The Switchbacks had gone three straight matches without putting the ball in the net or giving one up, and Saturday at Sacramento Republic FC both of those streaks snapped — though the result was still just a single point, as the sides finished level at 1-1 for Colorado Springs's fourth tie running in USL Championship play.
The draw pushed the club's unbeaten run to seven matches with two regular-season contests left. The goal that ended the drought came from a defender without a regular-season tally to his name: in the 48th minute, forward Adrien Perez swung in a free kick and the defender got onto the end of it, heading the ball past Sacramento goalkeeper Danny Vitiello.
Sacramento drew level in the 75th minute, converting a penalty that was awarded three minutes earlier after a Switchbacks defender fouled the hosts' Memo Rodriguez. Republic FC's top scorer stepped up and finished the spot kick, his ninth of the season.
That penalty attempt was Sacramento's lone shot on target across the entire match. Colorado Springs registered three of its own — on the header and on first-half chances from Perez and midfielder Frank Daroma.
At 11-9-8, the Switchbacks hold sixth place in the Western Conference. Topping the table is no longer mathematically possible, but finishing in the top four — and with it the chance to host at least one postseason match — remains achievable.
Colorado Springs hits the road next week to face last-place Monterey Bay FC in its penultimate regular-season fixture. Whether the Switchbacks ultimately secure a home playoff berth will depend on results across the rest of the Western Conference standings in the coming days.