Colorado Springs, CO (May 4th, 2024) – The Colorado Springs Switchbacks secured their points tonight against El Paso Locomotive ending with a final score of 2-0.
With a packed house at Weidner Field, the Switchbacks brought their A game against El Paso Locomotive. In the 21′, #2 Koa Santos ran up the right farside on the pitch in the attacking zone, crossing the ball to #9 Ronaldo Damus. Damus had a quick touch on the ball and then rocketed the ball into the back of the net, giving the Switchbacks their first goal of the night.
In the 30′, #99 Maalique Foster had a quick breakaway running past multiple El Paso Locomotive defenders, then he went in for the strike but hit it perfectly on the right goal post, keeping the score at 1-0. Throughout the first half, the boys in black and blue brought the heat with three shots on target and held 53.9% of the possession.
Throughout the second half, the boys held strong by having two shots on target, four tackles won, and four interceptions. In the 88′, a penalty was conceded by El Paso player Eric Calvillo and was won by Switchbacks player #20 Yosuke Hanya. Due to this penalty happening in the 18, the Switchbacks were awarded a penalty kick. Damus calmly took the position and struck the ball toward the left of the net, while El Paso’s goalkeeper leaped to the right. With Damus getting the second goal of the night, it had secured the Switchbacks’ second win of the 2024 season.
The Switchbacks have a double match this upcoming week. The team heads to New York to play in the Open Cup on Wednesday, May 8th with kickoff at 5:30 pm MT. Then the Switchbacks head to Connecticut to play Hartford Athletic on Saturday, May 11th at 5:00 pm MT. Mark your calendars for May 17th as the Switchbacks return to Weidner Field to battle Rhode Island FC for Armed Forces night! For tickets to that match, and all others, head HERE.
Post Match Quotes:
James Chambers
Overall thoughts
“I think in the first half I thought we were very good with possession and we thought we pressed well. We dropped off a little bit towards the last five to seven minutes of the first half. We came out in the second half and they (El Paso) had the ball more than we would have liked. But I think the boys did so well, especially out one nil to keep the clean sheet, so really really happy for the boys.”
On the Switchbacks fans at home:
“It’s our fourth home game. We let people down for three weeks when they came and paid money. Tonight we wanted to give back to the fans who took the time out to come and watch us. We really wanted to give back to them, we were really focused on that. This is what we want to do every week, it was electric! It is honestly what the players fed off of and were really happy that we kept the momentum going, but we only have two wins, that’s the reality of it, but it’s nowhere we want to be. I’m just so happy that the boys are continuing on with this momentum.
Koa Santos
On his first assist of the season, and what that means going forward:
“I think me and Maaliiqe (Foster) are starting to find a good relationship and I think the more we get in those areas the more I’ll be able to show my quality – double digits are aspirational but we just strive for that and hope we get close.”
On the back line the last two weeks, and the developing defense:
“I think it’s just all about relationships and finding and building them week in and week out – hopefully it’s only up from here for us.”
On the atmosphere at Weidner Field and what it meant to have the fans supporting the team tonight:
“It means the world – it’s our first win at home and fans deserve it, so you know I’m glad we could give them a good game.”
Speedy Williams:
On the team’s building momentum and what it means to get the win at home:
“It means a lot, especially because there were so many people here today, and we didn’t want to disappoint them so we really tried to win for them.”
On the team’s mentality and work to get on the right foot moving forward:
“We haven’t been sorry for ourselves, we’ve just been grinding and grinding and doing the simple things, and we’re getting the results, and we just need to keep doing that.”
On what he saw on the field that allowed his pass to Santos for the assist:
“His (Santos) run, his run. Their runs make the passes – so his run made my pass easy.”
Match Statistics:
Saves: COS: Christian Herrera: (2) ELP: Jahmali White (3)
Goals: COS: Damus (A:Santos) (22′), Damus (PK) (89′)
Disciplines: COS: YC: Damus (13′), Henriquez (79′), Herrera (86′), Mahoney (90+1) ELP: YC: Lyons (53′), Clarhaut (54′), Dhillon (70′), Waite (76′) ,Calvillo (88′) RC: Clarhaut (54′)
