El Paso Locomotive FC and Las Vegas Lights FC are about to meet on the pitch, just two months after their exhilarating nine-goal match. As the two meet again, this time in Nevada, how much as changed since that March 23 spectacle?
The second match of the season between El Paso Locomotive and Las Vegas Lights is set for Friday, May 27 with an evening kickoff time of 8:00 p.m. MT on EPSN+. Locomotive will be hosting its official watch party at Cabo Joe’s located at 7942 Gateway BLVD E. Come join us for Locomotive giveaways and drink specials!
“That was very early in the season,” commented Midfielder Dylan Mares. “We were just getting our footing and what John [Hutchinson] was trying to portray to us. I think we have come quite a way since then. I believe that we are a much different team than we were back then. We are much stronger, more organized, and more prepared for games that are coming. I think it will be a completely different team that you’ll see in us from back then.”
Everything from forward to back has started to click for El Paso Locomotive. What began as an admittedly abysmal start to the season, has turned into juggernaut performances we typically expect from El Paso. In the first five games of the season, Locomotive scored 13 goals and conceded 13. In the last five, the Locos have scored 10 and conceded four. Looking on paper, El Paso has been the best of the two competing that day in terms of analytical stats. However, looking at score lines and results, El Paso has vastly improved its defensive game while not giving up anything in the attacking half.
“[The team is] getting used to me and I’m getting used to them,” said Head Coach John Hutchinson. “What has changed the most is pressing. We aren’t allowing teams that much time on the ball to pick passes – long passes – and even though we are still dealing with long balls and transitional moments, the pressure on the front line is much higher.”
Similar to the match against Sacramento Republic SC last week, Locomotive has another opportunity to show its progress and prove its worth of being within the Top 10 of the USL Championship power rankings. Locomotive has been steadily moving up in the weekly rankings published by USL Championship since the loss to Las Vegas Lights. In contrast, Vegas has been bouncing up and down the rankings before sliding to a low 17 in the latest report.
In the last five games, Locomotive has only lost once, earning a record of three wins, one draw, and one loss. Meanwhile, Vegas has been struggling with results, going winless in their last five games while earning four draws and a loss. It does seem as though the Las Vegas attacking spark has been snuffed out with the team only finding three goals in that five-game span. Their leading goal scorer, Daniel Trejo, has entered a bit of rut as well, not adding to his six goal tally since April 16 against Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC.
Just like against Sacramento Republic, however, for Hutchinson and his men, this game isn’t about revenge. The El Paso squad also is not going to be taking the different turns in form with any false confidence either. Just as with every game before, Locomotive is focusing on its own brand of football and what it can do to what the squad sees as a very good team.
“They’ve got good players,” noted Hutchinson. “Young players are players are fearless and that’s why coaches like them. It doesn’t matter about their records previously; they are a dangerous team every game they go out because they have guys that can score goals and play football. We’re looking at them, they’re knocking the ball around and playing really well. We just want to get at them and get high and get pressing at them and see if we can make them make mistakes and then take advantage. We’ve got some really good footballers that are ready to go, and I think if we can implement our football, we should do okay.”
There is that one certainty that Locomotive will never take their foot off the gas. No matter who the opponent is in front of them, the players on the El Paso Locomotive squad will go out and play aggressive attacking football. After a hard fought six games in a 21 day stretch, the Locos have put themselves above the playoff line but not by any comfortable margin. While the team could go out, get the goal then sit back and play for points on the table, that is not what this team is about.
Coach Hutchinson wants to play exciting games. He wants to win and he wants to do it without stopping or slowing down. Every player in the locker room is on board with that mentality and is prepared to give 110 percent on the pitch. El Paso Locomotive is after the three points and it wants them emphatically.
“I think we are capable of winning every game,” said Mares. “There are games that are going to be challenging but we have to show that we are capable of coming through and gaining points in those tough moments. I don’t think we will ever sit back for any team, to be honest. We have one of the strongest teams, especially possession wise, which allows us to have more attacking opportunities. In games where we aren’t finding them, we just need to create them and find ways to put the ball in the back of the net to get points.”
Locos will once again be throwing everything against Las Vegas Lights FC at Cashman Field, where it has only played once in its history. Locomotive took the victory in September 2019 for its inaugural trip to the Sin City. After the nine-goal thriller at Southwest University Park earlier this season, anything could happen when the Locos make its second franchise trip to Nevada.