The Switchbacks FC hit the pitch Thursday at the Pride Sports Complex in preparation for their USL season opener Saturday at OKC Energy FC (6 p.m.).

Following two grueling months of practice and tuneups, this new-look team is ready to finally start playing meaningful soccer matches.

"I think it's incredibly exciting, we all put in a lot of work in the off-season and the preseason to get us where we are," head coach Alan Koch said.

Following last season's disappointing 7-6-21 campaign, management brought in an almost entire new roster and highly successful head coach Alan Koch.

"I think we have a lot of good pieces, I really do, we worked hard to go out and recruit the right type of players and characters we need to put together a successful group and some of those players have started to rise in the past few weeks," Koch said.

With their preseason program now complete, this club is ready to hit the field and bring a winning brand back to Colorado Springs.

"With a new group obviously it takes time to gel," Koch said. "We're pushing the guys as hard as we can, obviously our first game at Oklahoma City isn't going to be easy but we're ready to embrace the challenge."

