El Paso Locomotive FC is ready to continue with the USL Championship 2020 season. The Locos will be returning to play the season that started March 6 when it tied against Orange County FC. After the break that the COVID-19 pandemic caused to the league, El Paso Locomotive will resume action today 7:30 p.m. versus Rio Grande Valley FC Toros at Southwest University Park.
There is a high expectation from the people of El Paso toward their team in this second professional season that it will be playing. The Locomotives finished sixth in its inaugural season last year, finishing sixth in the standings of the Western Conference with a record of 13 wins, 10 losses and 11 ties.
After the break that the USL had, it changed the format of the competition. The games will be played in an 8-group stage format, where the El Paso Locomotive were placed in Group C playing against Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC, New Mexico United and Real Monarchs SLC.
The Real Monarchs SLC defeated El Paso in last year’s Western Conference finals with a 2-1 score after leading the game to Extra-Time.
Expecting to start the season in good shape, Head Coach Mark Lowry sounds calm, ahead of the team debut Saturday.
“They’re excited, they’re like kids right now, it’s like Christmas Eve, you’re excited and that child energy comes out,” Lowry mentioned through the team’s Instagram and Twitter accounts.
“We found the difference today in the first training session of the first game week, so it’s a lot of a different feel today as well, Lowy added. “The energy is powerful, the excitement and were looking again at it, and just getting better and play a good performance.”
On July 6, the team announced that due to the developments that the COVID-19 had locally and in the state, they decided to play their first two home matches without fans in attendance. Both games would be broadcasted live locally on El Paso, Las Cruces CW, and nationally on ESPN+.
Heriberto Perez may be reached at [email protected]
