TUCSON, Ariz. – Louisville City FC rallied from a two-goal deficit to earn a 2-2 draw against Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC on Sunday afternoon at the Desert Friendlies at the Kino Sports Complex.

Preparing for the defense of the 2024 Championship title, the Switchbacks took a two-goal lead through finishes by Yosuke Hanya and a trialist either side of halftime before Carlos Moguel Jr. and Niall McCabe struck back for the 2024 Players’ Shield winners to leave the sides level.

LouCity had chances to take the lead in the first half as Manny Perez forced an early save in a one-on-one situation. That was followed by chances for Sam Gleadle and LouCity newcomer Zach Duncan that came to nothing. The Switchbacks then took advantage of a counter-attack opportunity that Hanya put away in the 42nd minute.

Colorado Springs doubled its lead through a trialist early in the second half before Louisville mounted its comeback. Moguel Jr. struck on a direct free kick with just under 20 minutes to play before a late corner kick came to McCabe outside the top of the penalty arc. The veteran midfielder zipped a rising shot through traffic that found the corner of the net.

“We've been pushing the group extremely hard over the course of this camp, and we've been on the road for quite a bit of time,” said LouCity Head Coach Danny Cruz. “But this afternoon's performance wasn't up to the standard we have for each other. The positive is we were able to come back from being down two goals to zero. At the same time, we did not meet our expectation from both a work ethic and mentality standpoint.”

PITTSBURGH RIVERHOUNDS SC 3, DUQUESNE UNIVERSITY 0: Augustine Williams scored his first goal for Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC as the side cruised to a preseason victory at Highmark Stadium at Highmark Stadium.

The Hounds maintained the upper hand in possession throughout and their pressure created problems for the Dukes as early as the fifth minute. Williams got on the ball after a turnover barely 20 yards from the Duquesne goal, and he lifted a shot that was goal-bound until Duquesne defender Blaize Hardy intervened with a saving header.

Williams wouldn’t be denied in the final minute of the first half, however, as he was on hand to turn home the rebound from close range after Charles Ahl fired a low shot from inside the box that was parried into the path of Williams, who finished at the second attempt.

The Hounds doubled their lead two minutes into the second half when Robbie Mertz sent a cross into the box from the left wing that found a trialist, who turned the ball home to double the lead. The hosts then wrapped up the result with three minutes to go as a second trialist scored from 25 yards out, picking out the left corner.

SAN ANTONIO FC 2, SOUTHERN METHODIST UNIVERSITY 1: Juan Agudelo and Luke Haakenson both found the net as San Antonio FC recorded its second consecutive preseason victory, defeating Southern Methodist University at Toyota Field.

After a scoreless first half, SAFC broke the deadlock early out of the break with a header from Agudelo, who became the fifth different player to find the net this preseason for the side. Haakenson followed up with his second goal in as many matches, finding some space in the final third and beating the goalkeeper to double San Antonio’s lead. The Mustangs pulled a goal back late on, but SAFC saw out the result.

NEW MEXICO UNITED 3, GRAND CANYON UNIVERSITY 0: Marlon Vargas, Chris Gloster and Kalen Ryden each scored second-half goals as New Mexico United cruised to victory against Grand Canyon University in Tucson, Ariz.

After a scoreless first half, Vargas put United ahead in the 53rd minute as he put away a low cross by Daniel Bruce. Gloster doubled the lead with 20 minutes to play before Ryden added a third in the final minute to wrap up the scoring.