• Colorado Springs Switchbacks (10 wins, 5 draws, 15 losses) currently sit in 11^th spot in the USL Western Conference table, 9 places and 21 points behind Rising, despite playing a game more.
• The two sides met in Arizona just under a month ago. After top scorer Jordan Burt was sent off for connecting with Zac Lubin’s face, Rising made the most of their one-man advantage, finding the net 4 times in just over 20 minutes.
• Since then, the Switchbacks have defeated Real Monarchs 1-0 at Weidner Field, lost 3-1 to Los Dos in Carson, and drew 1-1 at home to RGV last Saturday.
• This is the Switchbacks last home game of the season. Their 2018 record at Weidner Field  (8 wins, 4 draws, 4 losses) is very similar to Rising’s away record. However, they rarely concede goals at home.  Their 16 opponents to date have managed to score a meagre 9 goals.

• Saeed Robinson has found the net twice since their 4-0 defeat to Rising, bringing his total for the season to 3. A former FC Tucson midfielder, his 2 goals against Monarchs and RGV were both struck from outside the penalty area.
• Minnesota United loanee Mason Toye also scored his first goal in 4 appearances for the Switchbacks, with an 11^th minute opener away to Los Dos.
• At the other end, the Switchbacks have conceded 4 goals, all scored between the 6 yard box and the edge of the penalty area. Cameroonian goalkeeper Moise Pouaty has conceded all 4 goals, as Steward Ceus hasn’t featured for the Switchbacks since their defeat in the Valley.

• Attacking midfielder Shane Malcolm is second top scorer for the Switchbacks with 5 goals.  He recently went on international duty for Guam, starting in 2 games and coming on as a substitute in the other.  However, he couldn’t stop them crashing out of the East Asian Football Federation Championship at the first hurdle.
• Former Rising midfielder Sam Hamilton has clocked up 1,237 minutes in 14 starts, and contributed 1 assist for the Switchbacks.  Compared to last year, he’s showing an improved ability to win the ball in the air and pick out a man from long distance.

• The Switchbacks favor scoring in the second half – 20 goals in total, including 12 scored at Weidner Field.
• They are also more likely to concede after the half-time break.  Almost half of their opponents’ goals have been scored in the last 30 minutes of games.

• Favoring a 4-2-3-1 formation in 10 of their 16 home games, they have also set up 4-3-3 in 4 home games, and 4-1-4-1 in 2 games.  They unsuccessfully experimented with a 3-5-1-1 formation in their last away game to Los Dos.
• The Switchbacks have amassed the 4th lowest number of yellow cards in USL this season: 38.  They do not have any suspended players this season, but midfielder Jordan Schweitzer is only 1 caution away from missing a game.
• Sitting 10 points off the playoffs, with 4 games to go, the Switchbacks are probably only playing for pride tonight.  However, having defeated Monarchs on August 29, they’ll be hoping to sign off at home with another upset against one of the league leaders.

From the Ashes Prediction: Rising to pick up a hard-earned road win in Colorado.