offense - 16, 17, 18 year olds. [Loudoun] have a real competitive edge and they have a real identity now. They took points off San Antonio [1-1 draw on March 19th at Segra Field] and I think they deserved them too. Their pressing style is similar to what we do - maybe not as fast as when we get it right - but it's there, and then they have good footballers with a little bit more experience than what they've had so that shows in the games they've played. I don't think the 3-0 loss [to FC Tulsa on March 25th] was a 3-0 game - I think they were definitely in that in Tulsa and that's just the way it ended. They will show their experience a little bit more and they'll show their class on the ball a little bit more than what they've done in the last few years in the league. We're excited to play against them and hopefully we come out with a win."

Vargish's View:

This is not the same Loudoun that the Switchbacks saw in 2021 - a match that ended in a 3-1 victory for Colorado Springs at Segra Field. Top scorer Zach Ryan will return to the Loudoun lineup after being unavailable for the loss against Tulsa following a red card late in the draw versus San Antonio. In addition to the goal-threat posed by Ryan, the Switchbacks need to keep an eagle eye on tricky winger Kalil ElMedkhar. ElMedkhar, who starred collegiately at the University of Kentucky, is in his first year with Loudoun after time in Major League Soccer with FC Dallas, and offers Loudoun a real attacking threat alongside the aforementioned Ryan and one-time Cal Golden Bear Tommy Williamson.

Before the season it was understood that it would take time for all the new faces to gel in front of goal. Just three games in, and it's clear to see the danger the Switchbacks possess: Maalique Foster has next-level, game-changing pace. Romario Williams and Aaron Wheeler are big, hard-working focal points to spearhead the attack. And Deshane Beckford and Jairo Henríquez are the locksmiths who can break through any defense with their guile and experience. The Switchbacks are not far from clicking. If a 97th minute PK goes in against San Antonio, the discussion is about an undefeated Switchbacks group heading to Virginia. Saturday is an important match, and expect the Switchbacks to be the Switchbacks: they're going to press and demand a ton of one another and create chances and play with the confidence of a team that knows they deserved more in San Antonio.

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