Club News

2021 Fan Awards: Defender of the Year

It’s that time of year where we start looking back at the 2021 USL Championship season, cast our votes, and give out some awards. Next up in the 2021 Fan Awards, we have Attacker of the Year. With 13 clean sheets and only 35 goals conceded, El Paso Locomotive finished with the second-best defense across both the Eastern and Western Conferences. The nominees for this year are Macauley ‘Macca’ King, Eder Borelli, Mechack Jerome, Matt Bahner, and Yuma. These select few put on incredible displays throughout the 2021 season, and now it’s your turn to vote for who earns the 2021 Defender of the Year.

Cast your vote below, and remember, you can vote once a day so make sure to come back and vote again until we announce the winner next week!

Not sure who to vote for? Read below to get a rundown on each player and how they created one of the most ironclad defenses in the league.

Get yourself a player who can both attack and defend. While he showed what he can do in 2020 when he joined El Paso Locomotive FC, 2021 was a step up for Macca King. A clinical finisher at the end of set pieces, Macca King found six goals, all coming from the end of dead ball situations. Macca managed to find himself in wide-open areas, unmarked, and free to redirect the ball for a goal. The few times he wasn’t unmarked, he still managed to get a foot to the ball, once even finding the back of the net with the defender directly on top of him. Outside of set pieces, Macca’s box-to-box play down the wing and ability to send in pin-point crosses paid off in deadly chances that found the back of the net three times. On the other side of the ball, King made 47 clearances and 21 interceptions while winning 25 out of 37 tackles throughout the season. Playing and starting in 24 out of 24 games, Macca makes a strong case to earn your vote for 2021 Defender of the Year.

The defending Defender of the Year, Eder Borelli once again showed why he is one of the best defenders in the league. Another box-to-box defender, Eder made runs up and down the wing to get deep into the attack but also fall back to defend when necessary. Across 29 games played, Eder made 25 clearances and 35 interceptions while winning 53 out of 73 (72%) of his duels to help Locomotive secure one of the tightest nets in the league. In the attack, Eder recorded one goal and assisted three others. One of the most disciplined and hard-working players across the entire league, Eder showed once again why he was named the Fan Awarded 2020 Defender of the Year for El Paso Locomotive and has made himself another strong candidate to take the award once again.

Look around the league for a more reliable center back than Mechack Jerome, and you would be hardpressed to find one. Playing in 26 games through the 2021 season, Mechack came through as a stalwart defender time and time again. The Haitian defender led the team with 86 clearances and nine blocked shots while winning 11 out of 17 tackles to keep the net secure. On more than one occasion he protected the net as a last line of defense, making goal line clearances on the rare occasions an opposing attacker managed to beat Logan Ketterer. Mechack’s diligence and read of the makes one of the best defenders in the league and one of five clear choices for this year’s 2021 Fan Award’s Defender of the Year.

Arguably the most versatile defender on the Locomotive roster, Matt Bahner can slot in anywhere you’ll need him, and he will play like a natural. From the right back position, all the way to the left, and everything in between, Matt will get the job done. After 26 appearances in the 2021 season, Matt once again showed his versatility and his work rate, helping El Paso Locomotive claim 13 clean sheets while conceding only 35 goals. The American made 37 clearances to halt the opposing attack while winning 25 out of 37 tackles and making 21 interceptions. A true threat in the defensive third to the opposition, Matt came up big whenever the squad needed him most and was a consistent defender throughout the year. There is also always the bonus of earning an assist and a goal, especially when that goal silences a New Mexico United lead to steal a point away from Isotopes Park.

The mainstay captain of 2021, Spanish Defender Yuma controlled the Locomotive backline over 22 appearances. As an in-your-face center back, Yuma would bravely halt the opposition before they caused any real threat to our own goal. Yuma won 74 out of 124 duels, won 19 out of 31 tackles, while blocking 10 shots and making 36 clearances. The no-nonsense defender regained possession through interceptions 31 times and commanded the backline to tighten up gaps and close down opposition passing lanes. Another one of the best defenders in the league, Yuma put his heart and soul out on the field from the first whistle to the last. However, his contributions to the team didn’t end in the confines of the pitch. Off the pitch, Yuma was a leader to the locker room in attitude and work ethic. One of the hardest working players on the team, Yuma always came to training with an upbeat attitude to keep team spirits high even when he himself was out on injury. A true leader in the locker room, Yuma would be a quality choice for Locomotives 2022 Fan Award Defender of the Year.

Head Coach Mark Lowry and Six Locomotive Players Highlighed on 2021 Copa XI

The fan votes have been tallied and the results are in for the 2021 USL Copa Tejas Best XI. At the end of the 2021 USL Championship, fans were encouraged to share who they thought were the best players and coach across the four Texas teams and it comes to no surprise that the title-winning squad, El Paso Locomotive FC, dominates the shortlist. Head Coach Mark Lowry leads the charge with six El Paso Locomotive players joining him as they are highlighted on the Copa Tejas Best XI.

Coach Lowry spearheaded El Paso Locomotive through its best season yet in the club’s three-year history. With only four losses, Locomotive has one of the best records in the league at 18-4-10, leading the team to overpower the Mountain Division and clinching the top seed with weeks left the season. Against Texas clubs, Lowry coached the team to a record of 7-3-2 to emphatically be the best team in the Lone Star state with 23 points. With two points per game average across the whole season, Locomotive earned the Copa Tejas Shield – a trophy contested against San Antonio FC, Austin Bold FC, and Rio Grande Valley FC of USL, FC Dallas, Austin FC, and Houston Dynamo of Major League Soccer, and the Houston Dash of the National Women’s Soccer League. Undoubtedly in credit to Mark Lowry’s tactical coaching expertise, the club can definitively say it’s the best in Texas.

Logan Ketterer is the lone goalkeeper on the shortlist for the Best XI. With 57 saves and nine clean sheets through the 2021 USL Championship regular season for a 1.15 goals-against average, Ketterer has established himself as one of the best keepers in the league. His talents earned him an emergency loan call-up to Portland Timbers in MLS where he shined with two straight shutouts in three games. Against Texas competition, Ketterer helped earn the team a 5-3-1 record in games he appeared in, making 25 saves and allowing only 13 goals for a goal-against average of 1.44 per Texas game.

Yuma and Mechack Jerome are two of the four defenders that made the shortlist. The center back pairing is the cornerstone of the El Paso Locomotive FC defense. The two have helped lead the club to 13 clean sheets through the regular season, making for one of the most secure goals across the entire league – only outdone by Tampa Bay Rowdies of the Eastern Conference. Against Texas clubs, the veteran defenders have helped take the team to a record of 7-3-1 including five shutouts, helping ease the load on Ketterer in goal.

Diego Luna and Dylan Mares highlight the midfield as two of the four chosen Texas players in the Copa Tejas Best XI. Luna made waves in his rookie year, especially, against Texas clubs. The then-17-year-old recorded his first professional goal against Austin Bold FC to secure a 1-0 win before going on to find six goals and one assist against Lone Star clubs through 2021. Overall, Luna found nine goals and five assists to become a league-wide standout in his first professional year. Meanwhile, Dylan Mares continued to perform at the peak of the diamond in Mark Lowry’s 4-4-2 system. Mares earned four assists and two goals against Texas teams in the Copa Tejas. His overall performance netted him four goals and seven assists, cementing him as El Paso’s midfield maestro and resident playmaker. This is Mares’ second appearance on the Copa XI, having earned the accolade for his stellar performance in the 2020 season.

Lucho Solignac wraps up the Locomotive names on the Bext XI as the lone Loco Forward as one of two strikers picked. Lucho came into El Paso from Copa Tejas rival San Antonio FC ahead of the 2021 season. While with San Antonio in 2020, Lucho was named to the Copa Best XI, making him the only player to earn the honor twice with two different clubs. In 2021, the veteran forward earned five goals and four assists against Texas teams, including a goal that set the Locomotive club record for the fastest goal at just 18-seconds after the opening whistle. Lucho’s performance against Texas clubs contributed to what turned out to be an outstanding year for the Argentinian, as Lucho earned 10 goals and seven assists overall.

Top 10 Goals of 2021

56.

El Paso Locomotive scored a club-best 56 goals through the 2021 USL Championship season. The Boys in Blue had goals that were featured on ESPN’s SportsCenter and on ESPN+’s Futbol Americas. We’ve seen goals that have silenced stadiums or sent fans into a frenzy of cheers and beer showers. We have also seen goals that were dedicated in the honor of a club legend.

With our third campaign officially in the books, I’m taking a look back at those 56 goals, both stunners and sleepers alike, to compile a list of my top 10 favorite goals from the season.

Of course, these are just my favorite 10 goals from the year, but I would love to hear what you think! After you’re done reading through this list, let me know what your favorite goal is.

It may not have been the most glamourous goal but Matt Bahner’s final kick equalizer against New Mexico United back in August is easily up there as one of my favorite goals. It was one of those goals that completely silenced an entire stadium and now Bahner’s tarps-off knock-it-out-of-the-park celebration is an iconic moment in the club’s history. Aside from the effect the goal had at Isotopes Park, it was a great goal in its own right. Like I said, maybe not the most glamourous goal, as it was a scramble of chaos that paid off for El Paso with the right touch to find the back of the net, this goal is one of my favorites because it was one of those goals that highlight the “never say die” attitude that encompasses El Paso Locomotive FC. There were plenty of times throughout the season that El Paso made a comeback to earn a draw or a win. This was another one of those moments and the fight in the box from the entire team – including Logan Ketterer – paid off with a late goal that earned what could be seen as a critical point in the season – or take away critical points from New Mexico United.

Also, the celebration. I love that celebration and the unforgettable moment that Matt Bahner created.

One thing that we learned through 2021 and Diego Luna’s first professional year in soccer was the 18-year-old Midfielder is confident on his feet and it shows. The goal that put the cherry on the top of El Paso’s 3-0 win over Austin Bold FC in late October was absolutely clinical. Diego takes on Bold’s Gustavo Rissi, one-on-one at the top of the box and immediately puts the 23-year-old defender on a flat foot. By looking to go left, Rissi stays ready to make a jump back and put a stop to Diego’s run at a moment’s notice, but when Diego makes one touch going right, it catches Rissi off guard and flat-footed just enough for the El Paso midfielder to cut back towards the left and center the ball for a low shot that tucks away nicely in the bottom corner. It’s clinical, it’s intelligent, and it shows the absolute talent that Diego Luna brings to the pitch. It’s one of my favorite of his nine goals scored in his professional year, and – spoiler alert – it’s not the only the one that has made this list.

This is another one of those goals, that while it’s not the prettiest goal on the list – and many might even say it was more luck than anything – it was still an easy choice for this top 10 list. Lucho Solignac’s first goal in a Locomotive jersey and he did it by making history. This 18-second opener is the fastest goal in club history. I’m even going to double down on this goal and argue against those many by saying this goal was anything but lucky. Over the 2021 season, we witnessed firsthand that Lucho is a bright and gifted goal scorer. The Argentine striker has such a read on the game and the ball, that he knows exactly what he needs to do to score a goal (more on this later). In this instance, Lucho knew that if he pressed Toros’ goalkeeper Tyler Deric, it would force him to kick the ball out for a clearance. In that instance, Lucho only needed to get a foot out in the way to stop it and open up an early goal-scoring opportunity. This is exactly what he does, and wouldn’t you know it, that was the goal-scoring opportunity that Lucho needed to earn an early goal and provide an 18-second game-winner near the start of the season.

This one is beautiful to watch. Four Locomotive players making a run towards goal while leaving the Monarchs defenders in the dust, especially from Aaron Gomez. Just watch that clip again and don’t watch the ball, pay extra attention to the whole run Aaron makes as he comes into the screen at the bottom right. There is nothing but the speed in Aaron’s run to make him the obvious choice for a cross into the box and create a chance on frame. It was another one of those goals that were just a cherry on top of an already dominant performance. The cross and run from Lucho set Aaron up perfectly and the quick wit from Aaron to go for a header as opposed to a volley was a veteran move that you would only expect from the Borderland native. A volley very well could have gotten the job done, but the bounce off the ground and to the head of Aaron who redirected up and over Jeffery Dewsnap put the Monarch’s ‘keeper off-guard. As soon as it was over the young goalkeeper, it was obvious that the ball was going and Aaron Gomez would add another goal to his all-time team-leading count.

Goal #100. How could you not put this one on your list? Not only is it good looking goal that showcases that incredible passing, and quick recovery of this year’s Locomotive squad but it’s also a milestone goal. First, let’s break it down. It starts with Eder Borelli never halting his run. As soon as he sees Diego Luna with the ball, he knows he needs to make that overlapping run to get in deep which Diego sees and gets the through ball in. From there Eder cuts the pass in middle to find Lucho Solignac – who saw a space with no one from El Paso was filling so he acted quickly to fill it. Lucho’s first touch was a little sloppy, sending towards the endline but his recovery to save it and keep the ball in play was phenomenal. The overhead back pass finished the passing play as Jose Aguinaga was fast to pick up on the fact the ball never went out of play. Jose’s immediate run got the Spaniard in front of a rushing San Antonio defender as he placed the ball into the back of the net. It was an amazing sequence of events that is befitting of a milestone.

Aside from the incredible play from the Locomotive squad, this goal is also a testament to everything the club has accomplished over its first three years. From goal 1 to goal 100, El Paso Locomotive has seen the Western Conference Final twice. The club was unbeaten at home for over a calendar year. El Paso Locomotive had made itself a giant in the USL Championship within 100 goals and there are many more to come.

What did I tell you? There was going to be more Diego Luna on this list. Now for this goal, I will concede, the “pass” leading up to it wasn’t quite a pass. Sebastian Velasquez took a shot towards goal that was blocked back by Connor Maloney, leading to a second shot that took a strange deflection off Maloney and right to the feet of Diego who stood at the center of the box. What Diego does from there, however, is what makes this goal my favorite that he has ever scored. Diego does what he does best, stutter with his feet and make the defender feel uneasy. You’re in the penalty area, with Diego’s footwork, one mistimed tackle could easily lead to the referee pointing to the spot. All San Antonio’s Sam Gleadle could do was try to get in the way of Diego, but the then 17-year-old took full advantage of positioning and Gleadle’s size. Diego got in close, blocking Matt Cardone’s line of sight with Gleadle’s frame before beautifully taking the shot into the top right corner of the net where Cardone could do nothing.

I don’t think there is a single thing not to love about this goal. Nick Ross’s 2nd-minute stunner against Indy Eleven in the two club’s first-ever meeting has a strong argument for #1 for my Top 10 list, were it not for a few more spectacular goals Locomotive found throughout the season. First, Nick’s run into wide open space is phenomenal. Second, the picture-perfect cross from Macca is something we’ve come to expect from the defender over his first two years with the club. Lucho’s recognition of Nick behind him while he is fully marked by white jerseys causes him to duck beneath the cross, turning Indy Eleven on their heels. The most beautiful part of the goal though is of course the finish. Nick’s juggling to set himself up with the volley that pings the bottom of the crossbar and in is awe-inspiring. The absolute control from the Scotsman makes him easily one of the most underrated players on this squad. This goal just shows what he can do with the ball and it’s easily one of my favorite goals of this season.

Were you looking at that Aaron Gomez goal from earlier on this list against the Monarchs and wondering, what would it have looked like if Aaron had gone for the volley instead of the header? Well, he answered that question just a few months later in October against Austin Bold FC. It’s almost a similar ball, just at a much tighter angle. The ball lands right next to Aaron and takes a bounce back into the air. This time, however, Aaron goes to reach it in the air with his left foot. The athleticism to make that kick is incredible, and the Borderland native made it look easy. I’m fairly certain no one expected Aaron to attempt it, especially not Arshia Babazadeh, Bold FC’s goalkeeper who made a decent attempt to try and snuff out the attempt only to just miss the ball. There is certainly a reason why Aaron Gomez leads the club with goals scored and it’s because of beautiful attempts like this that always seem to find the back of the net.

Very few goals will make your jaw drop and force you to ask the question of “How in the world did they pull that off?” This one by Macca King (along with the next goal that slots in at #1) does just that. First, Nick Ross’ serve is so well placed to the far post. Macca – who has been so good all season at getting to the end of set-pieces – was determined to put a foot on the end of it, even with a defender practically in the exact same place that he was in. The result was Macca putting in one of the most insane goals I have ever seen. Macca came off his feet to meet the ball, getting the touch with the side of his foot to redirect back into the net at the near post. While Macca said post-game that he saw the ball come in towards him, I’m not completely convinced that he knew where the ball was when he struck it. The English defender did admit that he didn’t see the ball go in and just started celebrating after the roar of the crowd told him everything he needed to know about the goal.

Of course, this goal was #1 on my Top 10. The sheer technicality behind this goal. The improvisation of the goal to get it into the back of the net. There isn’t a week that goes by where I don’t go back to watch this one again. First, you have to admire Sebastian Velasquez and his fight at the end line to keep the ball alive. Once Andrew Fox sends the ball in back center it’s all over. Lucho’s body was facing the wrong way. His run with Roberto Alburquerque right behind him made it physically impossible to turn around to face goal and get a shot off. In the end, making a jump to backheel the ball in was what made sense and Lucho knew it. So Lucho did it. It is, without a doubt, one of the most jaw-dropping goals I have ever seen and it’s not only one of my favorite goals of the year, but also one of my favorite goals of all time. This one made SportsCenter at #4 but surely should have been placed higher. It was also voted the USL Championship’s Fan Goal of the Week in Week 18. This is a goal of pure class and it’s a goal that really only Lucho Solignac could pull off.

There you have it. Those are my Top 10 Favorite Goals from the 2021 USL Championship season. Do you agree with the list? Do you disagree? What were some of your favorite goals of the season? Let me know! And don’t forget to vote in the 2021 Fan Awards for Goal of the Year later on this month!

El Paso Locomotive Fall 1-0 to Oakland Roots SC

El Paso Locomotive (Western Quarterfinals) bowed out of the 2021 USL Championship playoffs with a 1-0 loss against Oakland Roots SC. Locomotive closes out a historic 2021 season that saw the club go 25-games undefeated at Southwest University Park, including a 13-0-3 record at home.

“This is the reality of playoff soccer,” said Head Coach and Technical Director Mark Lowry. “We had a great season. The guys did a tremendous job and I’m proud of the work they put in every day. One game doesn’t define them. They deserved to win tonight. The ball just didn’t go in but they did what they could. The play was fantastic so we go with their heads held high, staying optimistic, and looking ahead.”

El Paso dominated the flow of the game from the offset, nearly finding an opening goal within the first minute as a cross into the box looked destined to find Forward Aaron Gomez, but ultimately floated over to be cleared by an Oakland defender. Minutes later, Oakland’s Johnny Rodriguez took a rocket towards goal but Goalkeeper Logan Ketterer got a beautiful touch to the ball to send it over the bar. Both sides pressured the final third throughout the remainder of the half but strong defending from both ends left the first half without a goal.

The press from Oakland Roots in the second half continued to test the Locomotive FC backline, which held their own through the majority of the half. Ketterer came up big again stopping a headed chance towards goal, rebounding it out to Kai Greene who mistimed the touch to send it flying over the crossbar. The breakthrough finally came in the 76th minute however with a long ball that found Jeremy Bokila who took the touch through Ketterer and provide Oakland with the goal lead. El Paso used the remaining 15 minutes to dominate the game, searching for the would-be equalizer as Midfielder Diego Luna took shots that flew wide of the net. Forward Lucho Solignac’s opportunities ended blocked by the Roots goalkeeper or barely stopped by a packed-in defense. At the end of the 90 minutes, Locomotive was unable to equalize to shut the book on a historic 2021 season.

UP NEXT: El Paso Locomotive returns to action in the 2022 USL Championship season. Lock in your seats for Locomotive’s fourth campaign in the USL with season tickets available now at https://www.eplocomotivefc.com or by calling 915-235-GOAL.

GOAL SCORING RUNDOWN

OAK: Jeremy Bokila (Quinc Amarikwa), 76th minute: A long ball from the goalkeeper landed off the knee of an Oakland midfielder, taking a bounce towards Amarikwa. Amarikwa took one touch to send the pass in front of Bokila who broke past the Locomotive defense and slipped in the go-ahead goal that would be the game-winner.

NOTES:

– El Paso Locomotive bows out of the USL Championship playoffs putting an end to a historic year.

– Goalkeeper Logan Ketterer three incredible saves throughout the night to keep El Paso in the game.

Match: El Paso Locomotive vs Oakland Roots SC
Date: November 5, 2021
Venue: Southwest University Park; El Paso, Texas
Weather: 70F and clear skies

Scoring Summary 1 2 F

El Paso Locomotive 0 0 0

Oakland Roots SC 0 1 1

OAK – Jeremy Bokila (Quinc Amarikwa), 76’

Lineups:

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

Subs not used: Ben Beaury, Ricardo Zacarias, Chapa Herrera, Jose Aguinaga

Oakland Roots SC (4-4-2): Paul Blanchette; Memo Diaz, Emrah Klimenta, Kai Greene, Akeem Ward, Joseph Nane, Jesus Enriquez Max Ornstil, 90’), Johnny Rodriguez (Jeremy Bokila, 74’), Jose Hernandez (Tarek Morad, 89’), Matias Fissore, Quinc Amarikwa

Subs not used: Tam Weir, Ariel Mbumba, Taylor Bailey, Yohannes Harish

Stats Summary: ELP | OAK

MISCONDUCT SUMMARY:

ELP – Andrew Fox (Caution), 20’
OAK – Joseph Nane (Caution), 26’
ELP – Diego Luna (Caution), 78’
OAK – Tarek Morad (Caution) 90’

Midfielder Diego Luna Called for U.S. Men's Under 20 National Team

El Paso Locomotive FC Midfielder Diego Luna has been called to represent club and country as part of the U.S. Men’s U-20 National Team roster, the club announced today alongside U.S. Soccer. Luna will be available for tonight’s Western Conference Quarterfinal playoff match against Oakland Roots SC at Southwest University Park before joining the U.S. Men’s U-20 National Team on Sunday, November 7.

“We are very proud of Diego’s development this season, and this call-up is fully deserving,” said Mark Lowry, El Paso Locomotive FC Head Coach and Technical Director. “He has a drive and a desire to match his ability and we are happy that he is getting the recognition he deserves. It’s a proud moment for Diego and it’s a proud moment for El Paso Locomotive. We have full confidence he is going to go and show a lot of people what he is capable of, and we can’t wait to see it.”

Luna, 18, has had a standout professional debut season, having joined El Paso Locomotive FC from the prestigious Barca Residency Academy in Arizona. The California native has made 31 appearances with 21 starts amassing nine goals and five assists in his rookie season. Luna has previously been called to the U-14 and U-17 USMNT camps but has yet to make an appearance on the gameday roster for the national team.

The USMNT U-20 squad will compete in Mexico in the inaugural Revelations Cup – a new international youth tournament organized by the Mexican Football Federation and Curveball Sports & Entertainment to highlight the brightest national rising stars. The tournament brings together four of the best youth national teams to play in a Round Robin format between November 10 and November 16. The US will be joined by the U-20 squads of Brazil, Mexico, and Colombia.

The USMNT U-20’s will kick off the tournament on Wednesday, November 10 at 4:00 p.m. MT against their Brazilian counterparts before taking on the Colombia U-20 Team on Saturday, November 13 at 2:30 p.m. MT. The tournament will conclude with the US-Mexico rivalry on Tuesday, November 16 at 4:00 p.m. MT. All matches will be played at the Miguel Alemán Valdés Stadium in Celaya, Guanajuato, Mexico, and will be broadcast live on TUDN. Follow Revelations Cup Mexico on social media for more information.

El Paso Locomotive kicks off its third straight year in the USL Championship playoffs against Oakland Roots SC tonight at Southwest University Park, a venue in which El Paso Locomotive is undefeated in 470 calendar days. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. MT with good tickets available at https://www.eplocomotivefc.com/tickets, 915-235-GOAL, or through the Official El Paso Locomotive FC App.

See the full U.S. Men’s U-20 National Team Roster below:

GOALKEEPERS (2): Alexander Borto (Fulham/ENG.; South Plainfield, N.J.), Gabriel Slonina (Chicago Fire FC.; Addison, Ill.)

DEFENDERS (7): Justin Che (FC Dallas; Richardson, Texas), Jacob Greene (D.C. United; Crofton, Md.), Kobi Henry (Orange County S.C.; Lake Forest, Calif.), Jalen Neal (LA Galaxy; Lakewood, Calif.), Kayden Pierre (Sporting Kansas City; Bloomfield Hills, Mich.), Casey Walls (Mill Valley, Calif.; San Jose Earthquakes), Caleb Wiley (Atlanta United F.C.; Atlanta, Ga.)

MIDFIELDERS (8): Paxten Aaronson (Philadelphia Union; Medford, N.J.), Caden Clark (New York Red Bulls; Wayzata, Minn.), Daniel Edelman (New York Red Bulls; Warren, N.J.), Jeremy Garay (D.C. United; Crofton, Md.), Daniel Leyva (Seattle SoundersF.C.; Las Vegas, Nev.), Diego Luna (El Paso Locomotive; Redwood, Calif.), Jack McGlynn (Philadelphia Union; Middle Village, N.Y.), Rokas Pukstas (Hajduk Split/CRO; Stillwater, Okla.)

FORWARDS (6): Cade Cowell (San Jose Earthquakes; Ceres, Calif.), Brian Gutierrez (Chicago Fire F.C.; Chicago, Ill.), Missael Rodriguez (Chicago Fire FC; Chicago, Ill.), Malick Sanogo (1. FC Union Berlin/GER; Berlin, Germany), Dante Sealy (PSV Eindhoven/NED; Frisco, Texas), Quinn Sullivan (Philadelphia Union; Philadelphia, Pa.)

RunDown | ELP vs OAK

It’s time for the most wonderful time of the year! No not Christmas and the holiday season. I’m talking about playoffs. Drama. Trophies. Edge of your seat nail-biter games. It’s everything you could ever want in your games of soccer, and we get to experience it live at Southwest University Park right here in El Paso. The best teams in the entire league clash to find out who truly is the better team. The best part about it is that Locomotive is on that shortlist. Our first match: Oakland Roots SC. A team we have never seen before until now. So let’s break them down and get to know what we are dealing with here.

MATCH DETAILS: USL Championship Western Conference Quarterfinals; vs Oakland Roots SC; Kickoff 7:30 p.m. MT; Gates Open at 6:30 p.m. MT

VENUE/WEATHER: Southwest University Park; El Paso, Texas; 77F degrees and clear skies

TICKETS: Click Here!

WATCH: ESPN+

RECORDS/STANDINGS: Locomotive: 18-4-10 (64 points, MTN-1); Roots: 11-13-8 (41 points, PAC-4)

PREVIOUS MEETING: El Paso Locomotive FC and Oakland Roots have never met before! This is going to be an exciting unknown match-up to open the playoffs as both teams have nothing but tape to prepare for this win-or-go-home contest.

Oakland Roots had arguably the roughest start to their inaugural USL Championship season. The California Club lost 3-0 in its first franchise game against Phoenix Rising FC and picked up the win two weeks later with a 3-2 victory over LA Galaxy II. After that though, it was all downhill. Over the next 11 games, Roots were left winless, losing seven games while coming away with draws in four. Oakland would stay without a win from May 23 to August 14 when it would host LA Galaxy II to claim a 2-1 win. This sparked an Oakland Roots come back, watching the club raise from the bottom of the barrel to a contender for the fourth and final playoff position in the Pacific Division. Thanks to its late-season surge, a 1-0 win against Sporting Kansas City II, and LA Galaxy II’s three-game loss to close the season, Oakland found itself just over the playoff line and in place to take on El Paso Locomotive at Southwest University Park.

There are two players that stand out on the Oakland Roots SC roster on both ends of the ball. On the defensive side, Defender Emrah Klimenta is an anchor as a center-back. The Yugoslavian defender has made 91 clearances throughout the season, blocking 18 shots and making 41 interceptions to disrupt the attacking opposition. With 21 of 32 tackles won and 87 out of 144 duels won, Klimenta has the capability to halt even the most aggressive attacks, helping to keep even Phoenix Rising FC to only three goals in their last three meetings. Named to the USL Championship’s Team of the Week in Week 25, Klimenta carries with him a wealth of experience in the USL Championship as well as the Slovakian top flights and with LA Galaxy in Major League Soccer. The 30-year-old veteran defender has also made seven appearances with the Montenegro National Team.

On the offensive half of the ball, 24-year-old Midfielder Jesus Enriquez is a maestro to be reckoned with. The Santa Clara, California native is tied for second in both goals and assists within Oakland Roots at four and three respectively. A versatile player, Enriquez’s four goals have come from both his right and left boot, having scored twice with each foot. The young American is in a good run of form with confidence at an all-time high, having found two of his four goals within the last two games. Enriquez has registered 24 shots, 18 of which were on target while nearly matching that with 23 key passes to set up chances for goal. The Oakland midfielder is a threat down the right-wing and through the midfield has proven to be a headache for the opposition defense. At just 24-years-old, Enriquez is also no stranger to the USL Championship, having previously seen massive success with Rio Grande Valley FC in the 2018 and 2019 seasons before jumping between San Antonio FC and Reno 1868 FC in 2020. He has found his home with Oakland Roots, however, coming into his own as their midfield maestro.

Despite a storybook end to their regular season, seeing Oakland Roots clinch a playoff berth in its inaugural year of USL Championship play, they did so by the skin of their teeth. Oakland Roots SC did not have the greatest record through the year, earning 11 wins, 13 losses and 8 draws. While their better record was at home at Laney College Football Stadium, their road form left a lot to be desired. At 4 wins, 8 losses, and 4 draws, the Roots dropped more points on the road than they earned. Their road form will face its greatest challenge yet – yes, even greater than playing Phoenix Rising FC at home twice in one year – when it visits El Paso Locomotive FC at Southwest University Park. We’ve been shouting this from the rooftops for months now and rightly so. Southwest University Park is a fortress. El Paso Locomotive has never lost at home in playoff situations. El Paso Locomotive is currently on a 25-game unbeaten streak dating back to July 2020 including the playoffs of that year. El Paso Locomotive is simply unstoppable within the walls of its home. As Oakland’s poor away form takes on Locomotive’s indomitable home fortress, it’s still important not to get too complacent. This is win-or-go-home. Oakland will be playing with nothing to lose and fighting with everything they have to continue. Of course, El Paso Locomotive will be doing the same, but matches are different now than they are in the regular season. Friday night is set to be an electric showdown between Roots and Locomotive as both sides seek to kickoff their trophy push.

El Paso Locomotive Starts Third Consecutive Playoff Run AGainst Oakland Roots SC

El Paso Locomotive (18-4-10, 64 pts., MTN-1) kicks off the 2021 USL Championship playoffs presented by TwinSpires at Southwest University Park on Friday, November 5 at 7:30 p.m. against Oakland Roots SC. Gates open at 6:30 p.m.

Good tickets are available at eplocmotivefc.com/tickets, by phone at 915-235-GOAL, or through the Official El Paso Locomotive FC App. Tickets can also be purchased at the Southwest University Park box office. The box office is open 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. today through Thursday and on Friday from 10 a.m. until 30 minutes after the conclusion of the match.

As part of the match festivities, fans can enjoy a $6 Estrella Jalisco & Souvenir Popcorn special through the 75th minute. Fans are encouraged to purchase early to save over day of game prices!

For the third consecutive year, El Paso Locomotive kicks off its run towards the USL Championship Final to bring a set of trophies to El Paso. After a successful 2021 regular season that saw Locomotive earn a club-best record of 18-4-10, El Paso is poised to make a historic playoff push. Using its North American best 25 home game unbeaten streak, Los Locos welcome Oakland Roots SC for the first time to Southwest University Park for the opening round of the playoffs.

El Paso Locomotive FC has seen nothing but success in playoff situations at Southwest University Park, having advanced to the next round following home playoff games. In 2019, Locomotive hosted one game, claiming a 3-0 win over Sacramento Republic before hosting two games in the playoffs in 2020, taking home wins over FC Tulsa and New Mexico United following dramatic penalty shootouts. Meanwhile, Oakland Roots SC will be making its first postseason appearance since joining the league as an expansion side earlier this year. The Locos and Roots have yet to meet on the pitch, making this is an exciting match-up against an unfamiliar opponent. As the exciting young-blood of the USL Championship, Roots SC will be eager to make a statement against an El Paso side that has seen the Western Conference in every year of its existence.

Should Locomotive FC earn a win against Oakland Roots SC on Friday, November 5, it will play host to the winner of Orange County SC and Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC on Saturday, November 13. Tickets are on sale now.

Follow El Paso Locomotive FC vs Oakland Roots SC – Fri., November 5, 2021

·         Coverage Begins: 7:30 p.m. MT; Gates Open at 6:30 p.m. MT
·         Watch: ESPN+
·         Social Media: @EPLocomotiveFC & #ELPvOAK on Twitter
·         Additional Content: Official El Paso Locomotive FC App (iOS / Android)
·         Promotion: $6 Estrella Jalisco & Souvenir Popcorn Bucket until the 75th minute.

Always Improving: Locomotive from 2019 to 2021

The book has shut on the 2021 USL Championship Regular Season and 16 teams are penning new chapters for the playoff race to the trophy. For El Paso Locomotive, they enter the post-season as one of those final 16 teams for the third straight season since joining the league in 2019.

As Head Coach Mark Lowry and El Paso Locomotive turn their attention towards yet another historic storybook run towards the USL Championship Title, now is as good a time as any to look back at the club-best run through the regular season.

Through the 2021 season, El Paso Locomotive was one of two teams that stayed unbeaten at their home venue. After 16 games played at Southwest University Park, the Locos finished with a record of 13-0-3 (42 points) while Phoenix Rising FC’s home record at the Phoenix Rising Soccer Complex follows shortly behind at 11-0-5 (38 points). The two Western Conference clubs join a shortlist of teams in the USL Championship’s history to have a loss-less record at home in the regular season. Orlando City (2012, 2014), Richmond Kickers (2013), Rochester Rhinos (2015), Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (2019), and Indy Eleven (2019) accomplished the feat beforehand with at least 10 games played at home in the season. In 2020, Sacramento Republic and San Antonio FC managed to stay unbeaten at their home stadiums, but both played less than 10 games at nine and eight respectively.

The 2021 Locomotive home record lends itself to what is now an all-time club-best record in the regular season. Beating the record set in 2019 (13-10-11, 50 points), Los Locos amassed 64 points with a record of 18-4-10. With only four losses in the season, El Paso Locomotive boasts the cleanest record across the entire league for 2021, finishing third overall behind only the 2020 Conference Champions, Phoenix Rising FC (67 points), and Tampa Bay Rowdies (71 points).

Locomotive has only improved with each year all across the pitch making this club-best record a possibility.

Compared to the inaugural 2019 season, El Paso Locomotive boasted a stingier and more ironclad defense while putting forward a more clinical and aggressive offense. All in all, Locomotive put forth a more complete showing in 2021 than it did just two years ago. In 2019, Locomotive scored 42 goals across 13 goal scorers while allowing 36 for a +6-goal differential. That was enough to earn Locomotive a berth into the playoffs for their inaugural year, but El Paso knew it could be better.

By 2021, Locomotive had improved to scoring 56 goals in two fewer games (14 more than 2019) across 14 scorers. Meanwhile, Locomotive only allowed 34 goals this season, two less than 2019, giving the Sun City club a +22-goal differential to top the Mountain Division and decisively earning a playoff berth.

Anyone paying attention through the 2020 shortened season saw this improvement well underway. The 2019 42 goals scored and 36 allowed were earned in a full 34-game season. El Paso Locomotive played 16-games in 2020, just shy of half the number of 2019. Even still, Locomotive scored 24 goals while allowing only 14. In less than half the games, the Boys in Blue had already scored more than half the number of goals scored in 2019. No matter the circumstances, El Paso Locomotive has continually improved throughout the years, leading to what really was a year to remember in 2021.

So here we are. The end of the 2021 USL Championship Regular Season. It started off slow. Locomotive only played two or three games while everyone else had played five or six. Rio Grande Valley FC stood at the top of the Mountain Division, while El Paso sat below the playoff line in fifth. Despite the slow start, Locomotive had the advantage of games in hand, knowing exactly what it needed to do to come out on top. Every man from 1 to 22 on Coach Lowry’s squad did just that to get the job done. By the end of the regular season, El Paso Locomotive had decisively claimed the top seed in the Mountain Division without any threat to top stop them.

We’ve seen a lot through the season. The triumphant return of Sebastian Velasquez was a welcome comeback adding a creative and clinical depth to the attacking midfield. Diego Luna made his professional debut, taking the league by storm as one of the brightest up-and-comers. Lucho Solignac fitted perfectly into Mark Lowry’s system, creatively finishing goals that land on ESPN SportsCenter Top 10. Macca King and Eder Borelli stood out on the wings, playing end-to-end football that both stopped opposition offense while creating goals for the attack. Ultimately, we saw a club that played as a team and not as individuals on the pitch.

The team may have faltered once or twice throughout the season, but the resiliency of the club saw the team bounce back on more than one occasion. El Paso Locomotive FC truly showcased a never-say-die attitude. This is a club that wants to win and will do everything they can to come out on the other side of the 90-minute whistle as a winner. 2021 showed that this is a team that has what it takes to take everything it does to the next step. Which leaves us to looking ahead at the 2021 Playoffs

El Paso Locomotive has made it a successful trend of taking everything to the next level. When it comes to the playoffs, El Paso took their run to the Western Conference finals, falling to a heartbreaking last-second goal in added extra time. In 2020, they repeated the performance, this time taking the match past added extra time and into a penalty shootout, but again falling just short. To follow this successful trend, Locomotive is primed to win the Western Conference title and represent the West in the USL Championship Final.

Don’t miss the first step in El Paso Locomotive’s quest to the USL Championship Final this Friday, November 5 at 7:30 p.m. MT. Locomotive is set to take on El Paso native Memo Diaz and Oakland Roots SC. The first meeting between these two clubs is set to be a historic one at Southwest University Park. Tickets are going quickly so lock in your seat now at https://www.eplocomotivefc.com/tickets, phone at 915-235-GOAL, or through the Official El Paso Locomotive FC App.

El Paso Locomotive FC Falls 4-1 to Rio Grande Valley FC

El Paso Locomotive (18-4-10, 64 points) fell for only the fourth time in the 2021 USL Championship regular season with a 1-4 scoreline against Rio Grande Valley FC. Midfielder Chapa Herrera scored his first of the lone Locomotive goal. The result means Locomotive finishes second in the Western Conference, just behind Phoenix Rising FC.

Rio Grande Valley FC got off to a start that set the tempo of the game, converting a penalty in the seventh minute that just got past Goalkeeper Logan Ketterer. Locomotive fought for an equalizer, ultimately finding one through Forward Leandro Carrijo, who rounded RGV goalkeeper Tyler Deric to get to the back of the net, but the goal was disallowed due to offside. While Locomotive aimed to make one count, RGVFC doubled the lead just before the halftime whistle, with Kyle Edwards finding his first of the night.

Locomotive put themselves back into the fight earning the first second-half goal with a decisive play between Midfielder Diego Luna and Herrera, who took the one-touch to get past the RGV goalkeeper. Despite pulling one back on the scoreboard, RGV took in the second half, as Edwards earned his second of the night. El Paso Locomotive was put on the backfoot throughout the remainder of the match, as RGV never let off the gas, finding the nail in the coffin in the 79th minute with Emilio Ycaza earning the fourth Toros goal to contribute to the scoring.

UP NEXT: El Paso Locomotive kicks off its Track to the Trophy with a home match for the Western Conference Quarterfinal at Southwest University Park. Kick-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. MT on Friday, November 5. Tickets are available at https://www.eplocomotivefc.com/tickets, by phone at 915-235-GOAL, or through the official El Paso Locomotive App. The opponent is to be determined between Oakland Roots and LA Galaxy II

GOAL SCORING RUNDOWN

RGV: Rodrigo Lopez (Penalty), 7th minute: After being brought down in the box by a late tackle from Carrijo prompted the referee to point to the spot. Lopez stepped up, taking the kick well to the left. While Logan Ketterer guessed the direction correctly, it wasn’t enough to put a stop to the ball and provided RGV with an early lead.

RGV: Kyle Edwards, 49th minute: In stoppage time of the first half, a strong pass forward ended with just a miss-timed clearance from the Locomotive backline, opening up Edwards to take a shot towards goal that ended in the back of the net.

ELP: Chapa Herrera (Diego Luna), 52nd minute: In a decisive play, Luna played a through ball forward that both Leandro Carrijo and Herrera got to the end of. Herrera ultimately took the shot, ending in the back of the net to breathe some life into the Locomotive game.

RGV: Kyle Edwards (Juan Azocar), 59th minute: Down the right-hand side, Azocar was able to break past the Locomotive defense, putting a ball in forward which Edwards broke past to get to. With one touch, Edwards put the goal into the back of the net to further the Rio Grande Valley lead.

RGV: Emilio Ycaza, 79th minute: In a 50/50 duel, Ycaza got the better of the El Paso Locomotive FC defense, creating a one-on-one situation with Logan Ketterer. Ycaza took the shot quickly finding the bottom corner of the near post to put the nail in the coffin for the night.

NOTES:

– Midfielder Chapa Herrera scored his first Locomotive goal of the season, scoring in the 52nd minute.

– Locomotive ends the 2021 USL Championship Regular Season with one of the best records in the league, having only lost four times in the 32-game season.

– El Paso Locomotive is set to host the opening round of the 2021 USL Championship playoffs, taking on either LA Galaxy II, Oakland Roots, or Tacoma Defiance.

Match: El Paso Locomotive at Rio Grande Valley FC
Date: October 30, 2021
Venue: H-E-B Park; Edinburg, Texas
Weather: 76F and clear skies

Scoring Summary 1 2 F

El Paso Locomotive 0 1 1

Rio Grande Valley FC 2 2 4

RGV – Rodrigo Lopez (Penalty), 7’
RGV – Kyle Edwards, 45’+4
ELP – Chapa Herrera (Diego Luna), 52’
RGV – Kyle Edwards (Juan Azocar), 59’
RGV – Emilio Ycaza, 79’

Lineups:

El Paso Locomotive FC (4-4-2): Logan Ketterer; Eder Borelli, Andrew Fox (Cole Turner, 45’), Mechack Jerome (Ricardo Zacarias, 61’), Matt Bahner, Richie Ryan (Chapa Herrera, 45’), Nick Ross (Jose Aguinaga, 61’), Dylan Mares (Aaron Gomez, 73’), Lucho Solignac, Diego Luna (Brooklyn Raines, 80’), Leandro Carrijo

Subs not used: Ben Beaury

Rio Grande Valley FC (4-4-2): Tyler Deric (Colin Miller, 65’); Erik Pimentel, Carter Manley, Baboucarr Njie, Juan Azocar, Rodrigo Lopez (Vicente Sanchez, 87’), Andres Flores (Adrian Vera, 87’), Emilio Ycaza, Kyle Edwards (Juan Cabezas, 65’), Jonas Fjeldberg, Christian Sorto (Elvis Amoh, 87’)

Subs not used: Adrian Diz Pe, Frank Lopez

Stats Summary: ELP | RGV

MISCONDUCT SUMMARY:

RGV – Emilio Ycaza (Caution), 12’
ELP – Eder Borelli (Caution), 45’
RGV – Juan Azocar (Caution), 45’+2
RGV – Kyle Edwards (Caution), 45’+4
RGV – Adrian Vera (Caution), 90’+1

Around the League Playoff Scenarios

On Saturday, El Paso Locomotive and Rio Grande Valley FC face off in one of 15 matches to close out the 2021 USL Championship season. Even with most teams having only one game left in the season, the playoff picture is all but clear – especially in the two divisions that make up the Western Conference.

As we head into the final weekend of the regular season, let’s take a look around the league, break down who we could face in the Western Conference Quarterfinal on November 5 at Southwest University Park, and what games we should be paying close attention to.

As the undisputed leaders of the Mountain Division, El Paso Locomotive earns the right to host whoever finishes just above the playoff line in the Pacific Division for the opening round of the playoffs. Heading into the final weekend, we still don’t know who exactly that opponent it is, but there are three possibilities: LA Galaxy II, Oakland Roots SC, and Tacoma Defiance. All three play this weekend, each with their own objectives to make a post-season appearance.

LA GALAXY II

The first is LA Galaxy II, who currently sit in that coveted playoff position, and hosts Orange County SC in their final match (8:30 p.m. MT Kickoff; ESPN+). It will be a win-and-you’re-in scenario for Los Dos, as picking up three points against OCSC will guarantee a trip to El Paso while anything less leaves it in the hands of Tacoma Defiance and Oakland Roots. Should Galaxy II earn a draw against OCSC, it would need Oakland and Tacoma to all fail to get a win. Alternatively, should Oakland and Tacoma both lose, or if Tacoma loses and Oakland draws, LA Galaxy II would still book their seat in the playoffs. FiveThirtyEight has Los Dos with a 64% chance of reaching the post-season so needless to say, they are the favorites for the weekend.

OAKLAND ROOTS

Oakland Roots is just a point behind LA Galaxy II below the playoff line and may have the easiest-looking matchup on paper. On Saturday, Oakland Roots welcome Sporting Kansas City II (Kickoff 8:00 p.m. MT; ESPN+), a team that has lost 19 games this season and is currently on a five-game losing streak. Even so, this game is an absolutely must-win for Oakland Roots and even then, nothing is guaranteed. Oakland will also need LA Galaxy II to drop points against Orange County SC, whether that be with a draw or loss. FiveThirtyEight gives Oakland Roots 28% odds of making it into the post-season in their first year of Championship play, but that doesn’t mean you can count out the Southern California team quite yet.

TACOMA DEFIANCE

The underdogs of the Pacific Division still have playoff hopes, even if FiveThirtyEight has those hopes at 9%. Arguably the least favorable matchup of the three Pacific Division teams still fighting for 4th place, Tacoma Defiance heads to Phoenix Rising FC for a match in Arizona (Kickoff 8:30 p.m. MT; ESPN+). Phoenix is a hard team to beat, especially in Arizona. Even still, we all may be big Tacoma fans this coming weekend. Should Tacoma pick up three points against Rising, the Pacific Northwest Club stands an opportunity to make playoffs with an Oakland and Galaxy II draw or loss. It would also mean Phoenix drops points and puts Locomotive into a position to take the best record in the Western Conference and the right to host all the way to the Western Conference Final. Yeah, it might be a long shot, but let’s cheer on our friends in Tacoma. Who doesn’t like an underdog?

While the fourth and final playoff position in both the Mountain and Pacific Division may still be a little fuzzy, there are a few things we know as crystal clear. As we said before, we know Locomotive will host the opening round of the playoffs, and should it advance, it will host the second round as well. Phoenix Rising FC earned the same right, but as of right now would also host the Western Conference Final. The two powerhouse Western clubs are joined by San Antonio FC and Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC from the Mountain Division and Orange County SC and San Diego Loyal from the Pacific Division.

With the top three seeds being claimed, there are still six teams fighting for two spots across the two divisions. I broke down the Pacific Division up above, but here in the Mountain Division, Rio Grande Valley FC (44 points) is battling with New Mexico United (43 points) and Austin Bold FC (41 points) for the last playoff ticket. New Mexico United has an easy task on paper, taking on Real Monarchs in Utah, but the so-called Kings of Chaos need help from El Paso Locomotive to make the post-season. Rio Grande Valley FC books their ticket with a win, but should they earn a draw or less, they’ll need United and Bold to do the same in order to advance. Meanwhile, Bold FC absolutely needs a win against Charlotte Independence along with RGVFC and United to lose to make an appearance in the post-season.

As it stands ahead of the final weekend, El Paso Locomotive would host LA Galaxy II then should it advance to the Conference Semifinals, it would play host to the winner of Orange County SC and Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC. On the other end of the playoff bracket, as it stands, Phoenix Rising FC would host Rio Grande Valley FC before going on to play the winner of San Antonio FC and San Diego Loyal.

The Western Conference might be a photo-finish across the playoff line as we enter the final weekend, but the players are set in the Eastern Conference. Tampa Bay Rowdies are leading the charge in the East, taking the Atlantic Division by storm. Joining them in the playoffs are Charlotte Independence, Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC, and Miami FC.

Meanwhile, the Central Division has been locked up by Birmingham Legion FC, Louisville City FC, Memphis 901 FC, and FC Tulsa, but the top spot is still up for grabs. Currently, Birmingham and Louisville are only separated by two points. The two are set to face one another in the October 30 Regular Season Finale, meaning a win for Louisville clinches the Central Division, while a draw or win for Birmingham does the same.

We already know that FC Tulsa will be traveling to Al Lang Stadium to take on Tampa Bay Rowdies for the opening round of the playoffs in the East, but as for where the rest of the clubs go, that much is still in the air. As it stands right now, Birmingham Legion FC would be hosting Miami FC, Pittsburgh Riverhounds would be traveling to Louisville City FC and their Lynn Family Stadium, while Charlotte Independence would play host to Memphis 901 FC – who is frankly just excited to be part of the picture. Even though Locomotive wouldn’t have to handle any Eastern team until the USL Final, each team is crucial to keep an eye on as it they are all potential opponents for the pinnacle trophy.

The 2021 USL Championship playoff race is setting up to be a tight one, with the best teams in the league all vying for the highest title the league has to offer. For El Paso Locomotive, that track to the trophy kicks off on Friday, November 5 at 7:30 p.m. from Southwest University Park against whoever comes out on top between LA Galaxy II, Oakland Roots, and Tacoma Defiance. Tickets for the opening playoff round are going fast so don’t miss out on one of the biggest games of the year. Get your tickets at https://www.eplocomotivefc.com/tickets, by phone at 915-235-GOAL, or through the Official El Paso Locomotive FC App.

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