There will be plenty to analyze and improve upon regarding the Switchbacks’ Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup match, but for now, the team is all smiles. 

For the third-straight game, Colorado Springs conceded a game-changing goal in the 87th minute of play or later, but on Wednesday, the Switchbacks recovered and dispatched visiting Spokane Velocity FC 4-2 in penalties to advance to the third round of the Open Cup. 

After regulation and extra time, the sides were knotted at goal apiece. 

Forwards Khori Bennett, Adrien Perez, Yosuke Hanya and Sadam Masereka scored in penalties for Colorado Springs while keeper Christian Herrera saved Spokane’s first two attempts to give the Switchbacks an early edge. 

The crucial stops were the culmination of months of preparation for the longtime Switchbacks goalie. 

“I went into last season just looking at my game as a whole and I was like, “PKs, I get in there and I don’t feel great,’” Herrera said. “So it’s been a lot of studying a lot of keepers who have historically been good at PKs, and then honestly, it’s been every single week at least twice a week, we do a PK shootout. I’ll tell a bunch of guys, ‘Shoot two PKs on me. I don’t care if you score on me, just shoot two on me.’”

Colorado Springs was dominant to start, creating several chances in the first half, including six corner kicks. However, the hosts had little to show for the efforts over 40 minutes into the match. 

Switchbacks defender Talen Maples changed his club’s fortunes in the 45th minute. Perez received a pass deep in the 18-yard box and sent the ball back to Maples, whose strike rolled between Spokane defenders, bounced off the far-left post and in. The goal marked Maples’ first with Colorado Springs.

Velocity’s Andrew Booth had quite the day. He was signed to a 25-day contract by Spokane hours before kickoff Wednesday and scored the game-tying goal late for his club. Booth put a header past Switchbacks keeper Christian Herrera in the 87th minute. 

Switchbacks coach Alan McCann said Booth was left unmarked.

Entering the match, Colorado Springs conceded in the 88th minute at Orange County SC on March 21 and in the sixth minute of second-half stoppage time on March 28. The Switchbacks went on to lose both matches. 

Following Wednesday’s contest, McCann was emphatic about making changes to the roster given the habitual mistakes.  

“You will see that this Saturday,” McCann said of making personnel changes. “It’s not acceptable anymore. Errors from a couple of individuals over and over again. They’re good enough to not be performing that way, and they’re good enough to not have those mental blips so now it’s a standards thing. You cannot be allowed to stay in a team and you’re consistently costing the team. So we have to hit the reset button on a couple lads, they will not play on Saturday.”

Beyond the tough love, McCann said his players are happy about the win, as a good run in the Open Cup tournament was a goal for the club this season. As a result, Wednesday’s lineup featured more of the team’s usual starters with the Switchbacks having a bye week following Saturday’s home match against Lexington SC.  

“The group has told me very, very clearly they want to take this tournament more seriously this year,” McCann said.