Separated by a point in the middle of the USL Championship’s Western Conference playoff positions, Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC and Monterey Bay F.C. will square off, while New Mexico United will look to add to its winning streak as it heads to face Las Vegas Lights FC in two games that hope to provide fireworks this Fourth of July.

Here's a look ahead at the action.

Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC vs. Monterey Bay F.C.

Venue: Weidner Field
Kickoff: 9 p.m. ET
Broadcast: ESPN+

The Lowdown: Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC will try to build on victory last time out as it plays host to Monterey Bay F.C., which sits in fourth place in the West, one point ahead of its hosts as it arrives for their first contest this season. The Switchbacks (8-9-1, 25pts) claimed a 2-0 victory on Saturday night against Miami FC as Deshane Beckford recorded his first goal for the club before Romario Williams added an insurance goal with 15 minutes to go to break a two-game losing streak for the side. Williams has now recorded a team-high seven goals this season and will hope to carry that form in against a Monterey Bay side that claimed a 4-2 win when these sides last met a season ago. MBFC (7-5-5, 26pts) saw a four-game winning streak come to an end last time out as it fell 3-1 to Orange County SC despite holding a halftime lead through Hugh Roberts’ finish. With a win, the visitors would regain third place in the Western standings, with the second-year side having taken a positive step forward this year.

Spotlight Players
Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC – Tyreek Magee: The Jamaican attacking midfielder put in a solid display against Miami, recording three shots overall, and will be hoping for a chance to get his name on the scoresheet for the first time for his new club.

Monterey Bay F.C. – Christian Volesky: The veteran forward recorded five goals in 16 appearances for the Switchbacks in the abbreviated 2020 season and has notched seven goals and four assists so far in a stellar campaign. 

Las Vegas Lights FC vs. New Mexico United

Venue: Cashman Field
Kickoff: 9 p.m. ET
Broadcast: ESPN+

The Lowdown: New Mexico United will try to make it three wins in a row as they head to face Las Vegas Lights FC, which is hoping to break a downturn in form that continued this past Saturday in another narrow defeat. Lights FC (1-9-6, 9pts) suffered its fifth consecutive defeat as a late goal lifted the Tampa Bay Rowdies to a 2-1 win at Cashman Field despite another positive effort by the hosts. Las Vegas found the net to level midway through the first half via Timothy Zalie, his first goal since arriving on loan from New Mexico, but despite numerous chances Las Vegas was unable to find a lead before JJ Williams’ produced a brilliant finish to grab victory for the Rowdies. New Mexico (6-7-3, 21pts) got some late magic of its own on Saturday, meanwhile, as Santi Moar scored the game-winning goal in the 89th minute against Derby del Camino Real rival El Paso Locomotive FC. The win was the second in a row for United as it looks to push back into the playoff positions under new Head Coach Eric Quill. New Mexico is undefeated in its last three games against Las Vegas, with the sides having played to a 0-0 draw at Cashman Field last September in their most recent meeting. With a win this time out, however, United would jump into the playoff positions in the West ahead of a return home to face Detroit City FC this weekend.

Spotlight Players
Las Vegas Lights FC – Jacob Bushue: The holding midfielder will need to put in a solid display against New Mexico’s versatile attacking group and has won 27 tackles at a success rate of 82 percent so far this season.

New Mexico United – Amando Moreno: The El Salvador international is tied for the team lead with four goals this season and his creativity in the final third could be key for the visitors as they try to break the hosts down.