When Juan Tejada arrived in Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC, his career was at a crossroads.

After a blistering rookie campaign with the Tampa Bay Rowdies that saw him bag 10 goals, he had bounced between the starting lineup and substitutes bench both with the Rowdies and at Indy Eleven, where after a midseason transfer he recorded only two goals in 28 appearances, and averaged only 40 minutes an appearance for the Boys in Blue.

What he found when he arrived in Colorado Springs midway through the 2023 season, however, was exactly what he was looking for.

“I mean, my family and me coming here after a tough year in Indy, this community has received me as family,” said Tejada. “It’s just special, just the amount of support that everyone has given me, coaches, players.”

Over the past month, Tejada has paid that back and then some with two of the biggest goals of the Switchbacks’ season.

On the final day of the regular season on October 26, the Panamanian was the man on the spot to turn home an 85th-minute winner against Sacramento Republic FC that sent Colorado Springs into the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference.

On Saturday night, that resulted in the Switchbacks hosting Las Vegas Lights FC in the Western Conference Final at Weidner Field, where Tejada’s goal seven minutes before halftime proved the difference in a 1-0 victory for the hosts, earning the first silverware in club history and the chance to host the 2024 USL Championship Final next Saturday.

“To give back this goal, this trophy … being able to celebrate with everybody here, the fans were amazing, even though it was cold all night, it’s just so special for me,” said Tejada, “I think I will never forget this day in my lifetime.”

Overall, it wasn’t close to the Switchbacks’ best display of the season – Head Coach James Chambers went as far to say his side “weren’t great at all” – but when the final whistle blew in front of a sellout crowd of 8,023 fans, the result was all that mattered.

“That was one of our worst performances of the year, but the final, it's about getting a result, and the boys did that,” added Chambers. “They showed a completely different side tonight, with immense character, immense resiliency, and fought for each other, and ultimately came out a winner, which is what you want today in the final.”

And there it was the Switchbacks’ front line that came to play as well. Tejada won 2 of 2 tackles, Ronaldo Damus won possession five times and won 4 of 7 duels, while Jairo Henriquez won 3 of 4 tackles and won possession a team-high seven times, including twice in the attacking third.

The defensive trio of Defender of the Year nominee Matt Mahoney, Delentz Pierre and Matt Real each recorded nine clearances, while goalkeeper Christian Herrera produced two spectacular saves in a four-save shutout that preserved the shutout.

Colorado Springs has now recorded four shutouts in the past five outings, building a five-game winning streak as it prepares to head to its first USL Championship Final, a testament to the balance the side has deliberately moved toward since the club’s move into Weidner Field in 2021 brought with it an approach directed toward its high-flying attack.

After the knock in confidence the side could have absorbed as it lost its first five games of the regular season, the Switchbacks are on the verge of the title that in their 10th season they have long aspired to.

“It’s such a testament to the team and the character,” said Mahoney, now in his fourth season at the club. “I mean, this group started 0-5, you know, first-year coach, a lot of turnover, a lot of changes, and to be able to accomplish something like this is unbelievable. I’m very proud of the group. I’m very happy right now.”

And in the middle of it all was Tejada, again the Switchbacks’ surprise man of the moment, who’ll now get a chance to deliver on the league’s biggest stage.

“There’s one more game,” said Tejada. “That’s the most important part, but it’s just special right now. We’re going to celebrate today, tomorrow we’re going to think about the next game.”