Won For The Springs! Colorado Springs Switchbacks Champions of USL!

COLORADO SPRINGS – Colorado Springs are higher in elevation than any other professional soccer team in America. In their 10th season, they are now on top of the USL Championship. On Saturday morning, they hosted the USL Championship Final against Rhode Island FC. It was a master class, a blowout, and a party for the Colorado Springs soccer community.

James Chambers brought Yosuke Hanya back to the starting lineup. Juan Tejada, the hero from the Conference Final started again as well. The rest of the lineup was chalk with Matt Mahoney at the back and Zach Zandi pulling the strings in midfield.

The first half was the most electric I’ve experienced in a lower division. The crowd was in their seats early and electric. Just 45 seconds into the match, Hanya was played through on goal but couldn’t get a strong touch on the ball. It went just wide.

Rhode Island got the ball in good areas but the Black and Blue defense made good plays when they had to. Tackles from Devon Williams and Mahoney were good. Mahoney was given a yellow card in the 14th that led to a J.J. Williams free kick, but it went over the bar.

Switchbacks opened the scoring in the 22nd minute. Minutes after nearly drawing a penalty, Hanya beat his man and threaded a cross into the box. Tejada was on the doorstep for a tap in with his knee.

Jairo Hénriquez made it 2-0 against the run of play in the 42nd. He went alone on a counter attack. Cutting inside, his first shot was blocked with the rebound falling right to him. He shot again, looping a shot on a rope past the defenders and into the net with keeper Koke Vegas flatfooted.

Switchbacks did have to deal with some injuries the first half. Delentz Pierre was subbed off as was Hanya with a hamstring injury. The half ended 2-0. Rhode Island made two changes at half time, subbing on Jojea Kwizera in midfield and Jack Panayotou.

Colorado Springs were comfortable to start the second half in their compact 4-2-3-1, looking for transition chances. A Rhode Island set piece in the 53rd was the nail in the coffin. Ronaldo Damus collected a blocked shot 75 yards from goal with no one to beat but the keeper. He dribbled the whole way and buried it in the bottom near corner. This after Hénriquez tried to chip the keeper from midfield minutes earlier.

Rhode Island had a decent spell in the following 10 minutes. The finally managed a shot on target in the 63rd. Frank Nodarse headed the ball inside the box that was bouncing towards the bottom corner. Christian Herrera made the diving save. Chambo’s boys saw the game out and the match ended 3-0. The final 15 minutes was effectively a party.

Chambo chimes in:

“I thought the performance for a final was absolutely wonderful. It’s difficult. There’s a lot going on and they were superb,” a horse voiced Chambo said postgame. “Ten o’clock in the morning and this place was on wheels. Giving the players as much energy as possible. We gave that back. We can call this place (Weidner Field) a fortress.”

The manager went on to express his joy for the players and staff, deflecting praise from himself.

“It’s not about me. I’m really happy for everyone in the organization.”

Getting back to playing their game:

The game wasn’t that competitive come the second half. Nine shots for Rhode Island, with most of those coming after the third goal. Nothing on target prior to that. Switchbacks defended really well. Unlike the Western Conference Final, they had room to breathe. But they didn’t slip up.

“We dialed in on the structure. The non-negotiables for us were there. You’re going to run and put your body on the line. Our structure to help us deal with hectic moments allowed us to be so strong defensively,” Herrera said.

“We had prepared for them. They are a good team. They gave us some challenges. We played a quality game. Every single player on the field was performing at a high level,” added Zandi.

“We know when we start fast, it’s tough for teams to hang with the altitude. We get a goal early, it’s tough for them to come back,” said captain Mahoney.

This game perfectly reflected the group, their year, and this journey:

The players said this way better than I could, so here’s a bunch of quotes.

“What that speaks to is the type of group and environment we have created. To keep guys motivated. To keep guys playing for the team. ‘I haven’t started, maybe I’m not happy about it, but if my name gets called, I’m ready to go,'” said Herrera.

“It was a total team effort. So happy for every single person. It’s a collective. So happy for everyone,” said Zandi, who described his emotions as 100 out of 10.

“In the first half, we had control. I had to come off because of my injury. We played a very good game. I’m very happy with the team performance. We want to win another title next year. That’s the mentality going into next season,” said Hanya.

A trophy after 10 years in the ‘City of Champions’:

Colorado Springs has college sports and minor league baseball. Despite being the ‘City of Champions’ as a headquarters for USA Olympics, they don’t have a professional sports title. Couple that with this being the 10th season for Switchbacks, having their own stadium, and hosting their first final, this was special.

“Just ecstatic for the guys. Speechless at the moment. It’s finally what we deserve. Maybe we feel like we’ve been underrated in past years. It happens. We’re finally on the map,” said Mahoney.

“There’s a lot of history in Colorado Springs. Highest stadium in the country. Ten year anniversary. I’m just very happy for everyone.”

Tejada was all vibes after the match as well: “Everyone from Colorado Springs is so special. To give back to them means everything. It’s something I will never forget.”

Annie Coffman is a Switchbacks super fan who’s been a season ticket holder since day one. She missed just two games this season, home and away. Perhaps she put it best:

“This time, they put it all together. Hogan with the contracts. Chambo, the coaching staff has been excellent. Matt as captain. Playing for the glory of one. ‘City of Champions,’ we needed a championship. We made it happen.”

Congratulations to Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC Champions of the USL!

Photo Credit: Colorado Springs Switchbacks

Thank you for reading Burgundy Wave. Support us via our Patreon starting at $5/month. We’re always looking for new talent. Let us know if you’re interested in covering Colorado Soccer.