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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!

EL PASO – March 23, 2019 – El Paso Locomotive FC draws against Rio Grande Valley FC in the two clubs first meeting of the 2019 USL Championship season.

El Paso Locomotive came out knocking, having good looks on goal early on in the match. They kept up the pressure and maintained 62.1 percent of the possession in the first half. El Paso took the first lead of the match in the 45th minute.  In the waning seconds of the half, Nick Ross sent a screamer through a defender’s legs and curled the ball into the bottom left corner of the goal. The 1-0 lead would send things into halftime.

Locomotive kept the energy high in the second half. Nick Ross wasn’t done adding his name to the stat sheet. In the 77th minute he glanced a ball across the goal, and it found the foot of Derek Gebhard who put it into the empty net. This is now Gebhard’s second goal of the season and his second time being named Estrella of the Match.

Shortly after the Gebhard goal to put Locomotive up two, Rio Grande Valley answered with one of their own. A rocket of a shot by Romilio Hernandez went into the back of the goal in the 78th minute to cut the lead in half. Rio Grande Valley ended up grabbing one more goal in the final minutes of the match to bring score level.

This match kicked off COPA Tejas, the supporter crafted Texas Derby between the four Texas USL Championship clubs; Austin Bold FC, El Paso Locomotive FC, Rio Grande Valley FC, and San Antonio FC.

After getting one point at home forward Derek Gebhard said, “It is all 11 of us out there, we defend as a team. We will go back to look at the video and see what mistakes we made and go from there.”  

El Paso Locomotive FC plays their next match at home on Saturday, March 30th against Orange County SC.  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 took to the pitch tonight in their SOLD OUT historic inaugural home opener against OKC Energy FC. In front of a crowd of 8,324, fans got to see their hometown team take the field for the very first time and cheer them on.

 Andrew Forrest General Manager, Business Operation said, “Congratulations to the fans and the community for coming together tonight. Your support was electric, and the atmosphere was unbelievable. Professional soccer has come home to El Paso and we can’t wait to do it with you all again on March 23rd against Rio Grande Valley.”  

 The Lowry game plan was heavily implemented in this opening match where El Paso Locomotive FC maintained 68.8 percent possession with 506 passes at an 83.2 percent completion rate. “The guys are invested in this club, they are invested in each other, and they are a great group,” said Head Coach Mark Lowry.

 Forward Derek Gebhard netted the first goal in franchise history in the 15th minute. Creative dribbling by Sebastian Contreras and a perfectly placed pass left Gebhard right in front of the goal with a ball at his feet.  “It felt really amazing especially with the fans and the atmosphere we had here,” said Gebhard “It meant a lot to me scoring for a new club and being the first person to do it.”

 Oklahoma City Energy FC ended up winning the contest 3-1 but Lowry knows his team has what it takes to compete in this league. “What people saw tonight was a team that will win a lot of games in this league. We are going to win games home and away, this is the first match in a long season,” said Lowry.  

El Paso Locomotive FC takes to the road to face Real Monarchs SLC next Saturday, March 16th. Catch the action on ESPN+. Good tickets remain for upcoming matches including the Saturday, March 23rd game vs. regional rival Rio Grande Valley FC and the Saturday, March 30th match against Orange County SC.  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 – March 5, 2019 – El Paso Locomotive FC today announced they have reached agreement with KVIA and the El Paso – Las Cruces CW to broadcast all Saturday and Sunday home matches in their inaugural USL Championship season.

Alan Ledford, MountainStar Sports Group and Locomotive President said “For those unable to be at Southwest University Park for a weekend Locomotive match, this provides an opportunity to see your local professional team in action and to get to know Locomotive players who come to El Paso from eleven (11) different countries.  We’re proud to be working with KVIA and El Paso – Las Cruces CW to make this possible.”

KVIA-TV General Manager Kevin Lovell said, “We are elated to partner with the Locomotive to provide viewers with a quality broadcast of all 12 Saturday and one Sunday home game this season. If you can’t get to the games at Southwest University Park, they will be carried on the El Paso – Las Cruces CW. The CW network is available over-the-air and on all major cable and satellite outlets in the El Paso and Las Cruces TV market.”

The broadcast team will be comprised of Duke Keith and Michael Balogun. Keith has been an esteemed member of the El Paso media scene for more than 30 years. He has served in various roles across multiple organizations, including play-by-play for ESPN, the El Paso Patriots, El Paso Rhinos, and UTEP Athletics. Balogun played NCAA D1 soccer for the University of Akron, one of the most highly regarded programs in the country. He also spent time with the US Youth National Team and had stints with various professional clubs. The wealth of soccer knowledge and expertise they bring to the table is extraordinary.

The 12 Saturday and one Sunday Locomotive matches will air live on El Paso – Las Cruces CW channels 13 (Spectrum), 388 (Comcast), 8 (DirecTV), 17 (Dish), 19 (AT&T).  The El Paso – Las Cruces CW is available to everyone in the El Paso and Las Cruces region on 7.2 over the air

El Paso Locomotive FC took to the road in their first true away game of the preseason in a face-off with intrastate USL Championship Club, San Antonio FC. This budding Texas rivalry planted its early seeds in the heart of hill country. In a modified format, the match consisted of a 45-minute period, a 30-minute period, and another 45-minute “mini game.” This restructured format, especially in regard to the mini game, let El Paso Locomotive FC get the entirety of the squad on board.  “All the guys got good minutes tonight and experience, which is important moving forward,” Said Head Coach Mark Lowry.

El Paso Locomotive came out swinging and looked to maintain and implement the high possession gameplay they exhibited this preseason. With a few good looks on frame in the first half, one of the closest opportunities came off a bicycle kick by defender James Kiffe that kissed the cross bar, leaving San Antonio FC and El Paso Locomotive FC alike, breathless. El Paso showed creativity in their attack and most importantly showed strength in their defense. Logan Ketter, who hadn’t been tested much during his preseason stint stepped up and showcased his pedigree, coming up with four massive saves to keep the sheet clean.

After 45 minutes, the sides remained scoreless and moved to the next period of play, scheduled for 30 minutes. In both halves, each side of the field saw action, with EP Locomotive and San Antonio FC fighting for the chance to take the lead. Locomotive was on track to score with multiple instances of buildup play and looks on goal but couldn’t find that last one percent to put them ahead in this first meeting of the Texas clubs. After the final whistle, the game moved into what was labeled, a “mini game” that lasted 45 minutes and saw members of the Locomotive squad that shared some common threads. The three El Pasoans, forward Omar Salgado, and midfielders Louis “Chapa” Herrera and Memo Diaz all saw the pitch together tonight under the lights of Toyota Field. Although the “mini game” saw no club go up a goal, you could see the chemistry on the field with all the 20 players who were rotated throughout the match.

“I am very happy with how the team competed, it was a great exercise for both teams and I am very pleased with how our team has progressed,” said Lowry after the 0-0 draw against Western Conference foe `San Antonio FC. El Paso Locomotive will play one final preseason match against OKC Energy FC in Tucson, Arizona on March 2nd, before they play their inaugural home opener on March 9th against, OKC Energy FC.