RENO, Nev. – Reno 1868 FC played the Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC, Saturday night at Greater Nevada Field. In front of a crowd of 4,881 people 1868 FC left with a 2-2 tie.

Both teams held even possession in the first half. A huge chance for Reno came in the 41st minute when Mackenzie Pridham had an opportunity to score in front of goal but took a step too many. Four minutes later a penalty was conceded by Switchbacks’ defender Sean McFarlane from a handball. Reno’s midfielder Junior Burgos set up at the spot and converted the penalty with a right-footed shot into the bottom right corner of the net to put Reno ahead 1-0 at halftime.

In the second half, the Switchbacks equalized in the 58th minute when Jordan Burt took a right footed shot from very close range into the bottom right corner off an assist by Josh Phillips with a headed pass following a corner. Reno countered two minutes later when defender Jordan Murrell made an athletic header into the high center of the goal off a headed pass by Matt LaGrassa to bring Reno ahead 2-1. Reno kept its lead until Switchbacks’ midfielder Shane Malcolm headed the ball from very close range into the bottom right corner off a cross from Josh Suggs to bring the final score 2-2.

Reno will play its next match on the road against Phoenix Rising FC at the Phoenix Rising FC Soccer Complex Saturday, May 6 at 7:30 p.m.

Reno midfielder Junior Burgos

 On the match

“We played well throughout the 90 minutes, but fell short in the last two.”

On moving forward after the match

“It’s tough, but I feel like the team is playing well. Tonight, we came out and worked for it, but at the end of the day we took a point.”

Takeaways from the match

“Defensively we were pretty solid. We created a lot of chances we should have finished, but I think the group knows we have a lot of work to do and every day we practice we come in with that mentality.

Defender Jordan Murrell

On the match

“It was a hard game. We should have come out with three points. We battled hard and we’re ready for next game.”

On Junior Burgos’ cross

“Junior serves a good ball back post and it always gets headed back across so I just tried to be in the right spot.”

Main takeaway from the match

“We need to be stronger in the last five minutes. This is a tough league. It’s a new team, but we can’t be giving up goals in the last few minutes.

On scoring

“It’s always good to score in front of these fans. They are loud and keep us going. I can hear them to the last minute. They don’t give up and we shouldn’t either.”

Head coach Ian Russell

On the team

“The team is frustrated and the coaching staff is frustrated. Late chances and late corner kicks cost us, but I thought it was our best performance overall from the year.”

 

On set pieces

“We gotta be better at set pieces towards the end of the game. They sent every player forward and we still kept a player on the post. We were basically down a man and we have to figure out stuff like that.”

 

On Burgos

“Junior was really good tonight. He had some really good chances off free kicks where he almost caught the keeper cheating. He is a very good soccer player and is savvy and experienced. He did a great job”

On the team's development

“There are some positives from tonight. We are an expansion team and we are still gelling. It takes time and every game is getting better.”

On the break before the next match

“It’s nice because we have so many injuries. I think we’re gonna have two or three players back, which are basically our back four.”

On Jordan Murrell

“Jordan did excellent and the goal was crucial because they just scored on us. It was a great goal. Ideally, with players coming back from injuries you don’t want to play them the full 90, but Jordan is different.”