“Let the bullets loose at the gun.”

Those were Switchbacks’ coach Alan McCann’s words of encouragement to wingers Jonas Fjeldberg and Adrien Perez before Saturday’s Fourth of July match against Phoenix Rising FC. 

He wanted his players to be greedy with their attacking chances, and Perez took his shots and didn’t miss. 

As America celebrated its 250th birthday, Perez delivered the present of a Switchbacks’ win, scoring twice and earning an assist in Colorado Springs’ 3-1 victory over Phoenix Rising FC at Weidner Field. 

The 30-year-old forward’s second and third goals of the regular season were a welcome sight after weeks of not being able to finish chances. 

“It was honestly just me getting my chances and putting them away,” Perez said. “I feel like I’ve been doing pretty good, it’s just those final moments and I’m glad I got two goals today.”

Perez came to Colorado Springs in the offseason from Louisville City FC, the winner of the USL Championship’s Players’ Shield as the best regular-season club over the last two years.

Coming alongside assistant coach Niall McCabe, Perez was brought in because he was a serial winner who understood how to create success. 

He showed it Saturday. 

Despite a dominant first half from Colorado Springs (5-5-4) in which the Switchbacks outshot Phoenix 14 to 1 with seven shots on target, earning nine corner kicks to none for their opponent, the visitors earned the first score of the evening.  

Rising FC forward Gunnar Studenhofft caught Switchbacks keeper Christian Herrera out of position in the fourth minute, sending a ball over his head and in for the score. 

The Switchbacks didn’t fold in the face of the setback. They instead built momentum, creating valuable chances with every trip to the opposing 18-yard box. 

Colorado Springs’ hard work paid off in the 34th minute. Perez’s strike from just outside the box sailed past the outstretched arms of Patrick Rakovsky and into the net. 

The Switchbacks didn’t let their foot off the gas as the second half began. Defender Garven Metusala scored the game’s deciding goal in the 48th minute. Perez sent the ball in off a corner kick and Metusala headed it in on the back side of the play. 

The score marks Metusala’s first tally for Colorado Springs since joining before the 2025 season and it came just after he represented Haiti in the country’s first World Cup appearance in more than 50 years. 

“I learned a lot there,” he said. “Like I said before, I wanted to bring my experience and bring some stuff that I learned, some calmness on the pitch. And I feel like I did today to contribute to the victory today and I’m happy.”

Perez added the insurance goal in the 79th minute, beating Rakovsky with a tough-angle shot to the near post. 

Saturday’s result comes as a massive response from Colorado Springs following the club’s home loss against San Antonio FC on June 24. The Switchbacks jumped from ninth place in league’s Western Conference to fifth after Saturday’s slate of matches.  

“It’s our best all-around performance all year. Most definitely,” McCann said.