Colorado Springs Switchbacks captain Matt Mahoney is using past experience to ground himself in unfamiliar territory. 

The Switchbacks are off to an 0-2-0 start to the 2024 campaign, a first for Colorado Springs since the club began playing at Weidner Field downtown in 2021 and the first year the veteran defender wore Switchbacks black and blue.

Experience is what guides Mahoney who recalled a slide in May last season before going on a torrid run at home in the summer months. 

“It’s only the third game of the season, so there’s no reason to be super panicky about being 0-2,” he said. “I mean we went, last season, on a five-game losing streak in the middle of the season. So first two losse,s but again, we’re optimistic in our performances in a lot of ways and (we’ll) go to San Antonio and give it our best.”

Expect to see a sense of urgency from both clubs at Toyota Field in San Antonio on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. as the hosts — who have an 0-0-2 record — are also seeking win No. 1. 

Claiming 2024’s first victory at San Antonio’s expense will be no small feat for Colorado Springs. The Switchbacks have not beaten the Texas club in the last 11 contests, including 2022’s Western Conference Final and the opening round of the postseason last year. 

To snap the streak, Colorado Springs needs to improve on both sides of the ball. The Switchbacks have created opportunities in its attack, but has only scored one goal over the two games, which came last week from Mahoney on a set piece against Detroit City FC. By contrast, Colorado Springs has conceded four goals. 

“I think we’ve had some decent performances. But we haven’t put the ball in the net consistentl. We haven’t finished the chances that we’ve created and we haven’t done enough in our box,” Colorado Springs coach James Chambers said. “We need to be a little more aggressive defensively versus being so easy to concede in key moments of the game. We need to be a little bit more resolute so that’s what we’re focused on.”

Mahoney said success boils down to maintaining composure in the final thirds of both ends of the field. He said the team needs to show an urgency to defend and stop conceding in their own area, then finish strikes in the attacking third. 

Colorado Springs will be without defender Laukoa “Koa” Santos, who has started both contests. Santos was given two yellow cards and a subsequent red in last week’s match against Detroit City FC. Switchbacks midfielder Jairo Henriquez will also be unavailable as he was called up for international duty with El Salvador. 

San Antonio sent defender Shannon Gomez and midfielder Jorge “Bura” Nogueira off for international duty as well. The Texas club also dealt forward Santiago Patiño to Vietnamese side Ho Chi Minh City earlier this week.