The Switchbacks are in need of a bounce-back performance after last weekend’s lackluster performance during a historic 5-2 drubbing at the hands of the Real Monarchs SLC.

The five goals were the most allowed by Colorado Springs in 2-plus seasons.

“We need every single one of us to bring the energy and the intensity,” captain Rony Argueta said. “It’s about being mentally ready.”

A greater collective effort and a grittier defensive mindset will be needed Saturday, especially when taking on Reno (3-3-2), which has outscored opponents 14-0 (including four penalty kicks) in three-straight victories.

“(The lopsided loss) was unacceptable and the guys realize this,” Colorado Springs coach Steve Trittschuh said of last weekend’s game. “We have had a good week of training. I want them to work hard, come with energy and play with more passion than we did in Salt Lake.”

The expansion franchise has moved up into ninth place in the Western Conference behind a scoring outburst by all-time United Soccer League regular-season scoring leader Dane Kelly, 26, who has an USL-leading nine goals, including seven during the win streak. Those seven include the first back-to-back hat tricks in league history.

Kelly and his scoring ability are very much on the minds of the sixth-place Switchbacks (3-4-4), who are now 0-2-1 in their last three games.

The backline will need to make Kelly’s and others lives difficult or Reno could overtake Colorado Springs in the standings with a win and do so with three games in hand.

“I have challenged my defenders to take care of him because that is a big challenge,” Trittschuh said. “That whole team is coming in with confidence so we have to make sure to be ready on Saturday.”