EL PASO, Texas – El Paso Locomotive FC (8-West, 9-10-5, 32 points) is back on the road this weekend, taking its first trip to Trinity Health Stadium for an East versus West matchup against Hartford Athletic.
HOW TO WATCH EL PASO LOCOMOTIVE FC AT HARTFORD ATHLETIC – SATURDAY, AUGUST 26, 2023 @ 5 P.M. MT – TRINITY HEALTH STADIUM
Stream: ESPN+
Watch Party: Union Draft House Tierra Este (12040 Tierra Este Road, Suite A)
Be sure to follow @eplocomotivefc on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook for live updates of the match. Additionally, fans are encouraged to download the team’s official mobile app on the Apple App Store or Google Play for instant access to mobile tickets, team content and match notifications.
ALL-TIME SERIES
El Paso and Hartford met for the first time last season, a match that saw both sides split the points in a 1-1 draw at Southwest University Park. Diego Abarca, 18, scored El Paso’s lone goal in the contest, which saw him become the youngest goal scorer in club history (16 years, 11 months, 16 days).
EL PASO LOCOMOTIVE FC (8TH WESTERN CONFERENCE, 9-10-5, 32 PTS)
Though the result did not go El Paso’s way last week, there were positives in the performance that Head Coach and Technical Director Brian Clarhaut has worked with the team and his coaching staff to build upon in training.
“Training has been intense and we’re working hard,” goalkeeper Benny Diaz said in Spanish during a post-training press conference. “We are focusing on the small details and everything [Coach Clarhaut] is pointing out to us. We cannot go into this match underestimating Hartford.”
In addition to the team’s prep ahead of Saturday, El Paso recently announced two new additions to its roster as it reaches the end of the regular season. Forward Petur Knudsen, a 25-year-old from the Faroe Islands, signed with Locomotive after a season with Danish Superliga side Lyngby Boldklub, where he scored 10 goals and played 34 matches. Defender Noah Dollenmayer, 23, joins El Paso on loan from Major League Soccer’s Los Angeles FC. So far this season, he has played with their MLS Next Pro side, LAFC 2, registering 16 appearances.
HARTFORD ATHLETIC (12TH EASTERN CONFERENCE, 4-17-4, 16 PTS)
Hartford sits bottom of the East, has conceded the most goals of any team this season (56) and carries the worst goal differential in the league (-24). However, as Diaz said, Hartford should not be a team El Paso take lightly.
Hartford is fresh off a dramatic 4-3 loss to Eastern Conference leaders Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC, having rallied together to score three times in eight minutes before Pittsburgh put a stop to the potential comeback with their fourth goal. That match will have left a sour taste in Hartford’s mouth, and they will be looking to find the same spark against Locomotive’s defense.
ADDITIONAL INFO
The full 2023 regular season match schedule can be found HERE. All USL Championship regular season and playoff games will be available to stream on ESPN+ in 2023. All Saturday home games will be simulcast on KTSM.com and Estrella TV 9.2 (Cable 1244).
All tickets for 2023, including Individual Match, Season Tickets and Pick Six Membership are on sale now and are available for purchase online at eplocomotivefc.com/tickets, within the official mobile app, calling (915) 235-GOAL or texting (915) 666-2005. You can also call (915) 235-GOAL for more information on Group Outings and Premium Suites. El Paso Locomotive FC does offer military discounts, which can be purchased HERE.
To check out the 2023 promotional schedule, click HERE.
In need of gear to rep your Locomotive and El Paso pride year-round? Visit the official El Paso Locomotive FC Team Shop online HERE, in the team’s official mobile app or visit the physical retail store (1 Ballpark Plaza, El Paso, TX 79901) Monday through Saturday between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m