The Switchbacks earned a big win Wednesday but the urgency of regular-season play remains. 

Fresh off a 5-4 win over Spokane Velocity FC in penalties to advance to the semifinal round of the Prinx Tires USL Cup, Colorado Springs will continue its busy August slate, hosting Birmingham Legion FC on Saturday. 

Kickoff is at 7 p.m. 

On Wednesday, the Switchbacks scored their first goal of August, 12 days into the month, despite a potent attack in two of their three matches. Over the three-game span, the Switchbacks have outshot opponents 48-21, including a 21-6 advantage at New Mexico United on Aug. 1 and a 14-2 advantage Wednesday. 

One goal on 48 shots with 14 of those on target simply isn’t good enough for Colorado Springs coach Alan McCann. 

“Whoever’s going to execute, that’s who we’ll go with,” he said Friday. “Whoever is going to, in those moments, affect those moments. We can do everything we can possibly do to get the higher percentages and get us in front of goal, top-quality chances, but someone has to take that chance.”

It applies to the club’s goalkeepers in Colin Shutler and Christian Herrera as well. As has been the case several times this season, the Switchbacks played great defense at New Mexico and at Spokane only to concede on the few chances they gave up. 

New Mexico earned a 1-0 victory despite just having three shots on target, while Spokane drew level with Colorado Springs in regulation Wednesday with just one shot on the mark. 

“We can limit the opponent to one shot on target, one shot on goal and someone has to execute and make sure that stays out,” McCann said. 

“We will not leave (our success) down to chance. Absolutely not. We’ll leave nothing down to chance. We’re in August now, everyone has been given their chance so now it’s about executing and those who will execute will play.”

One player who has been executing and the man who scored Colorado Springs’ first goal of the month is forward Jonas Fjeldberg. 

Wednesday’s goal marked his third of the USL Cup. He has scored three in USL Championship regular-season play and scored another in the opening round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. The seven goals are the most he has scored in a season for Colorado Springs since joining in 2023. When all is said and done, 2026 could be his best year as a pro. 

Last season, Fjeldberg said continuity was key to success, but this season, his playing time has necessarily been steady. Sometimes he starts; sometimes he comes in as a substitute, but regardless of when his number is called, he’s always ready. 

He credits the system McCann has created for his success. 

“I think we’re a lot deeper in those positions this year and there’s a lot more trust in the guys being able to step up when it’s not me, when it’s not (Adrien Perez), trust the guy behind him to step up,” Fjeldberg said. “It’s a different mentality this year too where you’re not a bench player, you’re the finisher, and that’s really something that has resonated with the team. … It has shown that it doesn’t have to be the same three every time. We can rotate and still be as strong as the previous week.”

Birmingham Legion FC (3-6-8) at Colorado Springs (7-7-4), 7 p.m. 

Scoring leaders

USL Championship regular-season stats only 

Goals

COS: Khori Bennett (11, second in USL Championship)

BHL: Tyler Pasher (4)

Assists

COS: Sadam Masereka, Sam Williams (3)

BHL: Romario Williams, Dawson McCartney, Gevork Diarbian (2)

Injury report

F Yosuke Hanya (shoulder)

D Isaiah Foster (shoulder) 

D Patrick Burner (lower body)