Game Recaps

El Paso Locomotive FC returns home to close out their April campaign. This will be El Paso’s fifth home match, and their home record stands at 1-2-1. Locomotive FC and Reno 1868 FC are meeting for the first time, the second leg of this matchup will be held in Reno on October 5th. Reno has faced two expansion clubs thus far and has come out on top over Austin Bold and New Mexico United (handing them their first loss of the season).

El Paso leads the entire league in passing accuracy, sitting at 85 percent and has played one less game than Reno. Locomotive GK Logan Ketterer comes into the home match with three clean sheets compared to the one clean sheet for Reno GK Matt Bersano. Between the sticks, Reno has split time between Bersano and James Marcinkowski.

“Reno is a good team. They are on a bit of form right now and have won their last two games. They work hard and they have got some blue-collar mentality in terms of their work rate and hustle,” said El Paso Locomotive FC Head Coach Mark Lowry. Lowry added “We are playing well right now. We are coming off a good performance and a good result on the road. We want to build on that and score some goals at home.” Locomotive is going into this match with the tenacity and hustle that they have brought every day.

In training this week, the team has been tightening up the attack and spending time in the final third, fine-tuning the small details and looking to convert their chances. “We have been working a lot on finishing this week. We haven’t been as strong as we need to be in the final third. This week we also worked on playing forward and hopefully it can all come together this game,” added Forward Omar Salgado.

El Paso heads north for their next match to face Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC on Saturday, May 4th. Fans can catch all the action on ESPN+

El Paso Locomotive FC announces that tickets for their home match in the historic Lamar Hunt US Open Cup go on sale to the public today, Thursday, April 25th at 10 a.m. US Open Cup is the nation’s longest ongoing soccer tournament and El Paso will enter in the second round on May 15th. Tickets can be purchased by calling 915-242-GOAL, or by visiting http://bit.ly/2L2CbbO

“It’s a great privilege to be able to host an Open Cup match in our inaugural year. It is such an entertaining format playing a team we don’t usually see, the chance for overtime and even penalties; It is truly everything a fan could ask for in a single match. We don’t care who we host, we are excited to start our Open Cup run in front of our fans on May 15th,” said General Manager, Business Operations Andrew Forrest.

El Paso will play the winner of the match between USL League One’s Forward Madison FC and UPSL side Bavarian Soccer Club. US Open Cup runs through August, with the last team standing raising the Dewar Challenge Trophy, receiving a prize of $300,000, and a spot in the 2020 CONCACAF Champions League.

El Paso Locomotive FC plays their next match at home on Saturday, April 27th against Reno 1868 FC. Season Ticket Memberships, Group Tickets, and Individual Match Tickets can be purchased at https://www.eplocomotivefc.com/ticket or by calling 915-235-GOAL!

El Paso Locomotive FC traveled to the capital and came away with one point after a 0-0 draw against Austin Bold FC. El Paso has yet to concede a goal when they play away from home.

Jerome Kiesewetter made his second career start with Locomotive. The German-born American came into the El Paso camp four weeks ago. El Paso native Louis “Chapa” Herrera saw his second appearance in a Locomotive uniform when he stepped on the pitch in the 75th minute, relieving midfielder Sebastian Contreras.

This match represented the second game for El Paso Locomotive in the Copa Tejas, the supporter’s driven cup amongst the four USL Championship Clubs; Austin Bold, El Paso Locomotive FC, Rio Grande Valley FC, and San Antonio FC. El Paso has tied with both of the Texas teams they have faced thus far in their 2019 campaign.

“We had some great chances that we didn’t capitalize on in both halves and those two offsides goals were very close … Austin are a very good team and it was a very good point here for us on the road,” said Head Coach Mark Lowry.

El Paso Locomotive FC plays their next match at home on Saturday, April 27th against Reno 1868 FC. Season Ticket Memberships, Group Tickets, and Individual Match Tickets can be purchased at https://www.eplocomotivefc.com/ticket or by calling 915-235-GOAL!

US Soccer Federation announced today that El Paso Locomotive FC will be hosting a second-round match of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on Tuesday, May 14th or Wednesday, May 15th. El Paso will face either USL League One club, Forward Madison FC or Bavarian Soccer Club from the UPSL. Ticketing information will be available in the coming weeks. Hosting a US Open Cup match at home will provide El Pasoans the opportunity to attend a game that is part of this nation’s longest ongoing soccer tournament (106 years).

For more information on the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup click here: https://www.eplocomotivefc.com/news_article/show/994244

EL PASO  – April 13, 2019 – El Paso Locomotive FC saw three players make their first start for the club, Forward Jerome Kiesewetter, Midfielder Calvin Rezende, and Defender Daniel Navarro. Injuries earlier in the week led to shifts in the El Paso lineup, most notably in the defensive back.

Phoenix Rising FC took an early lead when Locomotive Goal Keeper Logan Ketterer tripped leaving a wide-open net. Ketterer recovered and came up with three massive saves to keep the score to one and to send the game into halftime.  Locomotive closed out the first half exhibiting a passing accuracy of 86 percent and maintaining possession 59.6 percent of the half.

Locomotive came out in the second half looking for the equalizer, constantly pressing and testing the Phoenix backline. At the end of 90 minutes, Locomotive played their brand of football well with high periods of possession and consistent passing accuracy. Phoenix would find the net once more to close the game 2-0.

Kiesewetter commented on his first match as a Locomotive attacker, “It was good to get the 90 minutes in. We need to work on our rhythm a bit and it will all come together.” He would end the night with two shots.

“We had four players out with injury. Kiesewetter came in and played his first game in six to eight months,” said Head Coach Mark Lowry. “The buildup play was unbelievable. Phoenix is one of the best teams in the league year after year, I thought we controlled the game well. The guys showed great resilience and great mental strength to stay in the game.”

El Paso Locomotive FC plays their next match at home on Saturday, April 27th against Reno 1868 FC.  Season Ticket Memberships, Group Tickets, and Individual Match Tickets can be purchased at https://www.eplocomotivefc.com/ticket or by calling 915-235-GOAL!

El Paso Locomotive is set to face a southwest regional rival in Phoenix Rising FC at home this Saturday. In terms of distance, Phoenix is the second closest club that El Paso will play this season (New Mexico United holding the first spot). Four hundred and twenty-eight miles separate the two stadiums and five spots in the Western Conference standings separate the two clubs. Phoenix Rising has yet to notch a win this season and has tied all four of their matches. They are coming off a three-match homestand making this the second road game for the club this season. Last season, Phoenix Rising went to the USL Cup Final, falling to repeat champions, Louisville City FC. The team is looking for that first win but will face a formidable El Paso squad.

Locomotive FC fell in their first match to OKC Energy FC and then proceeded to tie their next two matches. The team exhibited a dominating performance against Orange County SC to grab the first win in club history in front of an electrifying home crowd. Riding that high the team added another component to the attack in the bye week by signing Jerome Kiesewetter. Kiesewetter has senior caps with the US Men’s National Team and played his club career in the esteemed Bundesliga with VfB Stuttgart and Dusseldorf.

With the week off from a match, Head Coach Mark Lowry and the team hit the training fields with intent and focus. “We are going to continue working on the things that we do well and play our style and to our strengths,” said Lowry. As it stands, attacker Sebastian Contreras is tied for 5th in chances created (12) and tied for 4th in assists (two). “My job is to create, assist and score,” said Contreras who is still searching for that first goal to open up his scoring account.  

El Paso Locomotive FC plays at home this Saturday, April 13th against Phoenix Rising FC. Gates open at 6:30 p.m. and kick off is slated for 7:30 p.m. Season Ticket Memberships, Group Tickets, and Individual Match Tickets can be purchased at https://www.eplocomotivefc.com/ticket or by calling/texting 915-235-GOAL!

El Paso Locomotive FC forward, Omar Salgado, was honored today at his former elementary and middle school, St. Joseph’s. “This is the school in El Paso where I spent most of my time. It is special for me to be here and I have so many memories that were created here,” said Salgado at the special ceremony in the newly renamed Omar Salgado Gymnasium.

The ceremony kicked off with St. Joseph’s Principal Ms. Hernandez taking center stage in the packed gymnasium. “Omar is an Eagle and graduated in the class of 2008. He is determined to succeed in all that he does, Omar is relentless and fierce. He is smart and creative and is an example of strength and tenacity. Omar is a powerhouse Locomotive,” said Hernandez.

After a roaring applause from the gym floor and bleachers, Salgado took his place. “Every memory I have of this school is a happy one. This school shaped me into the man I am today. It gave me the morals and values that I keep with me to this day,” said Salgado in front of friends, family, students and faculty. “Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine that this gym would be named after me. It truly is an honor and I would like to extend my thanks to all of St. Joseph’s.”

After his speech Salgado spoke about his career and answered questions from children in kindergarten through eighth grade. He told them what it was like playing in Mexico, what it means to play for his hometown team, and he offered them advice on achieving their dream.

The golden plaque hangs caddy corner to the front door of the Omar Salgado Gymnasium, reminding all who walk in what hard work and determination can accomplish. “I was once sitting there where you all are now, and I am here to tell you that anything is possible,” said Salgado.

U.S. Soccer and ESPN+ have reached an exclusive, multi-year media rights agreement for the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, U.S. Soccer’s national championship for clubs and the longest-running domestic cup competition in the United States. All U.S. Open Cup matches from the First Round through the Final will air exclusively on ESPN+, the direct-to-consumer sports streaming service, beginning this year and running through the 109th edition of the tournament in 2022. The deal, negotiated by SUM on behalf of U.S. Soccer, includes rights in all languages.

The 2019 U.S. Open Cup on ESPN+ kicks off May 7-8 with the First Round, featuring 38 amateur and Division III professional teams from across the United States. Twenty-five Division II professional teams enter in the Second Round on May 14-15, while the Third Round, scheduled for May 29, provides a final hurdle before lower division sides get their shot to square off against the 21 U.S.-based Major League Soccer (MLS) clubs on a national stage.
Those Division I MLS teams join the competition in the Fourth Round on June 12.

“The U.S. Open Cup is America’s version of what is truly unique about soccer around the world — knockout format club tournaments that invite the ‘Davids’ and the ‘Goliaths’ from all levels of the sport to compete against one another to determine the nation’s top team,” said Burke Magnus, Executive Vice President, Programming and Scheduling, ESPN. “This exciting property joins a robust collection of soccer’s best domestic cup competitions on ESPN+.”

“We are extremely pleased by the commitment from ESPN+ to broadcast every game of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup for the next several years,” said U.S. Soccer CEO Dan Flynn. “This landmark agreement demonstrates U.S. Soccer’s commitment to making soccer the preeminent sport in the United States and is the result of growing audience demand for soccer in the U.S. It will provide a national platform for more fans to follow the game in their communities throughout the country.”

“For over 100 years, the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup has been the one tournament that engages the entire American soccer community,” said Gary Stevenson, Deputy Commissioner and President of MLS Business Ventures.  “We are confident that this partnership between U.S. Soccer and ESPN will drive the tournament to new levels and create more opportunities for fans to engage with this compelling content.”

This year’s competition will be the 106th edition of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, the world’s third-longest-running open soccer tournament. First played in the 1913-1914 season, the competition is open to professional and amateur teams affiliated with U.S. Soccer. The winning team qualifies for the Concacaf Champions League and wins $300,000 in prize money. The team that advances furthest in the tournament from each lower division is also awarded prize money. The Houston Dynamo are the defending champions, continuing a streak of dominance by MLS teams in the competition. While recent years have seen lower division sides come close to a winning run, the last non-MLS team to win the U.S. Open Cup since the league began in 1996 was the Rochester Rhinos in 1999.

EL PASO – March 30, 2019 – El Paso Locomotive FC wins their first match in the franchise’s history at home. At the end of 90 minutes, El Paso came out with a dominating 2-0 victory over Orange County SC.

In the first half, El Paso Locomotive FC sent three shots at the Orange County keeper, took five corner kicks and maintained an 81.8 percent passing rate. El Paso was knocking at the door of OC, looking for the magic moment and keeping the pressure high. In the 41st minute, midfielder Edson Partida took to the pitch and closed out the half completing 100 percent of his passes.

As soon as the whistle blew, El Paso Locomotive came onto the pitch in the second half with the same intensity as the first with multiple chances created. Salgado hammered down on the Orange County right line and was getting looks on goal, hungry to add a point to his name. In the 64th minute, El Paso took the lead when Salgado’s shot on goal was deflected, and Partida scooped it up and sent it into the back of the net. Partida wasn’t finished there, in the 88th minute with a perfectly placed assist from Sebastian Contreras, Partida collected the ball at the top of the box and took a few touches in before sending it home and running over to celebrate with the 8th Notch (El Paso Locomotive FC supporter group) who went full throttle.

“I am really happy we were able to give this win to the city of El Paso; it feels amazing. It is what I have been wishing for since I signed here to play for my hometown,” said Salgado.

“Getting the first win in history feels great and getting it at home feels even better. We are going to continue to work hard and push for more,” said Partida who was also named Estrella of the Match.

El Paso Locomotive FC plays their next match at home on Saturday, April 13th against Phoenix Rising FC.  Season Ticket Memberships, Group Tickets, and Individual Match Tickets can be purchased at https://www.eplocomotivefc.com/ticket or by calling 915-235-GOAL!

The USL Championship Team of the Week has been announced for Week 3 and Locomotive fans will notice a familiar name in the starting XI. Midfielder Nick Ross is the first El Paso Locomotive player in the club’s history to grab a spot on the USL Team of the Week. After an impressive performance last Saturday night, Ross deserves the honor. He opened up scoring Saturday night in the 45th minute, sending a left-footed laser under a RGV defender’s legs and into the bottom right corner of the goal. Ross wasn’t done adding his name to the final stat sheet. In the 78th minute, Ross took the ball into the box and drew the attention of two defenders and the keeper, leaving teammate Derek Gebhard wide open. As the RGV defense closed in on Ross he was able to swing it to his right, finding the foot of Gebhard, and Gebhard finding the goal.

Across three matches, Ross has amassed a 91.2 percent passing accuracy, won 100 percent of his tackles, and is the only player with an assist and a goal. “It’s always nice to get the recognition, but what I really want for the team is to keep driving and get three points,” said Ross. “I also can’t believe how amazing our fans have been. It has been great playing at home. Those guys behind the goal [8th Notch] are non-stop and I’m looking forward to returning to play at home this Saturday.”  

El Paso Locomotive returns to action this Saturday against Orange County SC at home. Both clubs hold identical records (0-2-1) and goal differentials (-2). This match will shake up the standings and with a win could elevate El Paso into the top ten in the western conference. Season Ticket Memberships, Group Tickets, and Individual Match Tickets can be purchased at https://www.eplocomotivefc.com/ticket or by calling 915-235-GOAL!