Character was a large focal point for Switchbacks coach Alan McCann when building the club’s roster this season. 

Weeks like this one highlight why.

The Switchbacks are struggling to string together solid performances in the USL Championship regular season. Colorado Springs has won just one of its previous five regular-season matches and is sitting 11th, second to last, in the Western Conference. 

The situation sounds more dire than it is. McCann is quick to point out that Colorado Springs has at least a game in hand over the majority of teams in the conference, and that just six points separate 11th place from third-place FC Tulsa, which the club will play on Saturday. 

“Nobody’s happy,” Switchbacks forward Adrien Perez said.  “We know we’re doing pretty good during the cup matches. We made a good run in the Open Cup, but we’re just not getting it done in the league matches and I think it’s something we all know we need to change. It needs to change now and that’s what we’re working on. We’re working on getting results.”

If anyone knows how the Switchbacks can get it done this Saturday at 6:30 p.m. and beyond, it’s Perez, who’s made a career of delivering great performances after facing adversity. 

Following high school, he received a full-ride scholarship to Loyola Marymount University. While there, he scored 21 goals in 63 appearances. Even so, his career did not entice scouts in the professional ranks to look his way. 

Since he wasn’t playing for an outdoor club, he played indoors for the Ontario Fury of the Major Arena Soccer League. In 28 appearances from 2017 to 2019, he scored 47 goals.

It didn’t take long for Major League Soccer to come calling. 

“Got a call from LAFC. Being from Los Angeles, they called me into preseason and just with luck, being prepared and working hard as I’ve said, that’s what it takes,” he said. “There was a lot of emotion, and there was nervousness, but I think only you know inside of you that when you’re ready for something and it comes, you get a rush of energy.” 

In two seasons with LAFC, Perez netted one goal over 25 appearances. 

He then entered the MLS re-entry draft and was selected by D.C. United, but he broke his foot in back-to-back seasons. 

“I struggled with my injury,” Perez said. “It can drain your energy as well so I think that’s something I was going through. I was going through a lot emotionally, mentally, if I wanted to play again because I was struggling to come back on the field. When you can’t do something you love and you’re getting paid to do it, I think it takes a toll on you and you just want to be out there. You feel like you’re not helping the team as much, being injured, being hurt.”

In 2023, Perez moved down a tier in the U.S. Soccer pyramid to the USL Championship. He didn’t mind the change. He was just happy to be healthy and playing again. It showed as he scored 10 goals for former club San Diego Loyal.

After spending the past two seasons with Louisville City FC, helping the Kentucky club win back-to-back Players’ Shields as the top regular season team, Perez now finds himself admiring the scenery of Colorado Springs and playing for a club with lofty ambitions. 

“To challenge my teammates, to challenge everyone, to challenge myself,” Perez said of his goals this season. “To bring a cup to Colorado Springs Switchbacks and to win the league as well. I think we can do great things here and that’s why I came to make stuff happen.”

(3-4-4) Colorado Springs Switchbacks at (5-3-4) FC Tulsa, June 20, 6:30 p.m. 

Last time out: Colorado Springs dropped a match at home last week to visiting Sacramento Republic FC. Tulsa, meanwhile, earned a 2-0 win over Monterey Bay FC on Wednesday after conceding five goals in a loss last week. 

Game plan: McCann said FC Tulsa has a direct style of play that isn’t complicated. The Oklahoma club plays that style well and has only lost one of its previous five regular-season matches. The blueprint for Colorado Springs hasn’t changed, however. The Switchbacks will endeavor to continue to be stingy with the chances they concede but need to convert more of the chances they create. Per McCann, it’s been a focal point of the week. 

Scoring leaders 

USL Championship regular-season only 

Goals

COS: Khori Bennett (8)

TUL: Rémi Cabral (4)

Assists

COS: Sadam Masereka, Yosuke Hanya, Sam Williams (2)

TUL: Owen Damm, Ian Carlos Souza Daniel, Jamie Webber, Jeorgio Kocevski (2)