Match Recap

El Paso Locomotive FC Earns a 2–1 road win at Orange County SC in Prinx Tires USL Cup

IRVINE, CALIF. – April 25, 2026 – El Paso Locomotive FC opened its 2026 Prinx Tires USL Cup campaign with a 2-1 road victory over Orange County SC at Championship Soccer Stadium on Saturday night.

After a physical first half that featured a yellow card to Orange County’s Apolo Marinch in the 34^th minute, both sides went into the break scoreless. The match came alive as Orange County’s Gabi Doody finished a header inside the box to give the hosts a 1-0 advantage in the 53^rd minute.

The match shifted in the 58^th minute when Marinch was shown a red card, forcing Orange County to play down a man. Locomotive capitalized as Tony Alfaro found the equalizer in the 63^rd minute, leveling the match at 1-1.

Locomotive continued to press and found the match winner in the 78^th minute as Coronado delivered from outside the box to give Locomotive a 2-1 lead.

Locomotive returns to regular season action in a midweek contest on Wednesday, April 29, to take on FC Tulsa at Southwest University Park for Harry Potter Night, with kickoff set for 7 p.m.

OC 1, ELP 2
Championship Soccer Stadium

MATCH NOTES

After dropping back-to-back matches, El Paso Locomotive FC returned to winning form with another strong road result. Los Locos have been dominant away from home in 2026, improving to 6-1-0 overall while outscoring opponents 17-6 in those matches.
Robert Coronado delivered the match-winner in the 78^th minute, marking his first goal of the 2026 season and the fourth of his Locomotive career. Earlier, Tony Alfaro found the equalizer in the 64^th minute for his second goal of the season, also the fourth of his career with El Paso. Coronado’s goal was set up by Rubio Rubín, who recorded his team-leading third assist of the 2026 campaign.
El Paso Locomotive FC did not receive a single yellow card in the match, marking the first time the club has gone a full game without a booking (and no red cards) since its 2025 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup matchup against Harpos FC on March 19, 2025. The last time Locomotive accomplished the feat against a USL opponent came in a 2-1 road win at Birmingham Legion FC on May 20, 2023.

SCORING SUMMARY

OC – Grayson Doody 51’
ELP – Tony Alfaro 64’ (Nicolás Cardona), Roberto Coronado 78’ (Rubio Rubín)

LINEUPS

ELP – (4-3-3) Abraham Romero, Ricky Ruiz, Nicolás Cardona, Tony Alfaro, Álvaro Quezada, Gabi Torres, Eric Calvillo (C), Carl Sainté (Roberto Coronado 64’), Daniel Gómez (Palermo Ortiz 82’), Diego Abitia (Rubio Rubín 64’), Jimmy Farkarlun (Alex Méndez 45’)

Subs Not Used: Sebastian Mora-Mora, Kenny Hoban, Joseluis Villagomez

OC – (4-3-3) Tetsuya Kadono, Ryan Doghman (C) (Grayson Doody 45’), Nico Benalcázar, Garrison Tubbs, Pedro Guimaraes (Mouhamadou War 45’), Jamir Johnson (Yaniv Bazini 79’), Ousmane Sylla (Lyam MacKinnon 68’), Efren Solis, Marcelo Palomino (Stephen Kelly 69’), Ethan Zubak, Apolo Marinch

Subs Not Used: Alex Rando, Tom Brewitt, Christopher Hegardt, Kevin Partida

MISCONDUCT SUMMARY

OC – Apolo Marinch (Yellow) 34’, Apolo Marinch (Red- Second Yellow) 58’, Grayson Doody (Yellow) 87’

MATCH STATS: OC | ELP

Locomotive Suffers First Loss of Regular Season in Rivalry Clash with San Antonio FC

EL PASO, TEXAS – April 18, 2026 – El Paso Locomotive FC saw its unbeaten start to the 2026 USL Championship campaign come to an end, falling to in-state rival San Antonio FC 3-2 at Southwest University Park on Saturday.

San Antonio struck first in the 16^th minute when Alex Crognale fired a right-footed effort from more than 35 yards to open the scoring. In the 43^rd minute, Jorge Hernández finished from inside the box to send Locomotive into halftime trailing 2-0. El Paso responded just before the break, as Rubio Rubín capitalized on a corner sequence in stoppage time, finishing from close range to cut the deficit to 2-1 heading into halftime.

Out of the break, Locomotive found its rhythm and pushed for an equalizer. Beto Avila delivered in the 55^th minute to level the match, 2-2. El Paso continued to apply pressure throughout the second half, generating multiple chances through Rubín, Gabi Torres, Alex Méndez, and Eric Calvillo, but were denied by San Antonio goalkeeper Joseph Batrouni, who finished the match with six saves.

San Antonio scored the decisive goal when Cristian Parano scored in the 90^th minute to secure the 3-2 result. The loss marks the end of El Paso’s unbeaten run in the USL Champions season to start the season.

Locomotive returns to action on Saturday, April 25, at Orange County SC in the first round of the Prinx Tires USL Cup. They return home for a midweek contest to take on FC Tulsa on Wednesday, April 29, for Harry Potter Night, with kickoff set for 7 p.m.

ELP 2, SA 3
Southwest University Park
ATTENDANCE: 5215
WEATHER: 68 Clear, ESE 20mph

MATCH NOTES

Rubio Rubín continues to pace the Locomotive attack, adding his fifth goal in USL Championship play and seventh across all competitions this season. The forward’s finish just before halftime against San Antonio pulled El Paso back within one and further underscored his consistency in front of goal, as he remains a central figure in the club’s early-season offensive production.
Beto Avila is heating up at the right time, finding the net in back-to-back matches after opening his 2026 account against Houston Dynamo FC in U.S. Open Cup play earlier in the week. The forward followed that performance with a crucial second-half strike against San Antonio FC, leveling the match and providing a spark in Locomotive’s comeback effort.

SCORING SUMMARY

EPL – Rubio Rubín 45’+1’(Palermo Ortiz), Beto Avila 55’ (Rubio Rubín)
SA – Alex Crognale 16’ (Mitchell Taintor), Jose Hernández 43’ (Mikey Maldonado), Cristian Parano 90’ (Jorge Hernández)

LINEUPS

ELP – (4-3-3) Abraham Romero, Noah Dollenmayer (Kenneth Hoban 72’), Palermo Ortíz (Robert Coronado 45’), Tony Alfaro, Álvaro Quezada (Diego Abitia 90’+1’), Daniel Gómez (Ricky Ruiz 45’), Eric Calvillo (C), Gabi Torres, Alex Méndez, Rubio Rubín, Beto Ávila (Jimmy Farkarlun 67’)

Subs Not Used: Sebastian Mora-Mora, Carl Sainte, Omar Mora

SA – (4-3-3) Joseph Batrouni, Daniel Barbir (Santiago Suárez 69’), Mitchell Taintor (C), Alex Crognale, Emil Cuello, Akeem Ward, Jorge Hernández (Nelson Flores 90’+1’), Mikey Maldonado, Dmitrii Erofeev (Curt Calov 69’), Cristian Parano, Santiago Patiño (Diogo Pacheco 74’)

Subs Not Used: Richard Sánchez, Emmanuel Johnson, Christian Sorto

MISCONDUCT SUMMARY

ELP – Palermo Ortiz 38’, Ricky Ruiz 90’+4’
SA – Daniel Barbir 17’

MATCH STATS: ELP | SA

Locomotive’s Open Cup Run Ends at Houston

HOUSTON, TEXAS – April 15, 2026 – El Paso Locomotive FC saw its Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup run come to an end in the Round of 32, falling 4-1 to MLS side Houston Dynamo FC at Shell Energy Stadium on Wednesday.

Houston struck early, opening the scoring in just the 2^nd minute as Ondřej Lingr finished from close range to give the hosts a 1-0 lead. Despite the early setback, Locomotive nearly found an equalizer in the 19^th minute when Gabi Torres rattled the right post. The match turned decisively in the 25^th minute when Kofi Twumasi was shown a red card, forcing El Paso to play the remainder of the contest with 10 men.

Out of the break, the Dynamo doubled the lead in the 46^th minute through Mateusz Bogusz on a fast break. Houston extended the margin to 3-0 in the 58th minute when Nick Markanich finished off a header assist from Héctor Herrera.

Locomotive was able to reach the back of the net in the 75^th minute as Roberto Avila unleashed a strike from outside the box into the bottom corner, cutting the deficit to 3-1. However, Houston responded, sealing the result in the 80^th minute when Ezequiel Ponce headed home a corner to make it 4-1.

Locomotive returns home to take on Texas rival San Antonio FC on Saturday, April 18, with kickoff set for 7 p.m.

HDFC 4, ELP 1
Shell Energy Stadium

MATCH NOTES

Beto Avila continues to be a reliable scoring presence against top competition, becoming the only El Paso Locomotive FC player to find the net against an MLS opponent with his 75^th-minute strike against Houston Dynamo FC in the 2026 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Round of 32. The goal adds to his track record in the competition, as Avila also scored a brace against Austin FC in the 2025 Round of 32, netting in the 20^th and 34^th minutes to give Locomotive a 2-0 first-half lead before Austin mounted a late comeback. Across the last two Open Cup matchups against MLS sides, Avila has accounted for all three of Locomotive’s goals.
Locomotive FC played more than 65 minutes down a man following a 25^th-minute red card. Despite the disadvantage, El Paso created close moments throughout the match, including a first-half shot off the post and multiple additional chances across both halves that resulted in a goal by Beto Avila in the 75^th minute.
Despite the loss to Houston Dynamo FC, El Paso Locomotive is one of two unbeaten teams in the USL Championship – along with the Tampa Bay Rowdies – and the only team in the Western Conference to remain unbeaten. The team ranks second in Western Conference standings with 13 points behind Orange County FC.
El Paso Locomotive FC conceded a season-high four goals in the 4-1 loss to Houston Dynamo FC, marking the most goals allowed in a match during the 2026 campaign. However, the result comes with significant context, as Locomotive played more than 65 minutes down a man following a 25^th-minute red card.

SCORING SUMMARY

HDFC – Ondrej Lingr 2’ (Nick Markanich), Sam Vines 46’ (Ondrej Lingr), Nick Markanich 58’ (Héctor Herrera), Ezequiel Ponce 80’ (Mateusz Bogusz)
EPL – Beto Avila 75’ (Ricky Ruiz)

LINEUPS

ELP – (4-3-3) Sebastian Mora-Mora, Ricky Ruiz, Tony Álfaro, Kofi Twumasi, Palermo Ortiz, Álvaro Quezada (Kenny Hoban 79’), Robert Coronado, Eric Calvillo-C (Jimmy Farkarlun 79’), Gabi Torres (Beto Ávila 68’), Rubio Rubín (Diego Abitia 68’), Alex Méndez (Danny Gómez 68’)

Subs Not Used: Abraham Romero

HDFC – (4-3-3) Jimmy Maurer, Sam Vines, Franco Negri (Ezequiel Ponce 59’), Agustin Resch, Felipe Andrade (Antônio Carlos 59’), Héctor Herrera (Diadié Samasséko 70’), Austín Bouzat, Aliyu Ibrahim, Guilherme (Mateusz Bogusz 45’), Ondřej Lingr, Nicholas Markanich (Lawrence Ennali 79’)

Subs Not Used: Jonathan Bond, Duane Holmes

MISCONDUCT SUMMARY

ELP – Kofi Twumasi 25’ (Red)
HDFC – Agustin Resch 30’ (Yellow), Franco Negri 45’+1(Yellow)

MATCH STATS: HDFC | ELP

Locomotive Rolls Past Hartford Athletic with Commanding 4-0 Road Victory

EL PASO, TEXAS – April 11, 2026 – El Paso Locomotive FC turned in a dominant road performance, cruising to a 4-0 victory over Hartford Athletic to win their fourth straight league match and remain unbeaten in 2026, posting a 6-0-1 overall record.

Eric Calvillo opened the scoring in the 12^th minute, firing a right-footed shot from outside the box to the bottom corner to give Locomotive a 1-0 lead.

Amando Moreno won a penalty that Tony Alfaro converted to double the advantage to 2-0. Kofi Twumasi flicked a header following a corner in the 32^nd minute, setting up Diego Abitia for a close-range finish to make it 3-0, and his first goal in league play this season.

Hartford struggled to generate consistent chances, while El Paso remained organized defensively. After a saved attempt by Moreno, Gabi Torres capitalized on the rebound, finishing from the center of the box to extend the lead to 4-0.

Locomotive managed the match comfortably, with Sebastian Mora-Mora making key saves to secure the clean sheet and seal an emphatic road victory.

Locomotive heads to face the Houston Dynamo FC in the fourth round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on Wednesday, April 15, before returning home to take on Texas rival San Antonio FC on Saturday, April 18, with kickoff set for 7 p.m.

HFD 0, ELP 4
Trinity Health Stadium
ATTENDANCE: 3299

GAME NOTES

Los Locos improve to 6-0-1 in 2026, including a 4-0-1 mark and four straight wins in league play, earning 13 points and remaining in second place in the Western Conference behind Orange County SC (14 points). The seven-match unbeaten run across all competitions ties the best start in club history, matching the 2021 season, when the Locomotive went 4-0-3 through their first seven matches. The five unbeaten road matches rank second in club history, behind only 2019, when the club went unbeaten in its first seven road matches (3-0-4).
Diego Abitia and Gabi Torres each scored their first regular-season goals of the match. Abitia’s came in the 32^nd minute on a shot from close range, assisted by Kofi Twumasi. It marked his second goal of the season after scoring in the opening match of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup against Laredo Heat. Torres’s goal came in the 64^th minute on a shot from the center of the box after Amando Moreno’s attempt was saved. The goal was Torres’s first of the season after returning from injury and the seventh of his Locomotive career.
Tonight’s four Locomotive goals mark the second time this season the team has achieved the feat, after scoring four against New Mexico United in the second round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. Locomotive has scored four or more goals 11 times in club history, including nine in USL Championship play.
El Paso’s boots are on fire. Los Locos have scored 20 goals over seven matches, including 14 in five USL Championship contests. Seven players have contributed in league play, with Amando Moreno and Rubio Rubín leading the charge with four apiece.

SCORING SUMMARY

ELP – Eric Calvillo 12’, Tony Alfaro 24’, Diego Abitia 32’ (Kofi Twumasi), Gabi Torres 64’

LINEUPS

ELP – (5-4-1) Sebastian Mora-Mora, Ricky Ruiz, Tony Alfaro, Kofi Twumasi, Palermo Ortiz, Álvaro Quezada, Eric Calvillo (Carl Sainté 66’), Daniel Gómez (Robert Coronado 81’), Gabi Torres (Jimmy Farkarlun 66’), Diego Abitia (Beto Avila 66’), Amando Moreno (Omar Mora 66’)

Subs Not Used: Abraham Romero, Kenny Hoban

HFD – (3-1-4-2) Sadat Anaku Ada (Thomas Presthus 65’), Sebastian Anderson, Adrián Diz Pe, Britton Fischer, Beverly Makangila (Christos Hadjipaschalis 81’), Junior Moreira (Abdullah Taofeek 68’), Michee Ngalina, Adewale Obalola (Andrés Hernández 45’), Jordan Scarlett, Gerold Siaha Ngnepi, Augustine Williams

Subs Not Used: Enzo Balsini de Garcia E Carvalho, Spencer Gordon

MISCONDUCT SUMMARY

ELP – Diego Abitia 36’, Gabi Torres 54’, Palermo Ortiz 74’
HFD – Adrian Diz Pe 56’

MATCH STATS: HFD | ELP

Locomotive Stay Unbeaten with 3–2 Home Win Over Las Vegas Lights FC

EL PASO, TEXAS – April 4, 2026 – El Paso Locomotive FC held off a late push to defeat Las Vegas Lights FC 3–2 at Southwest University Park and remain unbeaten on the season.

Locomotive struck early and set the tone just seven minutes in when Amando Moreno opened the scoring with a finish inside the box. Las Vegas responded in the 23^rd minute through Christian Pinzón, but El Paso Locomotive FC answered before halftime as Rubio Rubín powered home a header in the 34^th minute to restore the advantage and send the hosts into the break with a 2–1 lead.

Out of halftime, El Paso wasted little time extending the lead. Moreno found the back of the net again in the 48^th minute, finishing off a well-delivered cross from Ricky Ruiz to give Los Locos breathing room at 3–1. The two-goal cushion proved crucial as Las Vegas continued to press, eventually pulling one back in the 60^th minute on a close-range header from Jonathan Rodriguez following a corner.

With the victory, El Paso extends its unbeaten run and carries momentum into a road matchup against Hartford Athletic on Saturday, April 11 at 5 p.m. MT, followed by a trip to face MLS opponent Houston Dynamo FC on April 15 as part of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.

GAME NOTES

Los Locos improve to 5-0-1 in 2026, including a 3-0-1 mark in league play, earning 10 points and moving into second place in the Western Conference. The six-match unbeaten run across all competitions is the second-best start in club history, trailing only the 2021 season when the Locomotive went 4-0-3 through their first seven matches.
Amando Moreno found the net in the 7^th and 48^th minutes to record his fourth brace in a Locomotive jersey. His last brace came on October 1, 2025, against Oakland Roots SC. It also marked the second time Moreno scored in the 7^th minute of a match against San Antonio FC on October 25, 2025.
Rubio Rubín stayed red-hot, scoring his sixth goal in as many matches and his fifth in league play. He becomes the first player in Locomotive history to open a season with six goals across six matches and just the third to reach that mark at any point in a season. Jerome Kiesewetter tallied nine goals in six matches from May 4 to June 8, 2019, while Luis Solignac recorded eight goals in six matches from June 22 to September 18 in 2022.

ELP 3, LV2
Southwest University Park
ATTENDANCE: 5,432

SCORING SUMMARY

ELP – Amando Moreno 7’ (Robert Coronado), Rubio Rubín 34’, Amando Moreno 48’ (Ricky Ruiz)
LV – Christian Pinzon 23’, Johnathan Rodriguez 60’ (Themi Antonoglou)

LINEUPS

ELP – (4-5-1) Abraham Romero, Kenneth Hoban (Palermo Ortiz 45’), Ricky Ruiz, Tofi Twamsi, Tony Alfaro, Alex Méndez (Gabi Torres 45’), Álvaro Quezada, Daniel Gómez, Robert Coronado (Diego Abitia 66’), Amando Moreno (Omar Mora 81’), Rubio Rubín (Carl Sainté 66’)

Subs Not Used: Sebastian Mora-Mora, Joseluis Villagomez, Jimmy Farkarlun

LV – (4-3-3) Jared Mazzola, Shawn Smart (Elias Gartig 73’), Themi Antonoglou (Nighte Pickering 73’), Nate Jones, Aaron Guillen, Carson Locker, Marc Ybarra, Patrick Leal (Edison Azcona 73’), Johnny Rodriguez, Ben Mines, Christian Pinzon

Subs Not Used: JahLane Forbes, Charlie Lanphier, Giorgio Probo, Abraham Okyere

MISCONDUCT SUMMARY

ELP – Gabi Torres 80’
LV – Marc Ybarra 38’, HC Devin Rensing 90’+2’

MATCH STATS: ELP | LV

Locomotive FC Earns Statement 4-0 Win Over New Mexico United, Advances in U.S. Open Cup

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – April 1, 2026 – El Paso Locomotive FC delivered a dominant performance on the road, defeating New Mexico United 4-0 in the first edition of the 2026 Derby del Camino Real at UNM Soccer Stadium, while advancing to the Third Round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.

Locomotive broke through in the 37^th minute when Álvaro Quezada finished from the center of the box, lifting a right-footed strike into the top corner off an assist from Omar Mora to give Los Locos a 1-0 lead heading into halftime.

The second half swung firmly in Locomotive’s favor following a pivotal moment in the 59^th minute, when New Mexico United was reduced to 10 men after Ousman Jabang received his second yellow card. Los Locos capitalized shortly after, doubling their lead in the 63^rd minute as Alex Méndez sent a free kick into the top left corner for a 2-0 advantage.

Rubio Rubín added a third goal in the 69^th minute, and Eric Calvillo capped the night in the 86^th minute, his first of the season, to seal the 4-0 result.

With the victory, Locomotive takes an early advantage in the 2026 Derby del Camino Real series, but also moves on in the tournament, advancing to the Third Round of the U.S. Open Cup.

Locomotive returns to action on Saturday, April 4, to face Las Vegas Lights FC. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.

GAME NOTES

Los Locos improve to 3-3-3 all-time in Albuquerque against New Mexico United. It also marks the second consecutive season El Paso Locomotive FC has eliminated New Mexico United from the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, and just the second time in club history the team has advanced to the Third Round in back-to-back seasons.
El Paso Locomotive FC made derby history, marking the first time in the Derby del Camino Real that the club has scored more than three goals against New Mexico United, while also securing its sixth all-time win in the series. Before tonight, neither side had ever scored more than three goals in a single derby match. With the victory, the all-time series now stands at 6-7-8. The rivalry continues May 6 in Albuquerque before shifting to Southwest University Park on July 11 as part of the USL Cup and will conclude on October 24, 2026.
Rubio Rubín continues his red-hot form, scoring his fifth goal in as many matches and his second in this year’s Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. With the brace in U.S. Open Cup play, Rubín becomes just the second player in club history to record multiple goals in a single Open Cup campaign while wearing the Locomotive crest (Tony Álfaro and Bryan Romero each scored 2 goals in 2025).
El Paso Locomotive FC is navigating its second stretch in club history of four consecutive road matches, previously doing so from April 13–26, 2025, when the club went 0-1-3. This time around, Los Locos opened their 2026 road swing with a perfect 4-0 record. El Paso returns home on Saturday, April 4, to face Las Vegas Lights FC.

SCORING SUMMARY

ELP – Álvaro Quezada 37’ (Omar Mora), Alex Méndez 63’, Rubio Rubín 69’, Eric Calvillo 86’

LINEUPS

ELP – (4-1-4-1) Abraham Romero, Ricky Ruiz, Tony Alfaro, Noah Dollenmayer (Kofi Twumasi 29’), Palermo Ortiz (Kenny Hoban 45’), Daniel Gómez, Robert Coronado (Eric Calvillo 70’), Omar Mora, Rubio Rubín (Diego Abitia 70’), Alex Méndez (Gabi Torres 74’), Álvaro Quezada

Subs Not Used: Sebastian Mora-Mora, Beto Avila

NM – (4-4-2) Raiko Arozarena, Niko Hamalainen, Will Seymore (Cristian Nava 70’), Chris Gloster, Ousman Jabang, Greg Hurst (Marlon Vargas 63’), Valentin Noël, Jake LaCava, Justin Rennicks (Luther Archiméde 63’), Dayonn Harris (Niall Reid-Stephen 45’), Grady Gilchrist (Maliek Howell 45’)

Subs Not Used: Arturo Astorga, Kristopher Shakes

MISCONDUCT SUMMARY

ELP – Tony Alfaro (Yellow) 45’, Eric Calvillo (Yellow) 75’
NM – Ousman Jabang (Yellow) 22’, Ousman Jabang (2^nd Yellow/Red) 59’, Luther Archiméde (Yellow) 65’, Maliek Howell (Yellow) 79’

MATCH STATS: NM | ELP

Locomotive Stays Unbeaten with Statement Road Win at Sacramento Republic FC

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – March 28, 2026 – El Paso Locomotive FC continued its strong start to the 2026 season with a 2–1 road victory over Sacramento Republic FC on Saturday night at Heart Health Park, securing three points on the road and extending its unbeaten start to the 2026 USL Championship campaign.

Locomotive set the tone early, breaking through in the 25^th minute. Amando Moreno opened the scoring with an assist from Eric Calvillo from the center of the box, to give Locomotive a 1–0 lead.

Los Locos doubled the advantage before halftime after Moreno drew a foul inside the penalty area. Alex Méndez stepped up and converted the penalty into the top corner in the 37^th minute, sending Locomotive into the break with a 2–0 lead.

Locomotive was forced to play the match with 10 men after Calvillo was shown a second yellow card in the 55^th minute, shifting the momentum toward Sacramento. Goalkeeper Sebastian Mora-Mora delivered another steady performance, making two saves to preserve the lead as Sacramento pushed forward in the second half. Sacramento Republic FC scored its only goal during stoppage time via a penalty, but back-to-back saves from Mora-Mora in the final minute secured the win for Locomotive.

El Paso Locomotive FC hits the road for a fourth straight match, traveling to Albuquerque, N.M. to face rival New Mexico United in the second round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. MT at UNM Soccer Stadium. Los Locos return home on Saturday, April 4 at 7 p.m. to host Las Vegas Lights FC at Southwest University Park.

GAME NOTES

Locomotive earned its first win at Sacramento Republic FC since the club’s inaugural 2019 season on Sept. 28, 2019, also a 2–1 result. El Paso now holds an 8–5 series lead. The two sides will meet again on Oct. 17, 2026, at Southwest University Park.
The last time Locomotive scored first in Sacramento came on March 12, 2022, when Emmanuel Sonoupe found the net in the 27^th minute. El Paso went on to fall 3–1 in that match.
Amando Moreno and Alex Méndez each recorded their second goal of the season, with both goals coming on the road. Méndez’s two goals this year have come from set pieces, a free kick at Monterey Bay and a penalty kick at Sacramento.
Locomotive’s nine goals through the first four matches mark the second-highest total to start a season in club history, trailing only 2025 with 11, and the six goals in regular-season play are the most scored to open a USL Championship regular season in club history.
Sebastian Mora-Mora’s six saves match his career-high in a USL Championship regular-season match. He previously recorded six saves at Lexington SC on Oct. 11, 2025. It marks the third time in his career reaching that mark and the second time this year, also recording six saves at Laredo Heat SC in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on March 19, 2026.

SCORING SUMMARY

ELP – Amando Moreno 25’ (Eric Calvillo), Alex Méndez 37’
SAC – Michelle Benítez 90’+2’

LINEUPS

ELP – (4-3-3) Sebastian Mora-Mora, Kenneth Hoban (Palermo Ortiz 73’), Ricky Ruiz, Kofi Twumasi, Tony Alfaro, Robert Coronado (Daniel Gómez 73’), Álvaro Quezada, Alex Méndez (Gabi Torres 81’), Eric Calvillo-C, Amando Moreno (Beto Ávila 73’), Rubio Rubín (Diego Abitia 81’)

Subs Not Used: Abraham Romero, Joseluis Villagomez, Daniel Gómez, Omar Mora

SAC – (4-3-3) Danny Vitiello, Ryan Spaulding, Michel Benítez, Freddy Kleemann, Lee Desmond-C, Danny Crisostomo, Arturo Rodriguez, Mark-Anthony Kaye, Pep Casas de Abadla (Aaron Essel 84’), Dominik Wanner (Kyle Edwards 64’), Forster Ajago

Subs Not Used: Jacob Randolph, Jackson Montero, Luke Strassburg, Chibuike Ukaegbu, Blake Willey, Kyle Edwards

MISCONDUCT SUMMARY

ELP – Eric Calvillo (Yellow) 44’, Eric Calvillo (Red – Second Yellow) 55’, Ricky Ruiz (Yellow) 85’
SAC – Dominik Wanner (Yellow) 40’, Aaron Essel (Yellow) 87’

MATCH STATS: SAC | ELP

El Paso Locomotive FC picks up three points at Monterey Bay FC with a decisive 3-0 win on the road

SEASIDE, Calif. – March 14, 2026 – El Paso Locomotive FC earned a decisive 3-0 road victory over Monterey Bay FC on Saturday night, picking up three points in the road win.

El Paso struck first in the 21^st minute when Alex Méndez opened the scoring, off a free kick, giving the Locos the early advantage heading into halftime. Locomotive extended the lead shortly after the break as Rubio Rubín found the net in the 51^st minute before Amando Moreno added a third goal just two minutes later to seal the result.

Despite Monterey Bay attempting 12 shots, they failed to register a shot on target against the Locomotive defense. El Paso proved more efficient in the attacking third, recording 13 total shot attempts with five on target, while also controlling 53.6% of possession.

Locomotive’s back line and goalkeeper delivered a composed performance throughout the night, holding Monterey Bay without a shot on goal and limiting the home side to only three corner kicks. The two teams finished level in corners (3-3), while Monterey Bay committed three yellow cards (one resulting in a red) compared to two for El Paso.

With the victory, El Paso secured its first win of the 2026 USL Championship campaign and a successful start to its first road trip of the season, building momentum after opening the year with a draw the previous week.

GAME NOTES

Locomotive’s defense delivered a dominant performance, holding Monterey Bay without a shot on target while allowing 13 total shots. The clean sheet marked the club’s first of the 2026 season.
El Paso’s attack featured multiple contributors with three different goal scorers on the night: Alex Méndez, Rubio Rubín, and Amando Moreno. Los Locos also registered assists across the buildup, highlighting a balanced offensive performance.
El Paso generated 13 shots with five on target, converting three of those chances into goals in an efficient attacking display.

SCORING SUMMARY

ELP – Alex Méndez 21’, Rubio Rubín 51’ (Alex Méndez), Amando Moreno 53’ (Rubio Rubín)

LINEUPS

ELP – (4-3-3) Abraham Romero, Kenneth Hoban (Álvaro Quezada 71’), Ricky Ruiz, Kofi Twumasi, Noah Dollenmayer, Robert Coronado, Beto Avila (Tony Alfaro 72’), Eric Calvillo-C (Daniel Gomez 74’), Alex Méndez, Amando Moreno (Bryant Farkarlun 78’), Rubio Rubín (Diego Abitia 71’)

Subs Not Used: Sebastián Mora-Mora, Nicolás Cardona

MB – (4-3-3) Delgado, Malesevic, Stewart Ritchie (Ruuga Nakamura 45’+1’), Kelsey Egwu – C, Zach Farnsworth, Joel Garcia, Giorgi Lomtadze (John Klein 54’), Belmar Joseph, Edward Blancas (Sebastian Lletget 74’), Omario Glasgow, Wesley Leggett (Ilijah Paul 54’)

Subs Not Used: Ciaran Dalton, Andres O’Neal, Abdel Talabi, Djimon Anderson

MISCONDUCT SUMMARY

ELP – Ricky Ruiz (Yellow) 41’, Kenneth Hoban (Yellow) 60’
MB – Kelsey Egwu (Yellow) 20’, Belmar Joseph (Yellow) 33’, Zack Farnsworth (Yellow) 56’, Belmar Joseph (Red) 66’, Joel Garcia (Yellow) 74’

MATCH STATS: MB | ELP

El Paso Locomotive FC Split Points Against Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC in Home Opener

EL PASO, Texas (March 7, 2026) – El Paso Locomotive FC showcased their attacking prowess but struggled defending set pieces in a 2-2 opening night draw against Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC on Saturday night at Southwest University Park.

Rubio Rubín made history for Los Locos with two goals in his debut while Amando Moreno tallied an assist. Five other Locos also made their Locomotive debuts on the evening.

El Paso found themselves trailing just five minutes in after Colorado Springs converted their first corner kick, but Rubín responded in the 20^th minute by finishing off a deflection off the post. Locomotive outshot the Switchbacks eight to three in the opening 45 minutes but had only a tied match to show for it.

The hosts came out firing out of the gate in the second half, however, as Moreno found Rubín right outside the six-yard box to put Los Locos up for the first time. The joy was short-lived, however, as a perfectly placed header off a long throw for the visitors tied the match in the 67^th minute. Both teams traded late chances, but neither could find the back of the net the rest of the night.

GAME NOTES

Rubio Rubín, Alex Mendez, Abraham Romero, Jimmy Farkarlun, Daniel Gomez and Diego Abitia all made their Locomotive debuts tonight.
El Paso native Kenneth Hoban made his first career Locomotive start tonight and played 83 minutes.
Rubín is the first Locomotive player to score multiple goals in his club debut.
Last season’s home opener finished with the same 2-2 scoreline as tonight’s match.

FORECAST: 65ºF, clear

SCORING SUMMARY

ELP – Rubio Rubín 20’, 50’ (Amando Moreno)
COS – Khori Bennett 5’ (Isaiah Foster), Foster 67’ (Sam Williams)

LINEUPS

ELP – (4-3-3) Abraham Romero, Ricky Ruiz, Noah Dollenmayer, Kofi Twumasi, Kenneth Hoban (Alvaro Quezada 83’), Robert Coronado, Eric Calvillo-C (Daniel Gomez 84’), Alex Mendez, Amando Moreno (Diego Abitia 71’), Rubio Rubín (Omar Mora 84’), Jimmy Farkarlun (Beto Avila 61’)

Subs Not Used: Sebastian Mora-Mora, Joseluis Villagomez, Nicolás Cardona, Tony Alfaro

COS – (4-3-3) Christian Herrera, Matt Mahoney-C, Patrick Burner, Talen Maples, Isaiah Foster (Duke Lacroix 86’), Steven Echevarria, Sam Williams, Adrien Perez (Juan Tejada 71’), Levonte Johnson (Jonas Fjeldberg 71’), Yosuke Hanya, Khori Bennett

Subs Not Used: Colin Shutler, Aidan Rocha, Garven Metusala, Dane Valenti

MISCONDUCT SUMMARY

ELP – Amando Moreno (Yellow) 53’, Kenneth Hoban (Yellow) 69’, Diego Abitia (Yellow) 73’, Beto Avila (Yellow) 74’, Eric Calvillo (Yellow) 77’, Alex Mendez (Yellow) 82’
COS – Juan Tejada (Yellow) 79’

MATCH STATS: ELP | COS

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