El Paso Locomotive once again has an unfamiliar opponent ahead of it as the Sun City club welcomes Eastern Conference juggernaut, Louisville City FC, to Southwest University Park.
For four years, Locomotive has established itself as one of the best teams in the Western Conference. Locomotive has paired three straight playoff appearances and back-to-back Western Conference final appearances with an incredible home undefeated streak that was at one time the longest running home undefeated streak in North America. While Locomotive’s fourth season has proven to be challenging, Locomotive in on track on to make a fourth straight playoff appearance.
In the Eastern Conference, there has been no more successful team than Louisville City FC. Since it’s inauguration in 2015, Louisville City has reached the Eastern Conference Final in every year of play. Twice the Kentucky club has secured the USL Championship title having reached the USL Championship’s grandest stage three times.
Now for the first time in USL Championship history, these two premier clubs will clash on the pitch. The first meeting is bound to bring high energy and thrilling game of football to Southwest University Park.
“They play good football,” commented John Hutchinson, Locomotive Head Coach and Technical Director. “Louisville is a good team and are a really well coached team. They have some really clear principles. I actually enjoy watching Louisville play. I think they’re a good football team and have some really good movements and good players. It’s going to be a really good football game and that’s what I’m looking forward to. Two teams that have their way and their principles and I am looking forward to the game. It’s going to be a good challenge for us.”
While Locomotive has seen its fair share of challenges throughout the 2022 USL Championship season, Louisville City FC may be the toughest team it will play this season. After seeing its undefeated streak snapped into back-to-back losses, Locomotive has searched inward the past two weeks to improve and return to earning points to maintain a spot above the playoff line.
Following training on Tuesday, Midfielder Dylan Mares noted the team has a lot to look to lot from the last two games against Oakland Roots and San Antonio but it’s not something the locker room is dwelling on.
Throughout the week, the Locos have been focusing on themselves and how they can continue to bring their game onto the field. The team is looking to return to consistency in scoring and putting games to bed early as they did against Monterey Bay, New York Red Bulls II, and LA Galaxy II. At the same time, the Sun City club is look ahead towards Louisville and preparing for the challenge ahead.
“I think Louisville is a good team,” said Mares. “They are consistent every year at the top of the East. It’s exciting to play them. We have played some good teams, but I think they will be one of the better teams that we have played in regards of controlling the ball. Between both of us I think it’s going to be a good match up and I’m excited to see what they have to bring.”
El Paso Locomotive FC and Louisville City FC are no strangers to meeting teams from the opposite conference. Both sides have played in 11 East vs West. Locomotive holds the edge on paper with a record of six wins, four draws and one loss that came from Pittsburg Riverhounds SC earlier in the season. Meanwhile, Louisville City FC has a record of six wins, two draws and three losses. Two of those wins, however, resulted in Louisville City lifting the USL Championship title.
The East vs West battle continues on Saturday at Southwest University Park with what may be the most hotly anticipated USL Championship matchup of 2022.
Tickets are available online at eplocomotivefc.com/tickets or by calling 915-235-GOAL. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. MT and will additionally be broadcast live on ESPN+. The first 1,500 fans to Southwest University Park when gates open at 6:30 p.m. MT will receive a limited edition winter themed Locomotive scarf.