Club News

El Paso Locomotive Defends USL Championship Top Spot Against New Mexico United Saturday

El Paso Locomotive (11-1-4, 37 pts., MTN-1) hits the road to Albuquerque, New Mexico for a Saturday night match-up against New Mexico United at Isotopes Park. The match is scheduled for Saturday, August 14 with kickoff set for 7:30 p.m. MT. Catch the game live when it is broadcast digitally on ESPN+.

In the two weeks, it has been since the last Derby del Camino Real, Locomotive and New Mexico United have had two completely different experiences. For El Paso, the Locos battled through four games in rapid succession, claiming four straight wins to showcase its dominance. The 12 points gained moved Locomotive to the top spot in the USL Championship while creating space and breathing room at the top of the Mountain Division. Meanwhile, New Mexico United played to a scoreless draw against Tacoma Defiance before taking a bye-week for rest and recovery.

While Locomotive has moved the pinnacle spot of the league, the lack of games from United with results around the table has seen the New Mexican team fall from third to sixth in the Mountain Division. Despite the now three-year dominance by El Paso Locomotive and the overwhelming fight from New Mexico United, the record between the two clubs stand even at 2-2-5. Most recently, the tale of the rivalry was told in a scoreless draw with both teams splitting the points at Isotopes Park.

Follow El Paso Locomotive FC at New Mexico United – Sat., August 14, 2021

·         Coverage Begins: 7:30 p.m. MT;
·         Watch: ESPN+
·         Social Media: @EPLocomotiveFC & #NMvELP on Twitter
·         Additional Content: Official El Paso Locomotive FC App (iOS / Android)

Game Notes for El Paso Locomotive FC at New Mexico United can be found in PDF format below. Media members looking to receive the Game Notes as an attachment or have further questions are asked to please contact Derick Fox at dfox@https://www.eplocomotivefc.com

We, Not Me: Coach of the Month is a Team Accolade

Two and a half years into standing at the helm of the El Paso Locomotive, Head Coach and Technical Director Mark Lowry has earned recognition from USL Championship as Coach of the Month for the month of July.

“It’s a credit to the guys and how they’ve worked and the sustained success they’ve had,” said Lowry. “The staff – Matt [Williams], Dom [Casciato], JC [Garzon], Saul [Soto], Ricardo [Ruiz], Nate [Soto] – those guys make my job a lot easier on a daily basis. It’s a great staff we’ve put together and a great group of players. We continue to do well, which is a credit to them and the club.”

Under the stewardship of the young 36-year-old coach, Locomotive has experienced near-unprecedented success to kick off the franchise. In its inaugural year, El Paso finished sixth in the Western Conference, making a playoff run that challenged for the Western Conference Final. The second-year only improved, finishing top of Group C in the abbreviated 2020 season, affording a second straight run to the Western Conference Final.

Now, halfway through the third year of play, the Boys in Blue have only improved in part thanks to the leadership and guidance provided by Mark Lowry, sitting neatly atop the USL Championship over Phoenix Rising FC and Louisville City FC with 37 points in 16 games. The club leads the league in clean sheets (8) and fewest goals conceded (10) while tied for seventh in the league in goals scored with 26.

Lowry has most recently put the cap on a tight six-game schedule in July that saw the Locos come away with five wins and a draw for an undefeated six games, setting the club up to control not just the Mountain Division but the USL Championship.

The success that Lowry has brought to El Paso in the first two and a half years of play has been nigh unparalleled. While he may never admit it himself, his passion and understanding of the beautiful game tactically have provided massive contributions to that success. Paired with his commitment – yet willingness to adjust – to particular principles such as the ‘We, Not Me’ mentality, Locomotive is queued to continue to build upon the accomplishments it has already achieved.

“We have said the same messages on Day One that we are saying now,” shared Lowry. “Valuing the ball, those things, all the time trying to tweak it to get better at it and find a way to score more goals along the way. The game is about scoring goals and stopping goals. First, we did a great job stopping goals, now we’re creating chances, scoring multiple goals per game, so it’s been taking that philosophy and tweaking it along the way.”

July proved that the versatility to tweak small things along the way flows through the entire club. While Mark Lowry is at the helm of El Paso’s flagship soccer club, the guys on the squad buy into that philosophy and belief system. Coach Lowry has created an environment where he could take a hands-off approach, and the team would still be successful.

As the Technical Director of the club, Head Coach Mark Lowry has a large say in what players come into the club. He has recruited a squad that he believes in, and he will show his faith in. Through the month of July, rotation was key to get through the tight rotation of six games in rapid succession. The six July games provided an opportunity for Mark to show that faith and for the players to prove their versatility.

“You look at the front end of [the six-game stretch], in the New Mexico game, Ricardo [Zacarias] plays right-back for 90 minutes and in the back end of it, [Matt] Bahner is right back. Another example of it, Leandro [Carrijo] comes off the bench and scores and he starts one game. It was a squad effort. It was intentional to challenge the group. I wanted to see if we were capable of getting through this mini-season of six games because I know in October, we’ve got this times two. We now have a group of players that can face these moments and come out of the other side successful.”

Success on the other side now in July was 16 points out of a possible 18. It was triumphantly staking a claim at the peak of the Mountain Division. It was contending with top teams in the league for the USL Championship Regular Season title. Success on the other side was the belief that come October, when the schedule tightens up again and Locomotive begins its run for a third straight Western Conference Final, it will be ready and able to answer the challenge.

Courtesy of Head Coach Mark Lowry’s leadership, players such as Macca King, Eder Borelli, Diego Luna, and Lucho Solignac have earned Team of the Week accolades, while the team as a whole finds success together in the standings and in an incredible 18-game undefeated streak at Southwest University Park.

El Paso Locomotive is more poised now than it ever has been in its first two years to make a run at the USL Championship Title.

Coach Mark Lowry Named USL Championship July Coach of the Month

El Paso Locomotive Head Coach and Technical Director Mark Lowry was named USL Championship’s Coach of the Month for July following a six-game undefeated month. This is Lowry’s first time being named Coach of the Month by USL Championship.

In his third season with El Paso Locomotive FC, Lowry has built a winning culture that has seen nothing but success as the club claimed five wins and one draw through July. Lowry led the Locos to three straight wins starting on July 3, as the Sun City club downed New Mexico United and Las Vegas Lights at home, 2-1 and 1-0 respectively, while claiming all three points on the road in Utah with a 3-1 win over Real Monarchs in between.

The Loco Blue closed out the month of July with a hard-fought road point against New Mexico United in its first visit to Isotopes Park before taking two back-to-back wins against Copa Tejas rivals San Antonio FC (2-0) and Austin Bold FC (3-0). The undefeated July has paved the way for Locomotive to take the top spot of not just the Mountain Division but the USL Championship with 37 points after 16 matches.

“It feels good to be at the top at the halfway point. We obviously want to be at the top and stay there,” shared Lowry. “We want to get the top of the Mountain Division and the overall standings. The hard part is staying there though. This has been a continued effort from Day One to get to where we are now. Two and half years of preparation, of work on the field every single day, sticking to the process, believing in what we do. Now we have to stay there but I think we have a squad of players that are resilient. They can manage tough moments and tough schedules like we’ve had the last couple of weeks. These guys give us a great chance of being successful this season.”

Lowry received 52 percent of the vote to take the third monthly award of the season. Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC’s Bob Lilley finished in second on 18 percent after leading the Hounds to four wins in five games during an undefeated month, while Louisville City FC’s Danny Cruz finished third on 17 percent after leading his side to a 5-1-1 record that saw the club record 16 goals across its seven games.

The USL Championship’s Coach of the Month award is voted upon by the USL Championship National Media Panel and the USL Championship Technical Committee, with each group responsible for 50 percent of the overall vote.

If the Season Ended Today…

16 games down, 16 left to be played. After El Paso routed Austin Bold FC with a 3-0 victory at Southwest University Park, the club has officially rounded the corner into the latter half of the 2021 USL Championship season. The first half has seen some exciting moments including the return of Sebastian Velasquez, the debut of Diego Luna, the fastest goal scored in Locomotive history, and the historic 100th club goal.

Now in the second half of the season, the USL Championship will collectively be turning their attention towards the playoff picture. Who has all but secured their playoff berth? Who still needs to fight to punch their tickets? What teams will be earning the coveted home-field advantage? Who will each team face? Obviously, we still have a way to go before we get the answers to these questions, but let’s take a moment and look at what if. What if the season ended today?

If the season ended today, El Paso Locomotive would end as the undisputed kings of the USL Championship. Not only would The Boys in Blue hold the top seed in the Mountain Division with its 37 points, but they would also sit atop of the league with 37 points, surpassing Phoenix Rising FC and Louisville City by a single point. The dominance of Locomotive in the opening half of the 2021 Season would earn the El Paso side its first piece of silverware, claiming the USL Championship Regular Season title. But of course, that’s not all the spoils Locomotive would earn after claiming the league.

Holding on to the pinnacle position of the USL Championship means that there is no single team with more points than El Paso. Should the season end now, El Paso Locomotive would have the home-field advantage in every game of the playoffs, including the USL Championship Final. This would be huge for El Paso. Not only would the Sun City play host to the best teams in the USL Championship with high-octane, edge-of-your-seat games, but Locomotive would be able to show what it really means to have home-field advantage. The Loco Blue have not lost a game at Southwest University Park in over one calendar year. That is 18 home games including playoffs undefeated within the walls of the El Paso stadium. Earning the right to play every playoff game at Southwest University Park would provide Locomotive with an undeniable advantage to claim its first-ever USL Championship Title win after only three years of play.

The top of the Mountain Division is slated to face whichever team finds itself just over the playoff line in the Pacific Division. In our what-if scenario of if the season ended today, El Paso Locomotive would be welcoming Tacoma Defiance from the Pacific Northwest. After 15 games played, Tacoma Defiance has been night and day at home and away. At home, Tacoma has put up solid displays, going undefeated after eight games with a record of 5-0-3. On the road, however, Tacoma has been less than satisfactory, coming away without a win in seven games (0-4-3).

With our hypothetical Western Conference Quarterfinal being played in the Sun City Fortress of Southwest University Park, it would be a tall mountain for Tacoma to climb. Locomotive has yet to lose in El Paso since July of 2020, while Tacoma Defiance has not been able to earn a win on the road in the 2021 season. You would be hard-pressed to not agree that should the season end today, El Paso Locomotive would go straight into the Western Conference Semifinal against the winner of Orange County SC and Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC.

Of course, this is only a hypothetical look at how the 2021 USL Championship postseason would look if the season ended today. El Paso still has 16 games left on its 2021 schedule, seven of which will be played at Southwest University Park. Be sure not to miss a moment of this incredible and historic season and secure your tickets for any – or all – of the remaining Locomotive games at Southwest University Park as Head Coach Mark Lowry and the Boys in Blue seek to claim the league and the home field through its playoff run. Purchase your tickets online here, through the Official El Paso Locomotive FC App (iOS / Android), or by calling 915-235-GOAL.

Locomotive Ends Austin Bold Road Streak with 3-0 Win

El Paso Locomotive (11-1-4, 37 points) ended Austin Bold FC’s road-game streak with a 3-0 win at Southwest University Park on Saturday. Defender Andrew Fox scored his first goal of the season while Midfielder Dylan Mares and Forward Leandro Carrijo added to their goal tallies to contribute to the win. Goalkeeper Logan Ketterer recorded two saves and paired with his backline to earn a second-straight clean sheet.

“We took these two weeks and compartmentalized it,” said Head Coach Mark Lowry. “Five games in 14 days is kind of a mini-season. Let’s win all of these games, focus on and manage this squad for these five games. Up to today, it was three wins and a tie so it’s been good. Don’t lose tonight and ruin the work we’ve done over the last 10 days. Let’s finish the job. That was the message in the locker room. Get a win, get a good performance, entertain the fans, finish the job so we can feel good about our work over these last two weeks.”

The Locos Blue dominated the first half, controlling possession and using it to find a staggering eleven shots towards goal, however, none were able to find the back of the net. Midfielder Chapa Herrera along with Forwards Aaron Gomez and Lucho Solignac peppered the goal with shots forcing Bold FC Goalkeeper Elliot Panicco into a multitude of saves. Austin Bold FC was able to get in a few shots of their own, but Defender Mechack Jerome kept them out of the net with some heroics within the 6-yard line.

Locomotive once again continued its trend of rocketing out of the locker room in the second half. As the game opened up, goals began pouring in for El Paso. In the 59th minute Fox broke the deadlock, heading away a rocket of a shot to provide Locomotive with the advantage. Mares doubled the scoring in the 72nd minute, taking a freekick that beautifully curved into the side netting at an angle where Panicco could do nothing to stop it. Finally, in stoppage time of the second half, Carrijo’s passing play with Midfielder Diego Luna opened up the Brazilian striker to take one quick shot low and into the far post to make it 3-0 Locomotive. Combined with two saves from Ketterer, El Paso Locomotive earned its second straight clean sheet to pick up the full three points at Southwest University Park.

UP NEXT: El Paso Locomotive gets a moment of respite before it plays again, taking a full week before playing New Mexico United on Saturday, August 14. The match will be played in Albuquerque, New Mexico at Isotopes Park where kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. MT and will be broadcast live digitally on ESPN+.

GOAL SCORING RUNDOWN

ELP: Andrew Fox (Nick Ross), 59th minute: Off a corner kick opportunity, Ross sent the ball in perfectly to the spot in the penalty area. Fox made his run towards goal, making the jump to meet the ball with his head, putting power and velocity in behind the ball to whip it into the goal to open the scoring for the night.

ELP: Dylan Mares, 72nd minute: After earning a freekick opportunity, Dylan Mares stepped up to the plate to take the kick. Mares took the shot, curving it beautifully just out of the reach of Austin Bold goalkeeper Elliot Panicco, in what is a textbook freekick. The ball found the side netting to double the lead.

ELP: Leandro Carrijo (Diego Luna), 93rd minute: Getting the ball just outside the 18-yard line, Luna effectively eliminated the defenders by playing a passing game with Carrijo. Luna made the high pass to Carrijo, who chested the ball back down into the path of Luna. Luna quickly took one touch to pass back to Carrijo now in a wide-open area. Carrijo closed out the stunning run of play by taking one quick touch before firing the shot low and to the far post for a world-class goal for a three-goal win.

NOTES:

– This is the first time Austin Bold FC and El Paso Locomotive have clashed at Southwest University Park since 2019. Their last meeting El Paso ended in a 1-1 draw on October 10, 2019.

– Defender Andrew Fox scored his first goal of the season becoming the 9th Locomotive player to add his name to the goal-scoring tally in the 2021 season.

– Goalkeeper Logan Ketterer made two saves to earn a second straight clean sheet and the ninth of the season.

– Locomotive completed a perfect week at Southwest University Park, having played three home games within the span of 7 days. The 3-1 win over Real Monarchs, 2-0 win over San Antonio FC, and 3-0 win over Austin Bold FC provide nine out of a possible nine points for the El Paso side.

– With Phoenix Rising earning a 2-2 draw against Las Vegas Lights FC, El Paso Locomotive moves to the top of the league with 37 points.

Match: El Paso Locomotive vs Austin Bold FC
Date: August 7, 2021
Venue: Southwest University Park; El Paso, Texas
Weather: 92F and partly cloudy

Scoring Summary 1 2 F

El Paso Locomotive FC 0 3 3

Austin Bold FC 0 0 0

ELP – Andrew Fox (Nick Ross), 59’
ELP – Dylan Mares, 72’
ELP – Leandro Carrijo (Diego Luna), 90’+3

Lineups:

El Paso Locomotive FC (4-4-2): Logan Ketterer; Eder Borelli (Richie Ryan, 67’), Andrew Fox, Mechack Jerome, Matt Bahner, Yuma, Nick Ross, Chapa Herrera (Diego Luna,67’), Sebastian Velasquez (Jose Aguinaga, 88’), Aaron Gomez (Dylan Mares, 67’), Lucho Solignac (Leandro Carrijo, 67’)

Subs not used: Ben Beaury, Macca King

Austin Bold FC (4-4-2): Elliot Panicco; Kofi Sarkodie (Roberto Avila, 64’), Nicholas Hinds, Fabien Garcia, Gustavo Rissi, Collin Fernandez (Alasanne Ates Diouf, 52’), Juan Torres (Emilio Ycaza, 52’), Xavier Baez (Casey Walls, 75’), Omar Ciss, Stefano Pinho (Jorge Roncoso, 64’), Owayne Omar Gordon

Subs not used: Arshia Babazadeh, Jermaine Taylor

Stats Summary: ELP | ATX

MISCONDUCT SUMMARY:

ATX – Fabien Garcia (Caution), 86’

Rundown | El Paso Locomotive vs Austin Bold FC

Remember the last time we faced Austin Bold? It was a great game where Austin lost 1-0 because Diego Luna scored his first professional goal. Ah, the memories. Well, now they are coming to Southwest University Park, where we haven’t lost in over one calendar year. Let’s make some more memories, yeah?

MATCH DETAILS: USL Championship Regular Season Game #16; vs Austin Bold FC; 7:30 p.m. MT kickoff; Gates Open at 6:30 p.m. MT

VENUE/WEATHER: Southwest University Park; El Paso, Texas; 98F degrees and sunny.

TICKETS: Click Here!

WATCH: ESPN+

RECORDS/STANDINGS: Locomotive: 10-1-4 (34 points, MTN-1); Bold FC: 6-4-5 (23 points, MTN-3)

PREVIOUS MEETING: These two Texas teams last clashed at the beginning of June at Bold Stadium in Austin, Texas. It was a wet and rainy day that threatened the game up until a few hours before kickoff, but the show went on in favor of El Paso Locomotive FC. What started off as a slow burn opened up in the second half as Macca King sent a cross to the far post to find Diego Luna who headed away his first professional goal in his first career start. Meanwhile, Adrian Zendejas recorded his third straight clean sheet to earn the full three points from Bold Stadium.

Needless to say, it’s been an exhausting two weeks for El Paso Locomotive. It started with a scoreless draw against New Mexico United on July 24, and since then it has been non-stop every Wednesday and Saturday leading up to this match against Austin Bold FC. In that time, Locos have come away with three wins and a draw. Now, after 15 days, the five-game stretch will come to a close with a Copa Tejas clash against Austin Bold FC. After Saturday, Locomotive will finally see a somewhat normal schedule, with week-long breaks between New Mexico United on the 14th and Rio Grande Valley FC on the 21st

El Paso Locomotive had a seemingly indestructible 18-game undefeated streak under its belt earlier in the season. In the regular season, El Paso had not lost a game since falling to New Mexico United on July 24, 2020. Now I know, I’ve brought up this 18-game undefeated streak many times and at this point, it’s old news, especially since Locomotive fell against Rio Grande Valley FC to end the streak. However, now Head Coach Mark Lowry and his Boys in Blue are rebuilding the streak. Since losing to RGVFC, Locomotive has laid down the foundation for another incredible undefeated streak, going seven games unbeaten with a record of 6-0-1. Yep, that’s right, now you’ll have to start hearing me go on about yet another incredible undefeated streak because, at the end of the day, this is a team that doesn’t quit. I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Austin Bold FC may have stolen the title of “Road Warriors” away from New Mexico United this season. In fact, since falling at Isotopes Park against United in their season opener on May 15, Bold has yet to lose away from home. They carry a record of 3-1-4 after 8 games and that includes a seven-game undefeated streak on the road. Here’s the catch though: They haven’t played at Southwest University Park this year. El Paso Locomotive is undefeated at home in its last 17 games including playoffs. This year alone, El Paso boasts a record of 6-0-2, meaning Saturday’s contest will be the new “Road Warriors” against the indomitable fortress of Southwest University Park.

El Paso topped San Antonio last Wednesday on a 2-0 win that vaulted Locomotive to the top of the Copa Tejas standings with 12 points on the Texas table. In a reflection of the Mountain Divison, Rio Grande Valley FC is the closest competitor to challenge the Locos for the top of the table with 10 points. This weekend however is a double-header of Copa Tejas action as El Paso hosts Austin and Rio Grande Valley clashes with San Antonio. Should Locomotive claim the win over Austin and San Antonio walk away with the full three points over RGV, El Paso would further claim the Copa Tejas with games in hand. Locomotive has put itself in a prime position to claim the Copa Tejas as the 2021 season turns towards the second half.

Top 10 Goals of the First 100

From the very first goal back in the opening match on March 9, 2019, to the latest Goal #100 scored by Midfielder Jose Aguinaga against San Antonio FC this past Wednesday, there have been some incredible bangers, breathtaking freekicks, and just overall stunning goals that have made Locomotive a fun team to watch. Now that we have made put away that milestone club goal, I thought it would be fun to look back at ten of my personal favorite goals Locomotive has scored over its first three seasons.

By no means is it the prettiest goal the club has seen, but we would be remiss if we didn’t start with the goal that truly did start it all. A beautiful run down the left-hand side by Sebastian Contreras, getting the ball low towards the center of the box to find Derek Gebhard who had the simple task of redirecting the ball into the back of the net. It’s one of the most simple goals in the history of football, but it’s also one of the most effective. Contreras eliminated the goalkeeper from contention by rolling the ball past him leaving the net wide open for Gebhard to place it in the back of the net. Aside of course from the technical teamwork to get the goal in, the goal will always hold a special place in every Loco fan’s heart since it was the very first club goal to go in, and it went in at home.

Some out there might look at this goal and say “that was all luck.” At the very least, Head Coach Mark Lowry and I disagree with you. This goal from Lucho was all skill. To be able to read the game, see the opening, and press not only the goalkeeper but the defender as well, that’s skill. Lucho did just that here. He pressed the defender, forcing him to send the pass over to RGV goalkeeper Tyler Deric. Lucho wasn’t done there, pressing Deric, and forcing him into clearing the ball out. Of course, he was too late. Lucho’s speed and forward-thinking was just enough for him to get a foot in the way of the clearance and deflect the ball back into the RGV net for the fastest goal in Locomotive history, clocking in at 18 seconds.

Power and accuracy. That’s all I have to say about this penalty kick taken by Sebastian Velasquez in the Western Conference Quarterfinal against Fresno FC. Absolute power and accuracy. There was so much velocity behind this ball, that despite CJ Cochran making the right guess and diving the right way, there was nothing he could do. Velasquez put so much behind the ball that it was destined to find the back of the net and nothing was going to be able to stop it. There was a lot riding on the penalty kick too. The game was level 2-2 and it was this late-game PK that gave El Paso Locomotive the win and booked a ticket to the Western Conference Semifinal. There was a lot to celebrate with this goal.

The more I watch this goal, the more I absolutely love it. Not only was I excited to hit that historic milestone of 100 club goals, but the more you watch this, the more you see just how much went into making it happen. There is a sense of teamwork, understanding, and perseverance to hit the mark. Let’s break this down. Let’s start with Eder Borelli recognizing an opportunity to make a run down the left side as Diego Luna gets the ball and pulling defenders in towards him. Luna gets the pass off to Borelli, who now has nothing but time and space ahead of him. Borelli gets the low cross to Lucho, whose first touch is a little too heavy and the ball gets away from him a bit. Lucho has a great read of the game though and is able to recover quickly and save the ball from rolling over the touchline. He gets to the ball and to protect it from awarding a goal kick, he hits the ball back and into towards the center to create a chance from nearly nothing. Again, with an expert read of the game, Jose Aguinaga sees Lucho get the ball, and starts his run for the header. So much going into it to earn the goal that makes it a beautiful watch over and over.

I love myself a good-headed effort on goal. Even more so, when the goal can emphasize the vision of the game that every Locomotive player has on the game and the quality of player that Mark Lowry looks for. Eder Borelli really makes this goal something else. Before he starts his run, he notices the Monarchs defense ball-watching more than they should, giving him the time to make a run between the gap and press the goal. The split second that Memo Diaz takes to look up, assess the field, and see Borelli on his run was crucial before sending the cross in deep to the far post. Because of the timing and vision, Borelli was left unmarked to get a simple tapped-in header and to earn his first goal as a part of Locomotive.

As far as Diego Luna goals go, this one is by and far my favorite. It’s no secret that Luna has a talent for the game and he has a pretty high ceiling but look no further than his goal against San Antonio FC as proof. Luna takes the ball from a Velasquez pass/San Antonio defender deflection just at the penalty spot. Luna uses his dribbling skills to fake out his marking defender, sending him slightly to the left while using him as a shield to block the view Matt Cardone had on the play. After sending the defender left, Luna switches back right and gets his foot under the ball to put it up and over into the right side of the net. It was a class goal that was deserving of a spot on the shortlist of top 10 goals of the first 100.

Like I said before, I love a great headed effort on goal. this goal from Aaron Gomez is a textbook example of how to do it. Just shy of the hour mark, Locomotive earned its lone goal of the game through Gomez. First, the deep cross from Borelli with pinpoint accuracy found Gomez in the box, who jumped and headed the goal low, forcing the ball to take a bounce before finding the net. It’s the perfect header. The bounce makes the ball difficult to track and throws the Las Vegas Lights FC ‘keeper off its trail for the save. Essentially, Gomez made the perfect header to make the ball nearly impossible to save and give Locomotive a 1-0 win to guarantee one full calendar year without losing at Southwest Univesrity Park.

What a goal this was! I remember watching this game and letting out a yell my neighbors likely didn’t appreciate in pure excitement when this one found the net. Just under the hour mark, Locomotive was down by one in the Western Conference Final. You could feel momentum was in the corner of the Phoenix Rising. While Locomotive was fighting, the goal was just not landing. Until Bryam Rebellon wound up the kick and struck with absolute firepower that could not be stopped. It sent chills down my spine. That rocket of a strike that bounced directly back out of goal breathed life back into the Locomotive fight for the Conference Final. It was just enough for the Locos to take the fight into the added extra time and deep into penalties. While the game ended in heartbreak, this goal will always go down as one of my favorites in Locomotive history.

Another goal that took my breath away. Dylan Mares has a way of curving the ball into the net, which is why he is our resident freekick taker and typically the favorite to take the corners. His precision was in full display against New Mexico United in the Western Conference Semifinal in 2020. At the top of the penalty area, just off-center and with defenders standing between him and the goal, Mares lined up and took his shot. It was a beautiful curl that honestly, TV always has a hard time capturing. Around the defenders and towards the side netting of the far post, Mares created a goal that New Mexico United could do very little about. It was a goal that provided Locomotive with a critical lead and ultimately kept United from winning they scored in stoppage time of the second half. It was also a goal that set Southwest University Park alight as it meant the Locos had the advantage over its regional rival in one of the biggest most meaningful games of the year. It’s another goal that I will not be likely to forget any time soon.

The athletic beauty of bicycle kick is a sight to behold for sure. In terms of difficult goals to score, there might not be anything harder to pull off. With accuracy and athleticism, you have to be able to pick the ball out of the air and hit it just right to send it in the direction you would like, while essentially doing a backflip. There is a reason why so few players try to hop on their proverbial bike. For Edson Partida, it paid off. Clean and Precise, Partida masterfully met Yuma’s cross to strike the ball past Defiance goalkeeper James Lowell. At the end of the day, there was nothing anyone on the Defiance side could do to stop it. It was a strike that got the world talking even, as it ended winning USL Championship’s Goal of the Week and was featured on ESPN’s SportsCenter as the #1 Play. Even two years later and though he is no longer with Locomotive FC, respect where it is due, take a bow, Edson Partida!

These were my 10 favorite goals from the first 100 Locomotive has found. Do you agree? Disagree? Which goals were your favorite? Let us know!

In the meantime, I’m looking forward to what the next 100 goals have to offer for El Paso Locomotive, starting with Austin Bold FC tomorrow, Saturday, August 7 at Southwest University Park. Don’t miss a single goal and get your tickets at https://www.eplocomotivefc.com/tickets or by calling 915-235-GOAL.

El Paso Locomotive FC Takes On Austin Bold FC at Southwest University Park on Saturday

El Paso Locomotive ends its three-game home stretch by hosting Austin Bold FC at Southwest University Park on Saturday, August 7. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. MT. Tickets are available for purchase at https://www.eplocomotivefc.com/tickets, through the official El Paso Locomotive FC App, or by calling 915-235-GOAL.

El Paso met Austin earlier this year for their first of four games of the season, traveling to Bold Stadium at the beginning of June. It was a deadlocked match where neither side truly threatened for a goal until Defender Macca King sent in a dangerous cross to the far post. Midfielder Diego Luna was there to meet the end of it to head away from his first professional goal since signing to the club ahead of the 2021 USL Championship season. That was the first three points Locomotive claimed over the Bold, after having split the points in their two previous meetings.

Two months have passed since that last meeting and both teams have had wildly different experiences in the 2021 season. For Locomotive, the club has positioned itself as the sole leader in the Mountain Division while challenging Phoenix Rising FC and Louisville City FC for the top spot across the league. Meanwhile, Austin Bold has had an average season, trading losses for wins for draws. Starting the season towards the bottom of the table, Austin has surged in recent weeks, taking third in the Mountain Division. The two sides will clash again, this time at Southwest University Park where Locos look to extend their impressive home undefeated streak that has spanned over a year.

Follow El Paso Locomotive FC vs Austin Bold FC – Sat., August 7, 2021

·         Coverage Begins: 7:30 p.m. MT; Gates Open at 6:30 p.m. MT
·         Watch: ESPN+ | El Paso – Las Cruces CW
·         Social Media: @EPLocomotiveFC & #ELPvATX on Twitter
·         Additional Content: Official El Paso Locomotive FC App (iOS / Android)

Game Notes for El Paso Locomotive FC vs Real Monarchs SLC can be found in PDF format below. Media members looking to receive the Game Notes as an attachment or have further questions are asked to please contact Derick Fox at dfox@https://www.eplocomotivefc.com

El Paso Locomotive Earned 2-0 Shut Out Over San Antonio FC

EL PASO, Texas – August 4, 2021 – El Paso Locomotive FC (10-1-4, 34 points) picked up three points at Southwest University Park with a 2-0 clean sheet over San Antonio FC on Wednesday night.

Midfielder Diego Luna recorded his fifth goal of the season to open the scoring while Midfielder Jose Aguinaga etched his name into Locomotive history books with the club’s 100th goal across all competitions. Meanwhile, Goalkeeper Logan Ketterer earned his third clean sheet of the season with two saves throughout the night.

“We were in control for most of the game, but it wasn’t a great performance,” said Head Coach Mark Lowry. “We didn’t really set the world alight, but we did enough. We were comfortable. We could have done more, and we should have done more. I want to see these games end three or four to zero. That’s kind of where we are at right now. I’m happy with the three points but I think there is still more for us to do.”

Wednesday night’s action got off to a slow start, with neither side making any headway through the opening 30 minutes. The 29th minute saw the game begin to open up as Luna played the one-two pass with Midfielder Dylan Mares to get past the San Antonio keeper. Locomotive kept the momentum to close out the first half with their second of the night and the 100th club goal as Forward Lucho Solignac passed the ball back to find a leaping Aguinaga who headed away the milestone goal.

The second half got off to a rapid start with San Antonio chasing the two goals. Locomotive defended well through Defenders Yuma and Mechack Jerome keeping Ketterer without much to do on the night for the clean sheet. The Locos faced adversity with a red card shown to Midfielder Bryam Rebellon in the 77th minute. Down a man for 15 minutes including stoppage time, Locomotive bunkered down to keep San Antonio with only two shots on goal throughout the night and secure a needed clean sheet.

UP NEXT: El Paso Locomotive wraps up its three-game home stretch by welcoming Austin Bold FC to Southwest University Park for a weekend match up. The second-straight Copa Tejas match up is schedule for Saturday, August 7, with kickoff set for 7:30 p.m. MT. Tickets are available for purchase online at https://www.eplocomotivefc.com/tickets or by phone by calling 915.235.GOAL.

GOAL SCORING RUNDOWN

ELP: Diego Luna (Dylan Mares), 29th minute: Taking a run right down the middle, Diego lay the ball off towards Mares before quickly running through the open spaces left by the San Antonio defenders switching focus. Mares played the ball back to Luna, creating the opportunity to take one low touch past Matt Cardone and into the back of the net.

ELP: Jose Aguinaga (Lucho Solignac), 47th minute: Fighting at the end line in a scramble for the ball, Lucho kicked the ball back over his head and in towards the center of the box. Matt Cardone at the near post could do nothing but watch as Aguinaga leapt through the air and headed the ball home for the club’s 100th goal.

NOTES:

– Midfielder Jose Aguinaga recorded his second goal of the season, marking the 100th club goal across all competitions just before the break in the first half.

– El Paso Locomotive claimed another win over San Antonio, the second in one week, to vault into first in the Copa Tejas standings and to keep hold of its six point lead at the top of the Mountain Division table.

– Following the win at Southwest University Park, Locomotive is now 17-games undefeated at home including playoffs.

– Goalkeeper Logan Ketterer earned his third clean sheet of the season behind two saves to help secure the full three points at home.

Match: El Paso Locomotive vs San Antonio FC
Date: August 4, 2021
Venue: Southwest University Park; El Paso, Texas
Weather: 90F and partly cloudy

Scoring Summary 1 2 F

El Paso Locomotive FC 2 0 2

San Antonio FC 0 0 0

ELP – Diego Luna (Dylan Mares), 29’
ELP – Jose Aguinaga (Lucho Solignac), 45’+2

Lineups:

El Paso Locomotive FC (4-4-2): Logan Ketterer; Eder Borelli, Yuma, Mechack Jerome, Macca King (Matt Bahner, 65’), Nick Ross, Jose Aguinaga (Bryam Rebellon, 65’), Richie Ryan, Diego Luna (Sebastian Velasquez, 72’), Lucho Solignac (Andrew Fox, 80’), Dylan Mares (Aaron Gomez, 65’)

Subs not used: Ben Beury, Leandro Carrijo

Las Vegas Lights FC (4-2-3-1): Matt Cardone, Mathieu Deplagne, Connor Maloney, Sam Gleadle (Chris Lema, 84’), Liam Doyle, Emil Cuello, Jasser Khmiri (Marcus Epps, 45’), Mohammed Abu, Cameron Lindley, Jose Gallegos, Nathan (Justin Dhillon, 57’)

Subs not used: Jose Carlos Mercado, Leo Torres, Joaquin Varela

Stats Summary: ELP | SA

MISCONDUCT SUMMARY:

SA – Mathieu Deplagne (Caution), 12’
ELP – Macca King (Caution), 37’
ELP – Jose Aguinaga (Caution), 44’
SA – Connor Maloney (Caution), 56’
ELP – Mechack Jerome (Caution),68’
ELP – Bryam Rebellon (Caution), 70’
ELP – Bryam Rebellon (2nd Caution, Ejection), 77’

Rundown | El Paso Locomotive vs San Antonio

I’ve been really into the Olympics this year. It’s been so fun and inspiring to see all of these athletes give their best while embodying the Olympic Spirit of competition and sportsmanship. If El Paso Locomotive competed in the Olympics, I think they would be able to take home the gold medal with ease. After all, is there a team with more Olympic Spirit than El Paso? Well, we’re going for Gold in the USL Championship and taking on San Antonio for the Copa Tejas, and here is how that match looks:

MATCH DETAILS: USL Championship Regular Season Game #15; vs San Antonio; 7:00 p.m. MT kickoff

VENUE/WEATHER: Southwest University Park; El Paso, Texas; 90F degrees and sunny.

TICKETS: Click Here!

WATCH: ESPN+

RECORDS/STANDINGS: Locomotive: 9-1-4 (31 points, MTN-1); San Antonio: 5-4-6 (21 points, MTN-5)

PREVIOUS MEETING: It was just a week ago that El Paso Locomotive took on San Antonio FC. Locomotive went up first in the 18th minute after a handball in the penalty area provided Locomotive a penalty kick opportunity. FW Lucho Solignac stepped up to take the kick and converted against his former club in San Antonio. Locomotive stood fast against a San Antonio side that was chasing the game and ultimately extended the lead in the 71st minute from a beautifully chipped shot from MF Diego Luna. That two-goal lead lasted only three minutes however as San Antonio’s Axel Sjoberg pulled a goal back in the 74th but couldn’t find a second, leaving Locomotive to claim three points.

Are you tired of me talking about the incredible undefeated runs that Locomotive constantly finds itself on? Not only is the club 16-games undefeated at Southwest University Park, including playoffs, but earlier this season, Locomotive held on to an 18-game undefeated regular-season streak that threatened the league record. That streak ended in a 3-2 loss to Rio Grande Valley FC, but that game feels like nothing more than a bump in the road in the overall run that Coach Mark Lowry’s side has been on. Since that loss, the Boys in Blue have gone on as if nothing ever happened, earning a record of 5-0-1 to kick off a new undefeated streak.

Just before the Locos take on his former club of San Antonio FC for the second time in one week, Lucho Solignac was named USL Championship’s Player of the Week and I could not think of a more deserving player for that title in Week 15. I, admittedly, might be a little biased. Lucho rocked the USL Championship in the past week helping El Paso claim six points in one week with three goals. The first was a penalty conversion he made against his former club, slotting home the ball past Matt Cardone with a stutter step to open the night’s scoring. Just days later against Real Monarchs at Southwest University Park, he came in as a substitution in the 58th minute and scored his first goal in the 61st. He headed the ball away into Jeffrey Dewsnap, who deflected the ball back to Lucho for the tap-in. Not quite finished yet, Lucho got his brace against the Monarchs in the 81st minute, eliminating Dewsnap altogether by rounding him and passing the ball into a wide-open net. The point is the goals have begun to fall for Lucho who now leads the team this season with six, so it only felt right that he was named Player of the Week.

Speaking of goals and goal scorers, it feels very likely that Locomotive will be recording its 100th club goal across all competitions (ideally) within the next few matches. From the very first goal scored by Derek Gebhard in the opening March 9 match against OKC Energy FC all the way to the rounding-keeper goal Lucho Solignac took against Real Monarchs on Saturday, Locomotive has recorded 98 goals across all its competitions. I might have barely passed my math class back in my undergrad years of college, but if my math skills aren’t failing me now, we are only two goals away from the milestone 100. A single goal can go down to anyone as so far in the 2021 season we have seen goals from all across the field in every position. We have had eight different players score for Locomotive this season but the obvious frontrunners are those who have been regularly putting away goals. As I mentioned above, Lucho currently leads the club in goals this season with six, but right behind him are both Diego Luna and Aaron Gomez who have both recorded four goals so far. Gomez even takes it a step further as the club’s all-time regular-season goal scorer, having recorded 15 goals since joining the team in 2019. Two more goals before one of these players etch their names into the Locomotive record books forever and I, for one, can’t wait to see who it will be.

In the 2021 USL Championship Copa Tejas, El Paso Locomotive has presented itself as a clear favorite to take home the Texas trophy. El Paso has played four games out of 12 Copa Tejas matches, taking home the three points in three of them and falling only once to Rio Grande Valley FC. Sitting second on that table with nine points, just one shy of RGV, Los Locos are primed to claim Texas by the end of the season. RGV has played eight of its 12 games, while Austin and San Antonio have each played six. Tonight’s match against San Antonio tonight could see El Paso vault over Rio Grande Valley on the Tejas table into first with games in hand against its Texas rivals.

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