Tag Archives: el paso soccer

El Paso Locomotive FC move one point closer to clinching a position in the post-season after drawing Austin Bold FC 1-1 at home in front of 6,355 fans.

Andrew Forrest, General Manager, Business Operations, commented on the draw, “Great effort tonight by the players and the team for getting a point and inching closer to a playoff spot.  Our gameday atmosphere was incredible tonight and the fans brought the energy to Southwest University Park as usual.  We will be prepared for Portland and are ready to clinch at home next Tuesday.  We can’t wait to have our fans be there for this historic moment in our club’s history.”

El Paso sits in 8^th place in the West and have two matches left in the regular season to better their standing heading into post-season play.

Home playoff tickets are available now for Season Ticket Members by calling 915-235-GOAL from 8:30-5:30 M-F, or by accessing their MyTixx account.

Season Ticket Members will have the exclusive opportunity through Wednesday, October 16 at 11:59 PM to purchase their Season Seats for home playoff matches before those tickets are made available to the general public.

All other tickets will be on sale and available to the general public beginning October 10 at 9 p.m.

The potential El Paso Locomotive FC 2019 home Playoff schedule is as follows:

Play-in Round, if necessary: Wednesday, October 23 @ 7 pm

Western Conference Quarter-Final: Saturday, October 26 @ 7:30 pm

Western Conference Semi-Final: Saturday, November 2 @ 7:30 pm

Western Conference Final: Saturday, November 9 @ 7:30 pm

USL Championship Final: Date and Time to be determined by USL

The USL Championship Playoffs is a single-elimination format featuring the top 10 teams from both conferences. El Paso Locomotive FC is currently in 8th place in the Western Conference.

El Paso Locomotive FC play their final regular-season home match on Tuesday, October 15^th at 7:00 PM against Portland Timbers 2. Season Ticket Memberships, Group Tickets, and Individual Match Tickets are available and may be purchased online or by calling 915-235-GOAL

El Paso Locomotive FC took to the road and picked up one point against the number three team in the West, Reno 1868 FC.

For the first time this season, all four local players were on the pitch at the same time; Omar Salgado, Louis “Chapa” Herrera, Guillermo Diaz, and Josue Aaron Gomez who all made their impact felt in this dominating performance.

El Paso has defeated two top-four teams in the past week and have picked up a total of seven points across their last three matches, furthering their commitment to the postseason.

Locomotive barreled down the tracks and dominated the home team, recording 23 shots, 15 of those coming in the first half. El Paso showed grit and tenacity and proved that they are a top contender in the Western Conference.

Locomotive sit two points outside of fourth place and have at least a game in hand over the majority of the field.

The Locos have three matches remaining, with a possibility of grabbing nine points and exploding into the top four, opening the possibility of hosting a home playoff match in their inaugural season.

El Paso Locomotive FC plays their next match at home on Thursday, October 10^th against Austin. Season Ticket Memberships, Group Tickets, and Individual Match Tickets can be purchased online or by calling 915-235-GOAL

El Paso Locomotive FC defeated Sacramento Republic FC 2-1 on the road to gain a thundering three points and move deeper into securing a play-off position.

The match began with two weather delays that shifted the momentum and saw the Locos go down a goal early in the match. The rain wasn’t enough to stop this train.

El Paso’s first goal of the night came from defender Bryam Rebellon who finished a deflected ball off a Sacramento defender.

Rebellon hit a bouncing volley on his first touch and sent the ball booming into the back of the net, notching his second goal of the season.

El Paso’s winning goal came in the waning moments of the match when it seemed that things would end in a draw. The go-ahead goal was awarded to Aaron Gomez, his third in the last four matches.

After the four minutes of stoppage time were added, the elusive and calm attacker pounced on a poorly deflected clearance and gave his team and city the winning goal.

With this win, El Paso sits in ninth place, with three points separating them from fifth place. El Paso Locomotive FC plays their next match at home on Wednesday, October 2^nd against Fresno.

Season Ticket Memberships, Group Tickets, and Individual Match Tickets can be purchased online or by calling 915-235-GOAL.

With a playoff slot on the line, El Paso Locomotive had their route set Saturday night: defeat Colorado Springs Switchbacks.

And the Locomotive crew did not disappoint, winning 2-0, gaining three points and moving into play-off position.

“If we can get it right and replicate our first half from tonight across 90 minutes, then I don’t see a team that can beat us. Every game we are going for three points, at this stage we want to go all out for the win,” said Head Coach Mark Lowry.

The Locomotive possessed the ball 61 percent and completing 91 percent of their passes.

The first goal of the night came from defender Bryam Rebellon who finished a precision pass from James Kiffe (his third assist of the season). Rebellon trapped a cross, took a touch outside his body and then sent his left boot through the ball and into the back of the net.

El Paso’s final goal came in the waning moments of the match and from a newcomer to the squad. Alexy Bosetti joined El Paso just over a month ago and tonight was his first goal in Loco colors.

Omar Salgado went down the left flank untouched and found his teammate inside the Colorado box. Bosetti finished a bouncing volley on his first touch and sent Southwest University Park into a state of elation.

El Paso Locomotive FC plays their next match at home on Wednesday, October 2^nd against Fresno. Season Ticket Memberships, Group Tickets, and Individual Match Tickets can be purchased at online or by calling 915-235-GOAL.

El Paso Locomotive FC lost a hard-fought battle in South Texas to Rio Grande Valley Toros 1-0 Saturday night.

After 90 minutes, Locomotive would end the night a man and a goal down.

El Paso’s Richie Ryan was shown two yellow cards and had to leave the match. Locomotive FC forward Jerome Kiesewetter was back in the starting 11 after being out from injury since the middle of July.

In a showing of unity, the Toros players wore black armbands to honor the victims of the August 3^rd shootings in El Paso.

Locomotive FC are going into a bye week and will have 11 days before their next match at home.

El Paso Locomotive FC plays their next match at home on Wednesday, September 4^th against Tulsa Roughnecks.

Season Ticket Memberships, Group Tickets, and Individual Match Tickets can be purchased online or by calling 915-235-GOAL.

El Paso Locomotive FC have acquired FIFA U-20 France World Cup champion Alexy Bosetti by way of trade with OKC Energy FC, pending league and federation approval.

To fulfill the trade, OKC will acquire El Paso’s Derek Gebhard. Gebhard appeared for El Paso 18 times this season and notched the first goal in Locomotive franchise history.

“It is with sadness that we say goodbye to Derek, I have worked with him for over three years now and he is someone I genuinely care about. He has had a couple of little injuries this season that have prevented him from getting any type of rhythm, so he has been out of the team for long spells. For Derek’s long-term future, we felt this move would be a good fit for him and nothing would make me happier than seeing him go to OKC, score some goals and show everyone how good of a player he can be,” commented Coach Mark Lowry.

Bosetti was born in Nice, France, and played his youth career with Cavigal Nice Sports and Nice. From 2012-2017 he rostered for Nice in Ligue 1 (first division French football) and made 75 appearances, scoring ten goals.

Along with his esteemed club career, Bosetti won the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup with France and has represented his country 20 times with the U-19 and U-20 sides.

With OKC he saw the pitch 19 times and scored once, grabbing four assists. The French attacker will give El Paso a variety of options in the attacking third and prove to be a thrilling addition to the roster.

“As for Bosetti, his resume and pedigree speak for itself. He has played at the highest level in France, won a U20 World Cup, and is still young and hungry to prove that he can be a success in the US. His character off the field comes with a good reputation and the type of player he is fits perfectly with our style of play on the field. His addition makes us a stronger more experienced team,” said Lowry.

El Paso Locomotive FC plays their next match at home on Saturday, August 17th against Tacoma Defiance. Season Ticket Memberships, Group Tickets, and Individual Match Tickets can be purchased online or by calling 915-235-GOAL

El Paso Locomotive FC continues their support of the development of the region’s youth soccer community by adding the Locomotive Futures Program to their youth soccer initiatives.

The Locomotive FC Futures Program is designed to deliver quality training and games to youth soccer players unlike any other program in the Borderland and will debut this fall.

“I’m excited about the programs we will offer this fall season,” said Bob Bigney, Locomotive FC Director of Youth Soccer.

“Continuing the Lil’ Locos and the Player Development Program and adding the Select Team Program and the Locomotive Futures Program, will allow Locomotive FC Youth Soccer to positively impact the youth soccer community. With the quality coaches on board now with Locomotive Youth Soccer (JC Garzon, Matt Williams, Memo McFarland), other coaches we will be adding to the staff, and the top local coaches; these programs will provide a quality experience to all players involved.”

Offered as a pool-based program, the Locomotive FC Futures Program will provide a player-centric environment, allowing players to be moved based on each player’s developmental needs, for training sessions and games.

There are no set teams or fixed rosters in this program, and it will be open for boys and girls born in 2010 and 2011 (u10/u9 soccer age group) for the fall season.

“Locomotive FC Youth Soccer will also continue to assist all local soccer groups through the Affiliate Club Program, through coach clinics and by working with the local leagues to help make youth soccer for all children a wonderful experience,” continued Bigney.

The 2019 fall soccer season will also see the return of the following Locomotive Youth Soccer programs from earlier this spring:

• Lil’ Locos (Children ages three to six)
• Player Development Program (Invite only developmental youth training, u11-u17)
• Select Program (Select teams assembled for tournaments and friendlies from athletes identified at PDP and other events)

For more information on El Paso Locomotive Youth Soccer programs, please visit the Youth Soccer page.

El Paso Locomotive FC plays their next match at home on Saturday, August 3^rd against Portland Timbers 2. Season Ticket Memberships, Group Tickets, and Individual Match Tickets can be purchased online or by calling 915-235-GOAL.

El Paso Locomotive FC displayed a dominating performance against Real Monarchs whose five-game winning streak was snapped Saturday night.

The night would end in a nil-nil draw in front if 6,000 flag-waving fans. Locomotive out-possessed Monarchs 66 to 34 percent and completed 91 percent of their 575 passes.

The El Paso backline also held the Monarchs to a single shot on target that was easily controlled by backup goalkeeper Jermaine Fordah.

“That was a phenomenal effort from the guys. You don’t see USL games like that. We owned the possession. We value the process and when you play like that you can’t be disappointed,” said Coach Mark Lowry after tonight’s draw.

Newcomer Sebastian Velasquez saw his Locomotive debut this evening and played the full 90 minutes. The elusive midfielder would finish the night with three shots (two being blocked) and completed 92 percent of his passes.

“He’s class man. He unlocks defenses, he has that different level and we have been lacking that. We saw tonight the quality that he is going to bring to the table,” said Lowry

El Paso takes to the road to face rival New Mexico United on Wednesday, July 31^st. Fans can catch the action at the Official Pub Club Watch Party at The Palomino Tavern.

El Paso Locomotive FC plays their next match at home on Saturday, August 3^rd against Portland Timbers 2. Season Ticket Memberships, Group Tickets, and Individual Match Tickets can be purchased online or by calling 915-235-GOAL.

El Paso Locomotive FC and the City of El Paso have announced a joint project: Streetcar Soccer Series.

The series will be a live Q&A session featuring Locomotive players as they ride the Streetcar and interact with other riders and moderator Duke Keith.

Fans are encouraged to ride along and will have the opportunity to ask their questions.

The four-part series kicks off Monday, July 22nd and will continue every Monday until August 12th. The series will feature Logan Ketterer, Andrew Fox, El Pasoan Omar Salgado, and the final player who will be decided by a fan vote on the Locomotive website.

The ride is free for everyone and will begin at 6 p.m. at Franklin and El Paso across the street from Cleveland Square Park and will go for two loops. Guests will also have the chance to win Locomotive prizes and exclusive team merchandise.

“The Locos have been an exciting addition to the Downtown Arts District, and we are excited to provide this opportunity for the community to get to know the players,” said Tracey Jerome, Managing Director, Museums and Cultural Affairs, Libraries and Tourism.

“The El Paso Streetcar is a great way to get to a game at Southwest University Park. The interview series is just one of the ways riders can enjoy the El Paso Streetcar,” said Jay Banasiak, Director of Sun Metro.

Everyone is encouraged to download the new El Paso Streetcar app to stay current of events happening in conjunction with the streetcar. It is free and available from Google Play and the Apple App store.

El Paso Locomotive FC plays their next match at home on Wednesday, July 17^th against San Antonio FC. Season Ticket Memberships, Group Tickets, and Individual Match Tickets can be purchased online or by calling 915-235-GOAL.

The Miners Futbol Club made history on Sunday when the 13 and under team became National Champions at The 2019 U.S. Youth Presidents Cup.

As previously reported, Miners FC swept regionals last month and headed into nationals as an undefeated team.

Going into the first game on Thursday, they earned a 1-0 victory over the Region IV champions from Nevada. The next day they battled it out and tied 2-2 with the Region II champions from Illinois.

Day 3, rested and ready, the team from Maryland was no match, the Miners cleared the win 5-0. Having put the other teams away, Sunday arrived, and the Miners and the Las Vegas Pros headed into what was to be an intense match.

Las Vegas took the lead early in the match, scoring the first goal within the first 5 minutes. Bryan Salas of El Paso would get the Miners on the scoreboard, and the two teams went point for point. Minutes before the end of play, the Las Vegas Pros were leading 3-2 and it looked like they would take home the grand prize, but the Miners had other plans.

Christopher Mendez then scored his second goal right before the final whistle which tied the game at 3-3 and sent the Miners into overtime.

Salas – who opened the scoring for the Miners early in the match – then sealed it for the club, shooting the winning goal in the 93rd minute and giving the Miners a 4-3 win.

Of the three El Paso squads that made their historic debut at the national championship, Miners Futbol Club was the youngest (13 and under) to win the title, leaving their mark on Tennessee and returning home with the Presidents Cup.

The team ends the season at 12 wins – 0 losses – 1 tie.

El Paso Locomotive FC signs MLS veteran Sebastián Velásquez pending league and federation approval. Velásquez is coming to El Paso from his most recent club Suwon FC in South Korea where he spent the last season.

“Sebastian is a proven winner and a top attacking player. His experience in MLS and as one of the most creative players to ever play in the USL will be a huge influence on us in the second half of the season. He is exciting to watch; his energy and ability will get people out of their seats and without a doubt allows us to evolve and take the necessary steps in our progression as a team,” said Coach Mark Lowry on the thrilling addition to the Locomotive roster.

Born in Medellín, Colombia, Velásquez moved to the US at a young age and grew up in South Carolina.

An attacking minded midfielder, Velásquez began his professional career in the MLS where he played with Real Salt Lake from 2012-2014 and saw the pitch 38 times while netting two goals.

In 2015, he played a season with New York City FC and made 12 appearances. From 2017-2018, Velásquez spent time with USL Championship squad Real Monarchs, scoring 16 times across 47 appearances.

El Paso Locomotive FC plays their next match at home on Wednesday, July 17^th against San Antonio FC. Season Ticket Memberships, Group Tickets, and Individual Match Tickets can be purchased online or by calling 915-235-GOAL.

El Paso Locomotive FC extended their undefeated streak to nine straight league matches with the win against Tulsa Roughnecks FC.

USL Player of the Month Jerome Kiesewetter asserted his dominance and scored his tenth goal of the season putting him in a first-place tie for goals scored across the league while playing four games less than the rest of the field.

Sebastian Contreras showed his grit and professionalism Saturday night; scoring the first goal and drawing the penalty in the second half.

Omar Salgado once again dominated in his new position on the wing, leading to the first goal.

In the 37th minute, Salgado was unstoppable on the wing and took the ball deep into the Tulsa box, sending a perfectly placed cross that Contreras was able to convert.

The goal to break Tulsa came in the 67th minute when Contreras outclassed and out dribbled two Tulsa defenders who would have no other choice but to put him down in the box.

Who else but Kiesewetter would step up to take the penalty?

In calculating and clinical fashion, the German-American converted from the spot by sending a booming shot into the upper 90. El Paso would close the night with a big win and three points on the road boosting them up the rankings.

El Paso Locomotive FC plays their next match at home on Saturday, June 22^nd against Las Vegas. Season Ticket Memberships, Group Tickets, and Individual Match Tickets can be purchased at online or by calling 915-235-GOAL.

TAMPA, Fl. – El Paso Locomotive FC forward Jerome Kiesewetter has been voted the USL Championship’s Player of the Month for May after recording six goals in four games to lead his club to an undefeated record over the course of the month and an inside line to a berth in the USL Cup Playoffs at the end of the season.

“I am very excited to be named player of the month,” said Kiesewetter. “I know there were a bunch of other great players on the list and I am grateful to have won. I am thankful to everyone who voted for me and want to continue playing like we have as a team.”

The former United States Men’s National Team member, Kiesewetter joined Locomotive early this season and has made an impressive impact with the club.

In addition to his six goals during May, Kiesewetter has recorded nine goals in nine appearances overall to sit in a tie for second place in the race for the Championship’s Golden Boot, one behind New Mexico United’s Kevaughn Frater going into this weekend’s action.

Kiesewetter received 52 percent of a weighted poll that included the USL Championship Technical Committee, a national panel of independent media representing every USL market and an online fan vote held at USLChampionship.com.

The Tampa Bay Rowdies goalkeeper John McCarthy finished second on 26 percent after recording nine saves and four shutouts over the month, while Indy Eleven goalkeeper Evan Newton finished third on 18 percent after also going the month without conceding in league play.

El Paso Locomotive FC plays their next match at home on Saturday, June 22^nd against Las Vegas Lights. Season Ticket Memberships, Group Tickets, and Individual Match Tickets can be purchased online or by calling 915-235-GOAL

I’m an odd duck; my favorite sports are football – well, soccer in this case – and cricket. Ever since I was a kid, I was stuck on Pele and (find a cricket player from the early 80s). In junior high, during PE and major sports, my favorite thing was soccer.

So, when I was tasked to shot my first Locomotive game, I was excited. I also must admit, I watched more of the game than I should have. Should have been shooting more photos.

Before the game started, I heard these drums and saw these people marching between the field and the Scottish Rite Temple. They were waving flags, cheering, and having a blast. At first, I thought it was a promotional thing the Locomotive was doing, something to get the fans riled up and excited for the game.

It turns out; it was more than that.

This group of people marched right into Southwest University Stadium and even had their place set aside for them. I had to know just who these people were, what they were doing, and why they reminded me of soccer fans at every MLS game I’ve ever attended or shot.

Who are they? They call themselves the 8th Notch.

Before yesterdays game against LA Galaxy, I met with Louis Cepeda, the president of the 8th Notch, the official fan club of the El Paso Locomotive FC.

I had to ask him not just who they are, beyond their name, and why they are.

“We’re just a group of soccer fans that got together and wanted to support the team. We do whatever we can to push them on and let them know where we’re behind him,” says Luis Cepeda.

The 8th Notch began as two separate groups, before merging into one super group.

“When the team was announced way back last March, there were two groups that popped up,” says Luis. “One was Six Shooters; the other was Bridgetown Brigade. Bridgetown Brigade, they’ve known each other for a long time. Six shooters were the group that I was involved with, right. We were just trying to do our own thing. As time went on, we discuss things and we just kind of just figured it was better for us to all come together and have one voice.”

But the name, how did they get the name. It seems a non sequitur. Even after Googling the name, I still had no idea.

“Well,” began Louis “it’s the highest setting in a locomotive. So, it means full throttle, the highest acceleration in a locomotive. Pretty much full throttle on a locomotive.”

All they did was switch it from Notch 8 to 8th Notch.  

I was invited to watch the game with them, march with them, experience the game with them. Let me tell you; it took the Locomotives game to a whole new level!

Marching from Whiskey Blonde to the stadium was electric. Each member of the 8th Notch was alive with excitement. As we drew closer to the Santa Fe gate, they grew more intense.

The crowds that were queued up to get into the stadium were feeding off their energy. Everyone grew more excited as the 8th Notch continued their chant. It was intense. It was also a precursor to what sitting with them and watching the game was going to be like.

As the members of the 8th notch found their seats, they were ready for the game to begin. They were excited and wanted to share that excitement with everyone there.

Their cheers, their power was not only palpable, but contagious.

It took me back to the Penn-Jersey Spirit game in Ewing, New Jersey, one of the first games I ever shot from both the field and the stadium.

Even before the game began, 8th Notch was powered up! The drums, the chants, the non-stop cheering and beer showers when the team scored.

It was amazing, and I wish I had a 1/10th of the energy these guys had. If you’ve never experienced a game with a group of fans that are running full throttle, then you need to get on out there and join them!

They meet at Whiskey Blond, located at Speaker 1: (508 West San Antonio Avenue) open Wednesday through Sunday 2:00 PM to 2:00 AM.

Jacob Perez is one of the owners, and he and his team are great, I felt at home, and I don’t visit bars at all. This one, I’ll hit up again.

Throughout the game the 8th Notch cheered the Locomotives on and worked their best to take away any game spirit the LA Galaxy may have had. It was great!

In the end, the Locomotive took the game 3 to 0 (With for me was bittersweet. I’m an El Paso boy by I was rooting for the Galaxy).