Powered by a hat trick from Andy Cabrera, El Paso Locomotive FC took a 3-0 victory against New Mexico United in the second edition of the Derby Del Camino Real on Saturday night at Southwest University Park, splitting the season series between the clubs.

The victory for Locomotive was its first in USL Championship play against its biggest rival since June 3, 2023 and marked only the second time El Paso had scored three times in the derby, the prior occasions coming in the 2020 season.

Here are three things we took away from the contest.

1. Andy Cabrera is making his attacking breakthrough

When we were first introduced to him as a USL Academy signing for Rio Grande Valley FC in 2018, Wilmer Cabrera Jr. showed his promise before heading to compete collegiately at Butler University. Since his progression into the professional ranks, though, he’s been ready to prove himself as his own man aside from his father – former U.S. international and his coach in both his return to the Toros and now at El Paso Locomotive FC.

After bagging the first hat trick in Locomotive’s history on Saturday night in one of the biggest games the club plays all season, he’s well on the way to accomplishing that. Cabrera’s trio of goals summed up the sterling season he’s putting together, with a precise header to open the scoring in the first half off Gabi Torres’ cross before a pair of sharply taken finishes to wrap up the result in the second half.

The 24-year-old now sits on six goals this season, only one shy of his single-season best in the USL Championship. Add in his key finishes in the U.S. Open Cup against this same United side and you can see the step forward he’s taking this year.

“Getting a good result at home is exactly what we needed,” he said postgame. “We were able to find the net tonight which made a huge difference. We have a great attacking group that connects well up top, which helps us work together.”

2. Front-Foot Positivity Gave Locomotive Impetus

The approach Locomotive took in the first meeting between these teams in March was somewhat bemusing. At Isotopes Park, the visitors sat deliberately deep as they ceded possession to New Mexico, which resulted in a closely fought game of few chances, but eventually ended up costing El Paso as they conceded a late winner.

This time around, Locomotive took the initiative and it paid off impressively. While New Mexico maintained more possession with 59.7 percent of the ball, the spaces they were able to access were cut off by El Paso’s midfield and defense, resulting in scant chances for the visitors. Locomotive’s 17 interceptions were a single-season high by any club in a Championship game this season, with center backs Wahab Ackwei (4) and Robert Coronado (3) leading the way. New Mexico eventually caught up to El Paso in terms of touches in the opposing penalty area with 25 apiece, but 10 of United’s came after the side had gone down by three goals with seven minutes to go, marking a last hurrah to try and get a consolation goal rather than a concerted threat to Jahmali Waite’s goal.

“To perform like that against our top rival at home is refreshing,” said Locomotive Head Coach Wilmer Cabrera, whose side remains undefeated at home this season. “I told the players I was so proud of the intensity we put on the field along with the performance individually and collectively.”

3. Lack of Energy ends New Mexico Winning Streaks

Even with the side’s elimination in a penalty shootout by Locomotive last month, there should have been reason for optimism as New Mexico arrived in El Paso on Saturday night. The visitors had won four consecutive meetings in league play and were on a five-game winning streak since dropping its opening game of the season at Sacramento Republic FC.

Instead, the side came out second-best, unable to capitalize on the chances it created but more importantly being bustled out of possession by its hosts. Locomotive won 54.4 percent of the game’s duels and claimed possession six times in the attacking third compared to only once for United. New Mexico remains in a strong position a quarter of the way through the season, but had plenty to chew on from Saturday’s performance.

"A bit of humble pie," United Head Coach Dennis Sanchez told the Albuquerque Journal’s Ken Sickenger. "We can talk about tactics, we can talk about moments in the game, but they obviously wanted it more than us tonight."