Never a doubt.

Following Wednesday’s loss to San Antonio FC,  Switchbacks defender Talen Maples called for everyone to hold steady in their belief. 

“Even right here, when we’re down 2-1, nobody on the team should even have a doubt, nobody in the stands should have a doubt that we’re going to make a comeback, that we’re going to fight back, that we’re going to turn this thing on its head,” he said. 

He had the same belief at the beginning of the season when things weren’t going his way. 

Maples, who came to Colorado Springs via transfer from rival New Mexico United in the offseason, struggled in his first few games with the Switchbacks. Mistakes he made directly led to opposing goals against Las Vegas Lights FC and Orange County SC. 

Despite the adversity, he’s grown into a leader for Colorado Springs in a short time.

“He’s been fantastic, to be honest,” Switchbacks coach Alan McCann said. “He had a tough start to the season individually, and we sat down and we went through of a lot of that through video, through conversations and frustrations for him. But he’s been able to turn it around and he’s shown up in big moments. His voice is holding more weight as the weeks are going.”  

Maples was selected 72nd overall in the 2021 MLS SuperDraft by Toronto FC and played for Toronto and Houston Dynamo’s reserve teams before joining New Mexico. His wealth of experience has turned him into a leader. 

He showcased those leadership skills last week on June 20, according to McCann. Colorado Springs went into the halftime intermission down a goal at FC Tulsa. The Switchbacks would go on to score twice in five minutes in the second half to claim a 2-1 win, but not before Maples gave the team an invigorating speech in the locker room at the half. 

“Just trying to fulfill the role that I think I’ve been called to,” Maples said. “I’m not trying to step over the line, not trying to shy away but being called to a moment that I’m here to do and I that can be. It’s not a ‘look at me’ moment, it’s a ‘we’re a good team’ and we should fight like it and we should believe in that.”

Maples put his belief into action last week against San Antonio, making a key defensive play for the Switchbacks. In the 49th minute, San Antonio defender and former Switchback Akeem Ward dribbled past Colorado Springs defender Matt Mahoney and made his way toward keeper Colin Shutler, looking to make a pass for an easy score. In a flash, Maples came sliding in and deflected the ball out of play. 

“Me, Matt and a lot of the guys on the team just said players got to make plays and I think that’s a moment where I was called upon,” he said. “I missed some plays also in the game that could have maybe turned the game our way so yeah, I’m excited about that one or grateful to be able to make that play but also frustrated and upset that I didn’t make more.”