Switchbacks Earn 1-1 Draw in Home Opener Against Hartford Athletic

March 18, 2023 – United Soccer League Championship (USL) – Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC News Release

Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC, COLO – The Colorado Springs Switchbacks notched a point against Hartford Athletic in their home opener tonight at Weidner Field with a 1-1 finish.

With Hartford looking for their first win of the season and three different former Switchbacks players on their starting XI for tonight, the game was set to be fast-paced and energetic from the start. The first half of the match was very evenly balanced, with both teams holding nearly identical numbers in shots, shots on targets, and passes, as well as an almost 50% split on possession. #99 Maalique Foster had several great chances up at the top of the box and in the 35th minute #5 Matt Mahoney almost netted a goal as he headed in the ball off a corner kick from #17 Jairo Henriquez.

The second half started fast, and it was clear from the get that the Switchbacks were taking control. With 68% of the possession in the first fifteen minutes, Switchbacks dominated the attacking third of the field, and #80 Speedy Williams, #9 Romario Williams, and #12 Drew Skundrich all had shots on target before the 70th minute. Despite the push, Hartford was the first team on the board as former Switchbacks player #9 Elvis Amoh found the back of the net off an assist from #7 Prince Saydee.

The rest of the half was a battle for the ball, and the Switchbacks managed another six shots but were unable to convert. It looked like it might be the end, but in the 89th minute #10 Zach Zandi scored his first goal of the season as #11 Deshane Beckford ran a low cross right to Zandi for a beautiful clipped finish in the low net. The score wouldn’t change throughout the nearly fifteen minutes of stoppage time, and the match ended in a 1-1 draw.

The team takes to the road for the next two weeks as they play San Antonio on March 25th, then Loudon United on April 2nd. The Team will return home for the second round of the U.S Lamar Open Cup, as they face off against Hailstorm FC on Wednesday April 5th.

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