Colorado Springs puts up fight, but El Paso Locomotive FC stay unbeaten in 1-1 draw

EL PASO, Texas - If you ask their head coach, Saturday's match vs. Colorado Springs was a game Locomotive FC should have won.

But it ended as a game that El Paso didn't lose, playing Colorado Springs Switchbacks to a 1-1 draw in front of 6,589 on Saturday night at Southwest University Park.

Macca King's 13th minute volley off a corner kick gave Locomotive a 1-0 early lead, but a 73rd minute penalty from Switchbacks' Hadji Barry equalized the score for the final tally.

Locomotive FC's draw ensures that they remain unbeaten on the season (3-3-0), and are the last remaining undefeated team in the USL Western Conference.

El Paso mustered 15 shots against Switchbacks' goalkeeper Sean Melvin, leaving Locomotive FC head coach Mark a bit regretful post-match.

"We should've won the game," said Lowry. "We should've been up 2-0 at halftime."

Notably a missed opportunity, a sequence in the first half where Dylan Mares had two point blank chances to score before both Melvin and Switchbacks defenders cleared the line.

In the second, veteran defender Yuma Monsalves Jr. was whistled for a penalty that was aided by an embellishment from the Colorado Springs attacker.

Barry calmly knocked down the penalty past Locomotive FC goalkeeper Logan Ketterer. It was just the second goal allowed by El Paso all season.

Playing their second match of the week, Locomotive FC rested a number of usual starters. Diego Luna, Luis Solignac, and Richie Ryan all started the match on the bench.

Starting defender Mechak Jerome was unavailable, as he was playing for his home country Haiti at CONCACAF qualifiers.

Next up: Friday, June 18 at Real Monarchs at 8pm.

Next home match: Saturday, July 3rd vs New Mexico United at 7:30pm.