El Paso Locomotive FC has 10 games left in its 2022 USL Championship regular season. Locomotive sits above the playoff line with 33 points after 24 matches and is ready to push toward its fourth consecutive playoff appearance.
The club has hit a skid in recent weeks having fallen in three straight matches. The last two matches at Southwest University Park were against the top teams in the league – San Antonio FC and Louisville City FC, both of whom sit atop their respective conferences. While Locomotive ultimately fell victim to their incredible seasons, the El Paso side held off the dominating clubs to 1-0 victories, proving El Paso is not a team to be taken lightly.
With much to build off of, Locomotive will continue just as it has all season long. Led by Head Coach John Hutchinson, Locomotive will focus on itself and its principles to learn how it can take its game to its remaining 10 opponents. 30 points remain for El Paso Locomotive to pick up as it makes its push for the playoffs and the Locos are taking each one game-by-game.
“I know we have lost the last three games and it’s been difficult,” acknowledged Hutchinson. “I know we are where we don’t want to be on the brink of dropping out. You can try to set targets for the [last] 10-games but I always believe about being in the moment. The only thing you can control is the day and the moment you’re in. If we start looking ahead, we are going to start to lose track of what we have to do against Monterey Bay.”
The short answer of what has to be done in Locomotive’s first trip to Seaside, California is win. As teams around Locomotive begin to catch up in the season, three points feel essential for the Sun City club. Historically, USL Championship clubs need roughly 50 points to guarantee a pot in the post-season. Locomotive would need to pick up roughly 17 points out of the remaining 30 to reach that line.
Picking up the full three points against Monterey Bay was an easy feat for Locomotive earlier in the season. In April, El Paso made club history with by setting its largest win margin on a 5-0 scoreline against the freshman team from California. A brace from Forward Aaron Gomez was supported by goals from Defender Andrew Fox, Midfielder Dylan Mares, and now Real Salt Lake man Diego Luna. The successful first-time outing against Monterey Bay is something Locomotive to repeat in its first trip to Cardinale Stadium.
“We’ll have a lot of confidence from that first one,” commented Fox on Tuesday after training. “I’m sure we will be looking at that game as we go throughout the week. We know that when we get it right, we can hurt this team like we can hurt any team. Of course, they’re a new team and they were going through some growing pains themselves at the beginning of the season and they have really picked up. I don’t expect it to be the same score line by any means this weekend. I think it will be a tough game. They are a good side, and it will be a good one for us.”
The Crisp-and-Kelp has picked up recently, especially in their last five games. Since the start of July, Monterey has been undefeated, earning a record of 3-0-2. Monterey Bay has been building its momentum with wins over an Orange County side that sits last in the Western Conference, a New York Red Bulls side that sits at the bottom of the Eastern conference and a Loudoun side that hasn’t earned a win since June.
Monterey Bay has been defensively sound in its last four games. The California side has earned four straight clean sheets will be looking to make it five against a Locomotive team that hasn’t found a goal in three games. The lack of a goal scoring threat is something that Hutchinson and his El Paso Locomotive has been focusing on this past week in training.
With frustrations building from the recent results, Locomotive has been focusing on patience on the ball. The Locos will be looking to build on the ball with possession and allow teammates to opportunities to get into dangerous areas instead of rushing the final pass or final cross.
That frustration has been easy to see on the pitch but it’s not something the technical staff is letting the Locos dwell on.
“Frustrations seep in everywhere,” said Hutchinson. “I’m sure you guys at work, something goes wrong and continuously goes wrong over and over you get frustrated with it. There is a pen throw or a cup push or whatever you have next to you. The players are no different. They’re human beings. They’re emotional guys. They want to win football games. It’s always a clear message of being in the moment, control today, love what you do, and just show the effort for it.”
El Paso Locomotive will do just that heading into the weekend. Equipped with confidence and the principles that saw Locomotive go on a successful 10-game undefeated run, the Locos are ready to put in the hard work to claim three points from Cardinale Stadium.