COLORADO SPRINGS — Teams from lower-tier leagues always have something to prove when they play against MLS teams in the U.S. Open Cup, but the Colorado Springs Switchbacks of the third-tier United Soccer Leagues will have extra incentive when they face the Rapids at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.
“It will be interesting because both teams have a lot of pride on the line,” said Luke Vercollone, a midfielder for the Switchbacks. “And we’re fighting for fans a little bit. There are a lot of Rapids fans here in the Springs. We’re fighting for respect as well. I feel like MLS doesn’t always give the respect to the USL that it deserves.”
Indeed, MLS teams often show their indifference to lower-tier teams — or the tournament itself — by resting some starters. The Rapids were eliminated last year in the tournament’s fifth round (their second because MLS teams get byes into the fourth round) by the Atlanta Silverbacks of the second-tier North American Soccer League. That game resulted in a brawl that caused the ejection of four players and both coaches.
Vercollone played on a Richmond Kickers USL team in 2011 that beat two MLS teams, the Columbus Crew and Sporting KC, before losing 2-1 in the semi- finals to Chicago of MLS.
“I hope they don’t take us that seriously,” Vercollone said of the Rapids, “but we’ll certainly be ready for them.”
The Switchbacks are coached by Steve Tritt- schuh, a former Rapids defender (1996-99) and assistant coach (2002-06). Colorado Springs is a first-year team, so this will be its first shot against an MLS foe.
“We’re not just going to sit there and defend. We’re going to try to play and see who they play against us,” Trittschuh said. “I’m sure they’ll play a strong team. That’s what we want. I want to see how my guys stack up against them.”
One Colorado Springs player knows the Rapids extremely well because he used to be one of them. Davy Armstrong, a product of the Rapids development system from Aurora, was with the senior team from 2010-13 but made only three appearances.
“The three seasons he was with the Rapids, he kind of lost a little bit because he didn’t play a whole lot,” Trittschuh said. “He’s playing catch-up right now.”
Armstrong, 23, comes off the bench. “It will be great to be back there to see those guys again, but it will be even better if we get a result out of it,” he said.
Trittschuh knows every player he coaches is itching to be signed by an MLS team.
“Maybe somebody has a good game and someone in the league sees them and their next step is MLS,” he said. “I’m hoping next year there’s three or four guys that do move up. I’m doing my job then.”
John Meyer: jmeyer@denverpost.com or
U.S. Open Cup
The U.S. Open Cup is a tournament that incorporates teams from the three highest professional tiers of soccer in the U.S. as well as amateur teams. The tournament dates to 1914.
Because MLS is the highest tier in U.S. soccer, MLS teams receive byes into the fourth round. The Switchbacks of Colorado Springs, a third-tier team from the United Soccer Leagues, received a bye into the second round.
To reach Tuesday’s fourth-round game against the Rapids, the Switchbacks beat an amateur team from Boulder (Harpo’s FC) and the Real Monarchs of USL, an affiliate of the MLS team Real Salt Lake.
