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Rivalry Resumes for Phillips, Gonzalez

By NICHOLAS MURRAY - nicholas.murray@uslsoccer.com, 03/29/17, 2:39PM EDT

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Clash between Switchbacks, Energy FC sees friends back on opposite sides


Photo courtesy Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC

Saturday night’s clash between Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC and OKC Energy FC not only continues a rivalry that has been one of the best in the USL over the past two seasons, but also a friendly individual battle that resumes after a two-season hiatus between Switchbacks defender Josh Phillips and Energy FC forward Miguel Gonzalez.

Gonzalez – who made 53 regular-season appearances for Colorado Springs over the past two years – will make his first trip to Weidner Field as a member of the opposition for the Switchbacks’ home opener. Phillips will be waiting for a friend he’s known since middle school, and who had been his opponent regularly until the duo joined up for the Switchbacks’ inaugural season.

“We were high school rivals. When he played at Yelm and I played at Capital High School we were in the same league,” Phillips said of their Washington-area battles. “Then we went on to play against each other in college soccer. He went to Seattle U and I went to Gonzaga, so we’ve either competed or played with each other almost our whole lives.

“He’s a great player, and I’ve been lucky to play with him and against him for such a long period of time.”

The game within the game for Phillips and Gonzalez will be a fascinating subplot in the latest chapter of the rivalry between the clubs. Energy FC spoiled the Switchbacks’ inaugural home opener in 2015 when Danni König’s late goal earned a 2-1 victory, but it wasn’t until the end of that season when things really got into full swing.

“The playoffs, the first season of the Switchbacks, really set the tone for the rivalry,” said Phillips. “Going to a penalty shootout in the playoffs was big. A lot rested on that game and I think it kicked off the rivalry in the right direction.

“Last year we had some great games there. We played them for their home opener. The game was built up, so it seems like every game we play it’s built up in a good way. Now we play them for our home opener this year. We really want to go out and show our fans that we’re a good team this year.”

As Gonzalez returns, he looks back on his time in Colorado Springs happily, but is also looking forward to seeing the rivalry from the other side.

“It’s an exciting game,” said Gonzalez. “I had a good two seasons there, very successful for a new team, we made the playoffs both years, so that’s always great. We had a good team, we all got along well, good chemistry and everything, so I was happy I was there, but now I’m on this side and I want to do everything I can to get the win for the Energy fans and for my team.”

Gonzalez could go into the game alongside his brother Daniel, whom he was reunited with when he joined Energy FC. Daniel Gonzalez missed out on OKC’s season-opening 3-1 loss to the Swope Park Rangers, but Miguel is hopeful they could be in action together on Saturday.

“It’s been great for me and the family,” he said of being reunited with his brother in OKC. “They really enjoy seeing us on the same team and on the field too. You can tell we’re good for each other. He knows me well. I know him as a player. He’s coming back from a bit of an injury now, so I’m hoping he can be back on the field for that Colorado game. That would be nice for the team and for us too.”

With the Switchbacks also looking to rebound from a disappointing opening defeat against Tulsa Roughnecks FC, Phillips has his own hopes for what Saturday may bring.

“It might be a snow game, and we’ve been very successful in the snow,” Phillips said. “We’ve been a team that teams around the league don’t want to play, and to have them see snow and us winning on Saturday. It kinda sends a message and reiterates the fact that teams don’t want to come play us. They’re going to see the snow and think, ‘man, I’m not looking forward to that trip,’ and that’s the mentality we want to instill in other teams because we want to take care of business here at home.”

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