Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC win their first USL Championship title, dominate first-year club Rhode Island FC 3-0

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC have waited nine years to reach a USL Championship Final. They made it count when they finally got there with a dominant 3-0 win over first-year USL club Rhode Island FC in front of their fans at a packed Weidner Field Saturday.

"It's massive," Colorado Springs manager James Chambers said of the team's first title. "At 10 o'clock in the morning, and we walked out and this place was on wheels. That's what we want. [The fans] were unbelievable today. And honestly, I think they have found it a little bit [of a boost] because really proud of everybody coming out this morning and just giving the players as much energy as possible."

After a cagey opening 20 minutes, Yosuke Hanya got the party going for the Switchbacks in the 22nd minute as the forward dribbled past two defenders wide right and found a cutting Juan Tejada toward the front of goal. The pinpoint cross landed directly in front of Tejada, who quickly pounced to give Colorado Springs a 1-0 lead.

From there, it got increasingly easier for the Switchbacks.

Jairo Henriquez charged left up the pitch and tried to launch a rocket that was blocked by a Rhode Island defender before Henriquez caught his own rebound and launched another blast that went right past Koke Vargas in goal.

Following the break things didn't get any easier for the RhodeWarriors.

Rhode Island tried to send all men forward to find a way past Christian Herrera, but a ricocheted shot had a lucky bounce for Switchbacks star Ronaldo Damus. He was 20 yards ahead of any Rhode Island defender and had just Vargas to beat. He easily scored to put Colorado Springs up 3-0.

"We knew they were going to press [a lot] but it's one thing, preparing to deal with pressure, and then once you're in the moment and facing it is different," Rhode Island manager Khano Smith said. "So we couldn't handle it. They pressed us good. We need to see why, why that was but again, credit to them."

He added, "We should be really proud of what we've done and what they've done, and just the beginning, that's a club that's been around for 10 years. Credit to them - like they were outstanding today and we just couldn't deal with it. But their club been around for 10 years. We've been around for one so that's what we're chasing and that's where we want to be."

Colorado Springs' home pitch has the highest elevation of any soccer field in America at 6,035 feet and it clear to see the impact of the altitude on Rhode Island. The team appeared fatigued after the opening 30 minutes and couldn't find much penetration on the home team's defense. Rhode Island had just three shots until the final 30 minutes where they pushed the pace more.

Overall, Switchbacks' dominance was clear from a statistical standpoint. They had 55.2 percent of possession and had five shots on target compared to RIFC's two.
"We like clean sheets. We're not a defensive kind of team, but you have to do that to win championships and hopefully aim to get a clean sheet. I know it means a lot to the players," Chambers said.

This is the first time Colorado Springs has hosted a USL final at Weidner Field -- arguably the league's top stadium, which was built in 2021 for $42 million.

Colorado Springs have plenty of standouts but Hanya's opening assist changed the complexion of the game. Prior to that moment, Rhode Island appeared to be threatening and kept the sellout crowd largely at bay. Once Tejada scored, the momentum completely shifted.

"Yeah, I think in the first half we had most of the control [after that play]," Hanya said. "Obviously, I had to come off the game because of my injury, but still, we played a very good game today...So I'm very happy with that team performance here."

It's odd to give a player who had to be subbed with an injury at the 44th minute an MVP, but that's how impactful he was.

Rhode Island's midfield pair of Clay Holstad and Marc Ybarra offered zero impetus for the team and was almost non existent at times. Zachary Herivaux put in a shift, but due to the fact that Rhode Island had very little impactful possession, he largely played as an additional defender for the side. Overall a quiet midfield showing from the group.

The Switchbacks are now champions of the USL, finalizing an impressive turnaround after a poor start to the season and delivering in Chambers' first year as manager after spending the past two years as an assistant.

"We have to enjoy this and savor this moment, to try and bottle it and go, 'OK, we'd love to be back here,' " Chambers said. "We know how difficult it is, but that's the ambition that's that's where you always want to be."