San Antonio Express-News (Sunday)
SAFC trying to advance to first final
A year after losing in the western conference championship game, San Antonio FC is back and looking to advance to the USL Championship playoff final for the first time in club history.
Between them and that history is Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC.
San Antonio and Colorado Springs battle for the western conference championship at 7:30 p.m. on Sunday night at Toyota Field. San Antonio is looking to beat Colorado Springs for the third time this season.
“Playoffs are a one-off game and its tough to beat an opponent three times in one year,” San Antonio defender Mitch Taintor said. “It's going to be a great game, but we just have to execute and hope everything falls into place.”
San Antonio, the top overall seed in the playoffs, earned a first-round bye and beat Oakland Roots SC, 3-0, in the conference semifinals last Friday at Toyota Field. San Antonio will have to play the conference championship game without captain PC who left the conference semifinals early with an injury.
“PC is an important part of this team,” San Antonio FC defender Connor Maloney said. “He's a big voice, big time leader. Obviously, he will be missed but other guys will have to step up. We've done a great job of ‘next guy up' and look where we are now.”
San Antonio FC has used 34 different starting lineups through the first 35 games. It is likely that Sunday will be the 35th different lineup in what will be the 36th game of the season. Even with the changing lineups San Antonio was able to win the regular season championship and have homefield advantage throughout the playoffs.
Colorado Springs is the three-seed in the western conference playoffs. The Switchbacks beat Rio Grande Valley FC 3-0 in the first round. Last week Colorado Springs beat Sacramento Republic FC 2-1 after extra time in the conference semifinals.
“It's two very good teams,” San Antonio FC coach Alen Marcina said. “Two teams deserving of being in this position. Two contrasting styles. It will come down to who is able to execute consistently throughout the game.”
San Antonio is making its second straight appearance in the conference championship game. Colorado Springs is making its first appearance in the western conference championship.
Last season San Antonio was the visiting team in the conference championship game at Orange County SC. The game was tied at 1-1 after 120 minutes and went to a penalty shootout. Orange County won that shootout, 5-3 to win the western conference.
“I don't think we played particularly well last year and left with a sour taste in our mouth,” Taintor said. “It comes down to the little details. Going into this final we are a completely different team, physically and mentally.”
That loss last season provided the motivation the club needed this season to push for league records and to get back to the conference championship game and be able to host it in front of the Toyota Field crowd.
“We've prepared to be in this position since preseason,” Marcina said. “It comes down to mentality. That's something we've stressed from day one.”
Now San Antonio FC is one win away from reaching the championship game for the whole league. It will be possible with a win over Colorado Springs on Sunday night.
The winner of San Antonio-Colorado Springs will move on to the league championship final on November 13. The western conference winner will face the winner of Saturday's eastern conference championship game between Tampa Bay Rowdies and Louisville City FC.