Got a light? United, Colorado Springs chasing elusive playoff spark

Wednesday, 7 p.m., Radio: 101.7 FM; TV: CBS Sports Network, KASY (English), Estrella (Spanish); Streaming: KRQE.com, ESPN+

Dennis Sanchez knows firsthand about the value of getting hot at the right time.

New Mexico United's head coach harnessed the power of momentum last season, leading Las Vegas Lights FC on a late run to the USL Championship Western Conference finals. The Lights ultimately fell to Colorado Springs Switchbacks, who got even hotter at a perfect time.

"You look at Colorado Springs," Sanchez said, "they won their last five games and won the championship. It's all about building confidence, building momentum and playing your best football when it counts."

Two clubs looking to pounce on that magic formula will get together Wednesday night when United visits Colorado Springs for a key Western Conference battle. New Mexico (10-10-4, 34 points) is in fifth place in the standings while the Switchbacks (8-9-7 31 points) are in eighth. Each team has six games remaining and a lot at stake.

The top eight regular-season finishers in each conference qualify for the playoffs with the top four earning first-round home games. United enters Wednesday just two points behind second-place San Antonio and one behind Lexington, which visits Isotopes Park on Sunday. Opportunity is effectively banging on the door for Sanchez's team.

"We want to get a good run going and this is the time," NMU defender Will Seymore said. "It's stressful but it's also the best time of year."

The same can be said for Colorado Springs, which could once again get hot and claim a home playoff match — or be overtaken by ninth-place Orange County (29 points) and end up missing the playoffs entirely.

Can either New Mexico or Colorado Springs make a late surge? Both clubs are capable, but both have been mired in mediocrity for much of the season. In addition to having similar records, United and the Switchbacks have remarkably similar stats:

• NMU has 32 goals scored, 32 conceded and 263 shots with 86 on target.

• Colorado Springs has 32 goals scored, 35 conceded and 266 shots with 85 on target.

Perhaps not surprisingly, the clubs' two previous meetings this season both ended in draws.

United has a favorable finishing schedule with four of its final five matches at home, but a strong road performance Wednesday could provide the kind of spark Sanchez is seeking.

"Colorado Springs is an aggressive team, especially on defense," Sanchez said. "We have to be able to match that, value the ball and break their press. If we do that, we'll have opportunities. Then it's about making them count."

Sustained aggression has often been hard to come by for United, which went more than 70 minutes between shots during Saturday's 1-1 draw at Monterey Bay. NMU then put together a flurry over the final 15 minutes and stoppage time, scoring an equalizing goal and nearly pulling out a late victory.

With four straight matches against Western Conference playoff contenders coming up, United can ill-afford such hot-and-cold performances.

"Everything is there for us," Sanchez said. "It's up to us to go out and take it."

NATIONAL EXPOSURE: New Mexico will have two straight turns in the national spotlight as both Wednesday's match and Sunday's home contest against Lexington will be televised on CBS Sports Network. Sunday's game kicks off at 4 p.m.

TICKET DEAL: NMU is offering a reduced ticket package for the club's final four home matches. The 4 Stripes Pass covers entry to all four matches for $24.99 and does not require fans to attend them all. Further details and a link to purchase passes are available online at newmexicoutd.com.

Players to watch

New Mexico (10-10-4): It will be interesting to see what United coach Dennis Sanchez's lineup looks like for the middle game of three in a nine-day span. Will Alex Tambakis get a shot in goal as he did for NMU's last Wednesday match? Will some of the late substitutes that rescued United's 1-1 draw at Monterey Bay on Saturday get a turn in the starting 11? A case can certainly be made for forward Luther Archiméde, who headed in the equalizing goal in the 87th minute. Archiméde has yet to start a match for NMU, but he's been productive off the bench with two goals on six shots in 217 minutes. Mukwelle Akale, who has played sparingly of late, also injected some life into United's attack Saturday. Akale had two shots on frame and two chances created after coming off the bench, setting up Archiméde's goal with a deflected blast.

Colorado Springs (8-9-7): Former New Mexico midfielder Marco Micaletto has thrived in his first season with the Switchbacks and leads them with six goals scored and 24 chances created. He also ranks second on the club with 23 shots, evidence that Colorado Springs does not feature the high-powered attack of seasons past. Still, there are dangerous players up front for the Switchbacks, including Jonas Fjeldberg, Kyle Vassell and Juan Tejada. Defender Matthew Mahoney remains an anchor for Colorado Springs and has 4 goals while ranking among the USLC leaders in passes (1,465) and clearances (135). Goalkeeping has been unsettled with three players (Christian Herrera, Abraham Romero, Adam Beaudry) rotating in goal. Herrera has the most appearances but has more goals conceded (19) than saves (17).

GOAL KICKS: Wednesday's match holds extra significance in the USLC Western Conference standings as fifth-place New Mexico enters with a three-point edge over eighth-place Colorado Springs. The clubs played to a 1-1 draw June 7 in Albuquerque, which means either team could grab a key tiebreaker edge with a win Wednesday. NMU and the Switchbacks also battled to a 2-2 draw (United won on penalties) in Jägermeister Cup competition. Another draw would do little to help either team's playoff positioning in the tight conference race.