The Lights face Switchbacks FC on 9th Island Night with the aim of shifting gears after a string of setbacks on the road.
Match: Las Vegas Lights FC (2-5-2, 11th in Western Conference) vs Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC (2-2-4, 9th in Western Conference
When: Saturday, May 23
Where: Cashman Field, Las Vegas, Nevada
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. PT
How to Watch: FOX5, 5DRVtv 5.4, ESPN+
The Lights return to their fortress, Cashman Field, to face Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC for the team’s tenth match of USL Championship regular season action.
Vegas has not lost a single game at home, tallying two wins and two draws. However, the team’s overall campaign has been underwhelming, with the Lights currently standing second-to-last in the Western Conference table, only ahead of a still winless Monterey Bay FC. Winning is of upmost importance for Vegas if they want to pivot and alter the direction of the current season.
The Switchbacks are ninth in the West with two games at hand. They haven’t lost in five matches, and their last win was a 4-0 thrashing of New Mexico United at Weidner Field for round two of the Prinx Tires USL Cup. Both teams arrive at Cashman in dire need of three points to continue progressing in the standings and avoid the dangers of early stagnation.
We meet again… two months later
It’s only been a little more than two months since the last time Vegas and Colorado Springs faced each other for the Championship.
On March 14, the Switchbacks defeated the Lights 3-2 on a cool Rocky Mountains afternoon. Levonte Johnson gave Colorado the lead in the 60th minute, with Jonas Fjeldberg doubling his side’s advantage ten minutes later. An Abraham Okyere brace made things level for the Lights and increased the odds of a previously improbable comeback, but an unfortunate own goal sealed the deal for Colorado and earned them three points on their home opener.
Keys to the Match
Here are the keys to victory and a continued positive streak at Cashman Field.
Mason Stajduhar
Goalkeeper Mason Stajduhar has been a tremendous addition to the Lights’ roster: a calming presence amidst the chaos.
“He adds stability and maturity. He definitely brings calmness in the back,” said Head Coach Devin Rensing when asked what the team’s new guardian adds to the squad.
The 28-year-old, who’s on loan from Real Salt Lake, already made his first start at Spokane Velocity FC for round two of the Prinx Tires USL Cup, making two saves and showcasing his quality and skill on goal.
The Lights have conceded 2.11 goals per match, which is unsustainable. It’s up to Mason Stajduhar (and the defensive line he now leads) to change the Lights’ stats for the better and help the team earn valuable points, starting this Saturday.
The Mental Resilience to Bounce Back
The Lights are not in a good place at the moment.
Second-to-last in the Championship standings and virtually eliminated from the Prinx Tires USL Cup after only two matches against USL League One sides, the team finds itself in the need to shift gears and re-focus on what lies ahead.
But past performance is not indicative of future results, and the team has what it takes to pivot.
This will require resilience from both players and coaching staff, and the desire to make things right. The squad has the quality to perform at the highest level, and the IQ required to play high-quality soccer.
On top of that, playoff slots are still only two points away.
A hard reboot is necessary… and it all starts with a win against the Switchbacks.
Beware of Khori Bennett
Lights fans already know him. We know him. We highlighted him in our match preview for March 14.
Khori Bennett is a menace upfront. With seven goals in seven starts, Bennett is in the lead in the race for the Championship’s Golden Boot. A target man with a keen eye for goal, the Jamaican striker must be contained by the Lights’ defense if the team is to win on Saturday night.
But he does not come alone.
Yosuke Hanya, Jonas Fjeldberg, Levonte Johnson, and Juan Tejada all represent serious threats on the wings with their blistering speed and agility. It’s no wonder why the Switchbacks have the highest xG (1.59) in the Western Conference.
Stopping Colorado’s attack is a must if the Lights intend to win three points at Cashman Field.
