El Paso Locomotive is taking a trip to Southern California to take on the reigning USL Championship Title-Winners, Orange County SC. Championship Soccer Stadium has been the site for these two in the last three meetings and it has not been kind to the Locos. The fourth meeting, however, will see a hot El Paso Locomotive take on an Orange County side in the middle of a mediocre defending season.
The match will kick off at 8:00 p.m. MT and will be broadcast live on ESPN+. El Paso Locomotive will be hosting its away watch party at the Union Drafthouse on Tierra Este Rd, giving away Locomotive gear to attending fans with drink specials to enjoy.
On Tuesday after training, Head Coach John Hutchinson said the proof of El Paso Locomotive always improving will show at full time against Sacramento Republic FC. When Locomotive opened the season, it fell 3-1 against Sacramento. With the 1-0 win on Wednesday, it did feel like a statement that El Paso has made incredible progress since the first game. However, if Wednesday night was not enough, Saturday’s game against Orange County SC could be another stage for proof of progress.
Historically, El Paso Locomotive FC have struggled in the Golden State. In all competitions against California teams dating back to 2019, Locomotive has pulled a record of 2-6-2. The club’s last win? The 2019 Western Conference Quarterfinals against Fresno FC. At Championship Soccer Stadium specifically, Locomotive has only ever walked away with two points across three games (0-1-2).
With history against El Paso Locomotive, the Locos coming away from Orange County with a full three points would be a statement of its progress. It’s a statement that feels likely to be made.
“I don’t what it is about it, but geographically those areas haven’t been the most entertaining for us,” commented Defender Andrew Fox. “We’re just going to try and focus on another three points. It will be another successful week if we can go in there and get a result. It will require a lot of preparation and everyone to be ready.”
Locomotive has struck a rich vein of form. The Locomotive defense is suffocating any opposition attack. The offensive front is putting away goals and breaking down even the most packed in defenses. All cylinders are firing exactly as they should be.
In the last five games, Locomotive has outscored its opponents 11 to 3. The Locos have limited opposing attack to only 17 shots on goal across 450 minutes of play. After 12 games total so far in the 2022 USL Championship season, El Paso is fighting towards the top of the Western Conference with five wins, six losses, and a draw for a total of 16 points.
In contrast, after nine games, Orange County sits with three wins, three losses, and three draws. The defending champions have amassed only 12 points sitting 10th in the Western Conference. Orange County has outscored its opponents in the last five games 11 to 8. After four straight games of narrow score lines, OCSC blew past FC Tulsa, 5-1 at home last Friday.
For Saturday, El Paso will be looking to continue it fired up form in a stadium it has never earned a full three points in against a team that has had unpredictable results. All Locomotive can do is focus on themselves to earn a statement victory over the current USL Championship Title-Winners.
“Anytime you play a defending champion there will be a target on their backs and that adds a little bit of excitement to the game,” said Defender Matt Bahner. “I think at the end of the day we’re just trying to win regardless of who we are playing. We’re just focusing on ourselves to come away with three points and that’s why we’ve had success.”
The Locos have been playing exactly the kind of soccer Coach Hutchinson wants. Regardless of what the opposition has thrown at them, they have stuck true to who they are on the field. The whole squad passes and tries to find moments to break past the defense. The entire team moves as one to press. Post-game on Wednesday, Hutchinson commented should Locomotive carry this current form into Orange County, there is no reason the Locos aren’t flying home to El Paso with three points in hand.