Switchbacks coach Alan McCann said there was an earned confidence about his team in the days leading up to Sunday’s playoff match.
The USL Championship Western Conference quarterfinal contest validated his words. After tying host Lexington SC 1-1 after 90 minutes of regulation and 30 minutes of extra time, Switchbacks keeper Christian Herrera made a save on Lexington SC midfielder Noble Okello in the fifth round of penalties to give the Switchbacks a 5-4 shootout win and the club’s first road playoff victory in history.
That’s a major playoff test and result for most clubs, but it’s one Colorado Springs has earned all season. Herrera made a pair of saves in the Switchbacks’ penalty shootout win over Spokane Velocity FC in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup back in April. He also made saves in the penalty shootout loss at Colorado Rapids later that month.
The team’s second battle against Spokane in the USL Cup in August ended in near-identical fashion to Sunday, with the Switchbacks converting all five of their penalties and the hosts falling short after making four. In the playoff match, Khori Bennett, Talen Maples, Elvis Amoh, Yosuke Hanya and Juan Tejada scored in the shootout.
The Swi...