Hartford Athletic Returns Home to Host Colorado Springs Switchbacks
Hartford Athletic Returns Home to Host Colorado Springs Switchbacks
Brendan Burke's former club pays a visit to Trinity Health Stadium as Hartford look to secure points after consecutive road defeats.
Hartford Athletic returns to Trinity Health Stadium after a two-game road trip, playing hosts to Western Conference opponents Colorado Springs Switchbacks. The Latics are on a run of four defeats in all competitions, following another setback last Saturday in Charleston.
Despite suffering another defeat, the performance in Charleston was rather more positive with a wonder strike from Nick Markanich providing the final scoreline. Hartford had several good opportunities to equalize, with Romario Williams, Marcus Epps, Michee Ngalina, and Mamadou Dieng all coming close to finding the net. The Latics will feel they probably did enough to earn a point, a sharp turnaround from the previous game which saw them ship six goals to Louisville City.
Additionally, supporters will be hoping that the team is nearer to full health. The last two games have seen season debuts for Marlon Hairston, Jordan Scarlett, and Renan Ribeiro. The continued fitness of the first-choice eleven is important as the team aims to build consistency and fluidity.
Colorado Springs are coming off a US Open Cup loss to NYCFC II, with an early Jonathan Jimenez goal the only scoring in the midweek game. In the league, Switchbacks have built a little momentum after a rough start to the season. After dropping their first five games (and being shut out four times along the way), they earned a draw against Indy XI and followed that up with back-to-back 2-0 victories over Oakland Roots and El Paso Locomotive.
One reason for the turnaround has been Ronaldo Damus. The Haitian striker, whose previous stints in the league with Orange County SC and San Diego Loyal have resulted in 26 goals in 58 games was held scoreless through the first five games of the season but now has three goals in his last five games. While Damus is certainly capable of winning games on his own - he scored four of Orange County’s five goals in their 2021 playoff run that took them to a league title - he’s not the only contributor as Maalique Foster has also added two assists in the last three games. Juan Tejada, Aidan Rocha, and Devon Williams provide additional attacking flair.
It’s also a reunion of sorts for a number of Hartford players - Romario Williams, Jay Chapman, Deshane Beckford, Michee Ngalina, Beverly Makangila, and Tristan Hodge all spent time in Colorado Springs within the last three years and of course Brendan Burke served two seasons as manager leading them to the playoffs on both occasions and an appearance in the Western Conference Finals in 2022.
Hartford fans will once again be hoping for a change of fortune; the performance in Charleston was a creditable one but the faithful will be looking for more on Saturday night. A return of the early burst of energy that was on display in the first few games of the season will be one item on many supporters’ wish lists as well as a goal or two after being shut out in back-to-back games. Two road games against top teams in the conference give way to a more favorable stretch, and the Latics will be looking to make the most of it starting this weekend.