Colorado Springs, CO (September 26, 2020) – Tonight's penultimate home match for the Switchbacks sees them play Salt Lake City's Real Monarchs for the fourth and final time this season after the restart. After the Switchbacks' win last week against New Mexico, the team was looking to get another three points this week. Regardless of the fact that they are out of playoff contention for 2020, the Switchbacks are determined to not finish last in the group. The only problem? Salt Lake City has that exact same goal in mind, and only being a single point behind the Switchbacks in Group C, tonight's match could provide a crucial win for either team.
Starting in the first half, the Switchbacks put the pressure on the Monarchs when an early free-kick scoring opportunity was awarded to the home team; however, this pressure was alleviated from a missed opportunity on the kick which echoed a pattern that was seen throughout the match by both teams. The defense is able to take possession, the offense pushes towards the opposing goal, but nothing is able to connect to the back of the net until the 21st minute when Salt Lake City's Bode Davis is able to finish a corner kick opportunity with a point after the initial shot by Dayonn Harriss (SLC) was blocked by his teammate, Sam Brown. Continuing into the latter of the first half, the match diverges into a game of pong. The ball goes back and forth, in and out of possession by both teams, with no team seeming to come out on top after each attack. However, in the 41st minute, the Monarchs foul Luke Ferreira in their box and awarded the Switchbacks a penalty kick which was taken, and scored, by Christian Volesky. The first half ends, and the score is 1-1.
Going into the second half, the crowd is pumped, cheering on the Switchbacks, as they try and obtain a second win in a row for the 2020 season. Switchbacks players such as Gabe Robinson, Rony Argueta, and Jordan Burt, who kept loading on consistent pressure in the backline. The young keeper, Abraham Rodriguez, was also out in full force with save after save, and the main goal of… well… not giving up goals. However, regardless of the saves by each team's keeper, the constant pushes on the offensive, and multiple substitutions, even up to the last few minutes of the match, neither team was able to create a successful opportunity to get another point on the board ending this match in a 1-1 draw.
The Switchbacks return to Weidner Field on Wednesday, September 30th for the final home game of the 2020 regular season, and the final home game at the current Weidner Field before the club moves into the Downtown Stadium. Gates will be opening at 6pm with kickoff set for 7pm in the game presented by Pikes Peak National Bank. All home matches in 2020 at Weidner Field will be available for Switchbacks Season Ticket Members only.
Colorado Springs, CO (September 26, 2020) – Tonight’s penultimate home match for the Switchbacks sees them play Salt Lake City’s Real Monarchs for the fourth and final time this season after the restart. After the Switchbacks’ win last week against New Mexico, the team was looking to get another three points this week. Regardless of the fact that they are out of playoff contention for 2020, the Switchbacks are determined to not finish last in the group. The only problem? Salt Lake City has that exact same goal in mind, and only being a single point behind the Switchbacks in Group C, tonight’s match could provide a crucial win for either team.
Starting in the first half, the Switchbacks put the pressure on the Monarchs when an early free-kick scoring opportunity was awarded to the home team; however, this pressure was alleviated from a missed opportunity on the kick which echoed a pattern that was seen throughout the match by both teams. The defense is able to take possession, the offense pushes towards the opposing goal, but nothing is able to connect to the back of the net until the 21st minute when Salt Lake City’s Bode Davis is able to finish a corner kick opportunity with a point after the initial shot by Dayonn Harriss (SLC) was blocked by his teammate, Sam Brown. Continuing into the latter of the first half, the match diverges into a game of pong. The ball goes back and forth, in and out of possession by both teams, with no team seeming to come out on top after each attack. However, in the 41st minute, the Monarchs foul Luke Ferreira in their box and awarded the Switchbacks a penalty kick which was taken, and scored, by Christian Volesky. The first half ends, and the score is 1-1.
Going into the second half, the crowd is pumped, cheering on the Switchbacks, as they try and obtain a second win in a row for the 2020 season. Switchbacks players such as Gabe Robinson, Rony Argueta, and Jordan Burt, who kept loading on consistent pressure in the backline. The young keeper, Abraham Rodriguez, was also out in full force with save after save, and the main goal of… well… not giving up goals. However, regardless of the saves by each team’s keeper, the constant pushes on the offensive, and multiple substitutions, even up to the last few minutes of the match, neither team was able to create a successful opportunity to get another point on the board ending this match in a 1-1 draw.
The Switchbacks return to Weidner Field on Wednesday, September 30th for the final home game of the 2020 regular season, and the final home game at the current Weidner Field before the club moves into the Downtown Stadium. Gates will be opening at 6pm with kickoff set for 7pm in the game presented by Pikes Peak National Bank. All home matches in 2020 at Weidner Field will be available for Switchbacks Season Ticket Members only.
Post Game Quotes
Alan Koch
On keeping the team motivated to finish the 2020 season strong:
"Every game counts. I don't care if it's game one or it's the last game of the season…. When you step on the pitch, we're paying for our club. We're paying for our city. We're playing for individual pride, our family's pride, our team pride…. Those are the expectations that we expect from every player."
Overall thoughts on the match:
"Tonight is one of those games. It's a draw that feels like a loss, to be honest. There [are] some draws that feel like wins [,but], as far as I'm concerned, what we're trying to build, where we're trying to go, I'm not very satisfied. We need to push the envelope a little bit more. We [have] two games to do that."
Abe Rodriguez
Overall thoughts on the match:
"The first goal they scored, we were down. For [us], it just motivated the team. Try to push them to come back and we did. I thought we could've gotten the win. Unfortunately, we didn't. If we all worked together, it would've been a better result."
On personal goals for the remainder of the season
"Goalkeeper wise, going into these next two games, [I want] two shut-outs. That's my goal and has always been my goal. I also want to work on leadership. I am a young goalkeeper, but I want to work on that, and, if I do this well, I think we'll get two shut-outs."
Jordan Burt
Overall thoughts on the match:
"Honestly, [I'm] a little disappointed tonight. We had better players. We could've created a lot more changes, ad we just didn't take them. So, I'm a little disappointed, but…. onward and upward.
Thoughts on how the team can improve:
"When you play a team like the Monarchs, they're good at keeping the ball. I thought we were stretched the whole night from top to bottom. It gives them a lot of space to make plays. So just, a little bit of organization, a little bit of intensity, and a little bit of effort would've gone a long way and I think the result would've been different."
Post Game Quotes
Alan Koch
On keeping the team motivated to finish the 2020 season strong:
“Every game counts. I don’t care if it’s game one or it’s the last game of the season…. When you step on the pitch, we’re paying for our club. We’re paying for our city. We’re playing for individual pride, our family’s pride, our team pride…. Those are the expectations that we expect from every player.”
Overall thoughts on the match:
“Tonight is one of those games. It’s a draw that feels like a loss, to be honest. There [are] some draws that feel like wins [,but], as far as I’m concerned, what we’re trying to build, where we’re trying to go, I’m not very satisfied. We need to push the envelope a little bit more. We [have] two games to do that.”
Abe Rodriguez
Overall thoughts on the match:
“The first goal they scored, we were down. For [us], it just motivated the team. Try to push them to come back and we did. I thought we could’ve gotten the win. Unfortunately, we didn’t. If we all worked together, it would’ve been a better result.”
On personal goals for the remainder of the season
“Goalkeeper wise, going into these next two games, [I want] two shut-outs. That’s my goal and has always been my goal. I also want to work on leadership. I am a young goalkeeper, but I want to work on that, and, if I do this well, I think we’ll get two shut-outs.”
Jordan Burt
Overall thoughts on the match:
“Honestly, [I’m] a little disappointed tonight. We had better players. We could’ve created a lot more changes, ad we just didn’t take them. So, I’m a little disappointed, but…. onward and upward.
Thoughts on how the team can improve:
“When you play a team like the Monarchs, they’re good at keeping the ball. I thought we were stretched the whole night from top to bottom. It gives them a lot of space to make plays. So just, a little bit of organization, a little bit of intensity, and a little bit of effort would’ve gone a long way and I think the result would’ve been different.”
Game Stats
- Man of the Match// Jordan Burt
- Scoring Summary// COS: Volesky (41') | SLC: Davis (21')
- Saves// COS: Rodriguez (3) | SLC: Slayton (4)
- Discipline// COS: Volesky (11'), Cervós (45') | SLC: Brown (47')
Game Stats
- Man of the Match// Jordan Burt
- Scoring Summary// COS: Volesky (41′) | SLC: Davis (21′)
- Saves// COS: Rodriguez (3) | SLC: Slayton (4)
- Discipline// COS: Volesky (11′), Cervós (45′) | SLC: Brown (47′)
