El Paso Locomotive continues its East vs West conquest as it welcomes FC Tulsa to Southwest University Park on Wednesday, May 4 at 7:00 p.m. MT.
Tickets for El Paso Locomotive vs FC Tulsa are available online at eplocomotivefc.com/tickets or by calling 915-235-GOAL. Additionally, the match will be broadcast live on ESPN+.
After a turbulent opening to the 2022 USL Championship season, El Paso Locomotive is beginning to see the plan come together. From the beginning of his tenure at the helm of the Sun City club, Head Coach and Technical Director John Hutchinson said that it would take time. El Paso’s last five games have shown an improvement in form as Locomotive has earned a record of two wins, two losses, and a draw.
“I mentioned previously that it will click one day. I think we starting to see that now. It’s definitely clicking,” said Hutchinson following training on Tuesday. “It’s seamless now. There are no parts where I’m looking and saying we are struggling in these areas. The gelling is happening. Our principles are in place and I can now see them clearly. They are doing them, and I think it’s showing on the field.”
Following the 3-1 win over Loudoun United FC on Saturday, El Paso has put some wind in its sails to carry it through the week with the aim to claim all nine points in the three-game week. The next challenge comes in the form of FC Tulsa from the Eastern Conference.
Like El Paso, Tulsa’s 2022 season has not started the way it would have hoped. After eight games, it carries a record of 3-5-0 and has yet to pick up points on the road. The Black and Gold from Oklahoma have found themselves in a slide, losing their last three. Despite their recent form, however, Coach Hutchinson and his men aren’t viewing this game as an easy win.
“Their form is not great, but they can be dangerous animals as well when backed into a corner,” commented Defender Andrew Fox. “That was us at the start of the season. I know that every result that didn’t go our way just made us hungrier for the next one. We absolutely won’t be underestimating them whatsoever. They’ll come flying out of the traps.”
The Locos are hoping for FC Tulsa to come out swinging, however. After sitting on a bye-week last week, Tulsa hasn’t seen the field in nearly two weeks and may need to rebuild some momentum while Locomotive comes in hot off a weekend road win. Should Tulsa step into Southwest University Park with energy, it would be something that the Locos would be able to feed off of. If FC Tulsa steps into the game hungry and fighting, El Paso Locomotive FC will be looking to match that energy and better it in order to come away with at least six points in a nine-point week.
As mentioned, it’s not going to be a cakewalk. Picking up the win on Wednesday night will take discipline for the Loco boys both on and off the pitch. During the 90-minutes, El Paso Locomotive will need to be aware of transitions and the counterattack while focusing on bettering the attacking threat in the final third. The team will have to focus on the system and principles that Coach Hutchinson and his technical staff have given them. Off the pitch, the locker room will need to have discipline individually to look after themselves. They will need to rest, eat right, and stay hydrated in order to play a second game on such a tight turnaround.
Ultimately though, it will be Southwest University Park and the fans that fill it that will make the difference on Wednesday.
“We are just super pumped to be home and to play in front of our fans with the atmosphere,” said Coach Hutchinson. “The atmosphere at our home stadium is fantastic and I know the boys can’t wait to be there.”
When Locomotive plays at home, there is always a different feeling at training. There is a buzz on the fields and every member of the squad gives a little extra as they are excited to play in front of family, friends, and the Locomotive faithful.
Although Wednesday’s night match against FC Tulsa won’t be easy, everyone from one to twenty-two is ready to step up should their number be called upon. As Coach Hutchinson’s exciting brand of football begins to click on the field, El Paso Locomotive is eager to make this week a perfect nine-point week to put El Paso back into a fine position on the Western Conference table.