What should be made of Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC’s regular-season finale against Orange County Blues FC? The team was in the driver’s seat to attain the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference. That top-seeded honor not only eluded the Switchbacks – it was wiped away with a vengeance to the tune of a 4-0 defeat, the club’s worst loss of the season. The USL Cup Playoffs represent a new season, and the Switchbacks are hopeful they quickly return to the club that won three straight to open September. Much of this team went through last year’s postseason in the organization’s first campaign, and perhaps the penalty kick loss memories against OKC Energy FC in the 2015 Western Conference Semifinals are still lingering in the back of the players’ heads.

2016 USL Playoffs: Quarterfinal matchup:
No. 3 Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC vs. No. 6 Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 – Friday, Sept. 30, 9 p.m. ET, Switchbacks Stadium

2016 USL regular season:
Records:
Overall: 14-9-7 (49 points) | Home: 10-2-3 (33 points) | Road: 4-7-4 (16 points)

Goals For: 37 | Goals Against: 27

Leaders:
Goals: 1. Mike Seth 8; 2. Marty Maybin 7; 3. (tie) Miguel Gonzalez, Luke Vercollone 6
Assists: 1. Mike Seth 5; 2. (tie) Josh Suggs, Luke Vercollone 4; 4. Saeed Robinson 3
Saves: 1. Devala Gorrick 82; 2. Billy Thompson 8

Clinched its postseason … Sept. 11; clinched with a 2-0 win against Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2

Defining moment: The Switchbacks have played in a number of tight matches throughout the season, but their most decisive performance kicked off the September three-game winning streak – a robust 3-0 victory against the LA Galaxy II on Sept. 3 at Switchbacks Stadium. It was a thorough performance, with Mike Seth leading the way with a pair of first-half headers to give the Switchbacks a 2-0 cushion heading into halftime. It also was an important match for Luke Vercollone, who set up one of Seth’s goals and then tallied a goal of his own in the second half. Heading into that match, Vercollone had not posted a goal or assist in his 10 previous games. That game and the following two put Colorado Springs on the run to have an opportunity for first in the West. It seems like so long ago following the regular-season finale loss to Orange County Blues FC, but if the Switchbacks can return to that form, the postseason could bear fruit.

Three keys to a championship run:
1. Captain’s ship: Midfielder Luke Vercollone hasn’t produced the career-best numbers of his 2015 campaign that made him one of the finalists for the 2015 USL MVP honor. That said, Vercollone is the heart and soul of this Switchbacks franchise, with more experience than anyone else who will be taking the field among the Colorado Springs roster. With a few goals to his name in September, the club captain might be heating up at the right time. His aggressive play and leadership qualities are massive trademarks with the postseason on the horizon.
2. Seth’s breakout year: If there is one wave the Switchbacks would want to keep riding, it has been the breakout performance of forward Mike Seth. The 29-year-old, despite his extensive USL experience with the Pittsburgh Riverhounds before signing with Colorado Springs in 2015, had yet to post the type of offensive numbers he has enjoyed with the Switchbacks this year. He led the team in both goals (8) and assists (5), and trailed only Miguel Gonzalez in shots taken with 47. Following the 2015 campaign, it was assumed that Vercollone and Gonzalez would repeat as the Switchbacks’ prime scoring threats, but Seth has stepped up in the moment.
3. Gorrick in charge: Goalkeeper Devala Gorrick quietly put together one of the best seasons in the back this year. Gorrick hasn’t needed to attain the hefty save totals as some of his counterparts, but everything he has done has been top-notch with a 0.84 goals-against average, 82 saves and 12 clean sheets – one shy of the USL record set by former Rochester Rhinos goalkeeper Brandon Miller in 2015. Gorrick’s efforts feel like an afterthought because of how consistent he has been.

QUOTABLE:
“Our players, their mentality has been great. They’re in a winning mentality right now and we’ve just got to keep that momentum going.” – Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC Head Coach Steve Trittschuh following its three-game winning streak