In the grand scheme of things, Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC has generally got what it deserved from its performances this season.

Yes, there have been games where the side deserved more, but that’s been balanced out with results that might have come somewhat more fortuitously.

As it stands, though, the defending USL Championship title-holders sit with a minus-1-goal differential on a -0.12 Expected Goal Differential, and an almost even 5-6-6 record with a 23.53 Expected Points mark to sit ninth in the Western Conference.

That made Friday night’s comfortable 3-1 victory against Lexington SC a reason for positive feelings around Weidner Field, but a sense that there was still much more to be done to secure a fifth consecutive postseason berth.

“We could have had more,” said Switchbacks Head Coach James Chambers. “Look, we know we created chances throughout the year, and we’ve given up soft goals. We can see that, if I’m being honest, but we're pleased with the boys that they’re getting the reward now. But again, we've got to stay humble, and we've got to keep working. It’s two league wins and that’s all it is.”

The good news for the Switchbacks? The homefield advantage that Weidner Field has provided since its opening could carry the side over the final three months of the season. After a critical trip to Oakland Roots SC on Saturday night, Colorado Springs will play eight of its final 12 games of the regular season on home turf.

Having racked up a 46-17-17 home record with a +58-goal differential across the regular season and playoffs in the Championship since the start of the 2021 campaign – the most home wins of any team in the West and fourth overall – this is the moment for the Switchbacks to turn it on.

Sitting only five points out of the top four in the muddled Western Conference standings, the surge that carried Colorado Springs all the way to the summit last year could put it in contention to challenge again.

Here are this week’s rankings.