EL PASO, Texas (KFOX14\/CBS4) \u2014 The El Paso Locomotive are gearing up for a Texas-sixed 4th of July showdown with San Antonio FC on Friday.<\/p>\n
Los Locos are coming off a bye week, following a win at Monterey Bay FC the week prior.<\/p>\n
The team feels refreshed after the week off, and are ready to get back at it.<\/p>\n
It was a refreshing break, really, for us. Get the legs a little bit rested, especially playing a lot of games at the beginning of the season… I think we’re gonna come out with a different type of energy. Obviously positive energy. I think a lot of the guys are very excited to come back and like I said before, we’re fresh and I think we’re gonna come and come for that Copa Tejas, said Beto Avila, El Paso Locomotive FC Forward.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Prior to El Paso’s win at Monterey Bay, it had been a bit of a struggle for the club, sliding down to fourth place in the USL Western Conference standings.<\/p>\n
Securing that win led to three points for the Locos, catapulting them back into second place in the conference standings.<\/p>\n
(That was) really, really important because that kept us on top of the table for the Western Conference and gave us the possibility to go to that break with a good mentality, positive mentality. So yeah, that was critical, said Head Coach Wilmer Cabrera.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Friday’s match looks to provide high octane, fast paced play.<\/p>\n
Both El Paso and San Antonio are currently in great position in the Western Conference standings entering the second half of the season.<\/p>\n
San Antonio, they’re currently third in the west, we sit in second. So, both teams are doing well, both teams like to score, so it’s going to be a lot of goals, a lot of going back and forth, so it should be an exciting match, said John Morgan, Communications Coordinator with El Paso Locomotive FC.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
The players know this match will have a playoff-like atmosphere.<\/p>\n
Intensity will be at its peak on Friday night.<\/p>\n
It’s always a good rivalry with them. Regardless of the standings, I think it’s a game that both teams look to, to go out there and fight and win. And yeah, I mean, now that the standings are there, it gives a little bit more, you say, like more a stake in there, said Defender Memo Diaz.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m. Friday night at Southwest University Park.<\/p>\n
There will be a postgame fireworks display to celebrate the 4th of July holiday.<\/p>\n