Another top-of-the-table showdown looms large on Saturday evening as the Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC take on Rio Grande Valley FC in Edinburg, Texas.
The Switchbacks’ comprehensive 2-0 victory against the Oklahoma City Energy FC on Wednesday at Switchbacks Stadium propelled the Switchbacks into second place in the USL’s Western Conference. RGVFC, now in fourth place, have not played since defeating the Switchbacks on August 21st in Colorado Springs.
“RGVFC are one of the best teams we’ve faced,” said Switchbacks Head Coach Steve Trittschuh when asked about the 2-0 loss at the hands of the RGVFC Toros. “It’s going to be a battle on Saturday and we’re going to give it a go. With RGVFC being so close to us we’ve got to get points.”
With three matches in just seven days, the Switchbacks were cautious to not over-celebrate Wednesday’s win against the OKC Energy FC. “It was an all-around great game,” said Trittschuh immediately following the final whistle. “Defensively we were outstanding. JJ [Greer] had a great game. Kim [Taeseong] had a great game. Now we have options going forward. The guys will take confidence from this game and know they’ve got to come out and play against Rio Grande. It’s such a quick turnaround – but that’s good because this win is fresh in our minds.”
Greer, who started alongside Christian Ibeagha in central defense, produced a brilliant performance against the OKC Energy that helped maintain goalkeeper Devala Gorrick’s 10th clean sheet of the season – a new Switchbacks single-season record. Kim Taeseong, pressed into a deep-lying defensive midfield role in the absence of Rony Argueta, was equally influential as he broke up numerous OKC Energy attacks.
“I thought we had a really good team performance and we deserved to win,” said Greer after the game. “It feels great to be back out there with the guys, and we really needed these three points. Recovery is going to be big for us because we don’t have a lot of time. We have to be mentally strong. This is the time of year where everyone is tired and everyone has injuries, so we focus on our recovery process and that helps keep us strong.”
Rony Argueta will be available for Saturday’s match in Edinburg, Texas, while Kim Taeseong will be suspended due to an accumulation of yellow cards.
Fans of the most watched soccer league in the world, England’s Barclay’s Premier League, will remember that matches during the first weeks of the 2015/16 season were halted due to excessive on-field temperatures. Players were allowed a 90 second water break during the 25th and 60th minutes of matches that were played in temperatures that never rose above 86°F.
With a high of 99°F forecasted for the Edinburg area on Saturday, Switchbacks Head Athletic Trainer Dr. Molly Kordsmeier acknowledged the difficulties of preparing the players ahead of the match. “We’ll do everything from electrolyte packets to ice towels once we’re in the heat, but really we try and make sure the players are in the best shape before we reach those conditions. The coaches have the players practicing in full rain gear to simulate the heat as best we can and all our players at this level know what they should be doing in terms of hydration.”
“It’s going to be hot – there’s no getting around that,” said Head Coach Steve Trittschuh. “We’re going to talk about the heat and how to handle it but we’ve faced tough conditions before and that will help us. It’s going to be over 90°F so we have to be smart.”
“We have one full day to really focus on taking care of our bodies,” said Switchbacks captain Luke Vercollone. “It’s not going to be easy for us with the travel and the heat but it’s our opponent that needs our focus. Rio Grande are a very good team – especially defensively – so we’re really going to have to fight and give it our all if we’re going to get three points.”
RGVFC have not conceded a goal in 721 minutes of USL play as the Toros have quickly established themselves as one of the most feared teams in the league. While impossible to hypothesize about lineup changes due to RGVFC’s inactivity since defeating the Switchbacks, it’s safe to say Rubén Luna will start after his whirlwind performance in Colorado Springs.
The scorer of the Toros’ opening goal, Luna was a constant thorn in the side of the Switchbacks. As with the August 21st encounter between the Switchbacks and RGVFC, stopping the Toros’ Charlie Ward will be of upmost importance for the Switchbacks. The quarterback of the Toros offense, Ward grew ever more influential against the Switchbacks as the game progressed and is a player who requires constant defensive attention.
For the Switchbacks, Wednesday’s win against the OKC Energy marked the first time the Switchbacks’ offense has scored more than one goal since June 4th. Newly signed winger Jungyeong Park is a player that Switchbacks Head Coach Steve Trittschuh admits gives his team more options in attacking positions. “He’s a player that takes people on and he gives us a new look going forward. It’s good to have him on board, and hopefully he helps us the rest of the way.”
A win in Edinburg, Texas would further increase the standings gap between the Switchbacks and RGVFC Toros, despite the Toros having played one fewer match. No matter the oppressive heat or the Toros’ recent defensive performances, the victory against the OKC Energy FC has the Switchbacks primed for another three points.
Another top-of-the-table showdown looms large on Saturday evening as the Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC take on Rio Grande Valley FC in Edinburg, Texas.
The Switchbacks’ comprehensive 2-0 victory against the Oklahoma City Energy FC on Wednesday at Switchbacks Stadium propelled the Switchbacks into second place in the USL’s Western Conference. RGVFC, now in fourth place, have not played since defeating the Switchbacks on August 21st in Colorado Springs.
“RGVFC are one of the best teams we’ve faced,” said Switchbacks Head Coach Steve Trittschuh when asked about the 2-0 loss at the hands of the RGVFC Toros. “It’s going to be a battle on Saturday and we’re going to give it a go. With RGVFC being so close to us we’ve got to get points.”
With three matches in just seven days, the Switchbacks were cautious to not over-celebrate Wednesday’s win against the OKC Energy FC. “It was an all-around great game,” said Trittschuh immediately following the final whistle. “Defensively we were outstanding. JJ [Greer] had a great game. Kim [Taeseong] had a great game. Now we have options going forward. The guys will take confidence from this game and know they’ve got to come out and play against Rio Grande. It’s such a quick turnaround – but that’s good because this win is fresh in our minds.”
Greer, who started alongside Christian Ibeagha in central defense, produced a brilliant performance against the OKC Energy that helped maintain goalkeeper Devala Gorrick’s 10th clean sheet of the season – a new Switchbacks single-season record. Kim Taeseong, pressed into a deep-lying defensive midfield role in the absence of Rony Argueta, was equally influential as he broke up numerous OKC Energy attacks.
“I thought we had a really good team performance and we deserved to win,” said Greer after the game. “It feels great to be back out there with the guys, and we really needed these three points. Recovery is going to be big for us because we don’t have a lot of time. We have to be mentally strong. This is the time of year where everyone is tired and everyone has injuries, so we focus on our recovery process and that helps keep us strong.”
Rony Argueta will be available for Saturday’s match in Edinburg, Texas, while Kim Taeseong will be suspended due to an accumulation of yellow cards.
Fans of the most watched soccer league in the world, England’s Barclay’s Premier League, will remember that matches during the first weeks of the 2015/16 season were halted due to excessive on-field temperatures. Players were allowed a 90 second water break during the 25th and 60th minutes of matches that were played in temperatures that never rose above 86°F.
With a high of 99°F forecasted for the Edinburg area on Saturday, Switchbacks Head Athletic Trainer Dr. Molly Kordsmeier acknowledged the difficulties of preparing the players ahead of the match. “We’ll do everything from electrolyte packets to ice towels once we’re in the heat, but really we try and make sure the players are in the best shape before we reach those conditions. The coaches have the players practicing in full rain gear to simulate the heat as best we can and all our players at this level know what they should be doing in terms of hydration.”
“It’s going to be hot – there’s no getting around that,” said Head Coach Steve Trittschuh. “We’re going to talk about the heat and how to handle it but we’ve faced tough conditions before and that will help us. It’s going to be over 90°F so we have to be smart.”
“We have one full day to really focus on taking care of our bodies,” said Switchbacks captain Luke Vercollone. “It’s not going to be easy for us with the travel and the heat but it’s our opponent that needs our focus. Rio Grande are a very good team – especially defensively – so we’re really going to have to fight and give it our all if we’re going to get three points.”
RGVFC have not conceded a goal in 721 minutes of USL play as the Toros have quickly established themselves as one of the most feared teams in the league. While impossible to hypothesize about lineup changes due to RGVFC’s inactivity since defeating the Switchbacks, it’s safe to say Rubén Luna will start after his whirlwind performance in Colorado Springs.
The scorer of the Toros’ opening goal, Luna was a constant thorn in the side of the Switchbacks. As with the August 21st encounter between the Switchbacks and RGVFC, stopping the Toros’ Charlie Ward will be of upmost importance for the Switchbacks. The quarterback of the Toros offense, Ward grew ever more influential against the Switchbacks as the game progressed and is a player who requires constant defensive attention.
For the Switchbacks, Wednesday’s win against the OKC Energy marked the first time the Switchbacks’ offense has scored more than one goal since June 4th. Newly signed winger Jungyeong Park is a player that Switchbacks Head Coach Steve Trittschuh admits gives his team more options in attacking positions. “He’s a player that takes people on and he gives us a new look going forward. It’s good to have him on board, and hopefully he helps us the rest of the way.”
A win in Edinburg, Texas would further increase the standings gap between the Switchbacks and RGVFC Toros, despite the Toros having played one fewer match. No matter the oppressive heat or the Toros’ recent defensive performances, the victory against the OKC Energy FC has the Switchbacks primed for another three points.