There are matches that look big on the standings and then there are matches that define an entire season. What’s about to unfold at Southwest University Park on October 19 isn’t just a top-of-the-table clash—it’s a seismic collision of ambition, resilience, and hunger for glory between El Paso Locomotive and the runaway leaders, FC Tulsa. These aren’t two teams fighting for scraps; this is a full-blooded war for supremacy in the USL Championship’s Western Conference, and believe me—someone’s season is about to be rewritten in permanent ink.
Let’s get one thing straight—Tulsa didn’t ascend to the summit by accident. 53 points, 15 wins, and only five losses is the form of a champion in waiting, and their engine is purring at the business end of the campaign. They polished off San Antonio with surgical precision, slammed three past Lexington, and look like a freight train barreling toward the postseason. Yet for all their dominance, there is an edge to this fixture that should make the frontrunners nervous: El Paso is finding its rhythm just as the spotlight burns brightest.
You want form? El Paso’s recent run reads like the path of a contender that simply refuses to go quietly—only one loss in their last five, a gritty road victory in Lexington, and a 3-1 dismantling of Oakland Roots where Aaron Moreno and Eryk Williamson stamped their authority. Sure, the Locomotive haven’t been scoring in bunches—averaging just one goal per game in their last ten—but this is a side built on defensive grit and timely explosions of attacking class.
This isn’t just about numbers or tactics, though. It’s about what’s at stake. For El Paso, fourth place and 40 points might look like a buffer, but with the playoff race boiling over, a win here punches their ticket into true contender status. For Tulsa, victory on the road means putting a stranglehold on the conference, sending a message to every would-be challenger: the crown isn’t available.
Storylines? This matchup oozes them from every pore. Start with the tactical chess match. El Paso’s midfield, led by the metronomic Richie Ryan, has been quietly dictating tempo, absorbing pressure and launching counterattacks that punish teams who push too high. Can they control the likes of Guilherme Colli—Tulsa’s creative talisman who’s hit the form of his life—or will Tulsa’s relentless press finally crack El Paso’s composure?
Then there’s the battle in the trenches between the defenses. El Paso’s backline, battle-tested and stingy, has made a habit of bending but not breaking. But Tulsa’s attack, turbo-charged by John Webber’s recent brace and Colli’s magic, comes at you in waves. If Tulsa scores early, the Locomotive faithful will be holding their breath, because the visitors know how to turn a lead into a rout.
Key players? El Paso’s Aaron Moreno is due for a moment of brilliance—a spark plug who has shown he can seize the occasion, as he did with a first-minute strike against Oakland. Don’t sleep on Ricardo Avila either; his workrate and nose for crucial goals could tilt the balance at just the right moment. For Tulsa, everything flows through Colli and Webber; these two are in the form of their lives, and when they click, defenders unravel.
But here’s where I’m taking a stand. The easy pick is Tulsa. The safe pick is Tulsa. But Southwest University Park is no ordinary stage, and El Paso is no ordinary underdog. This team is peaking at the perfect moment, brimming with belief, and desperate to prove they’re more than just playoff window dressing.
I’m calling it: El Paso Locomotive shocks USL punditry and pulls off a statement win, grinding out a 2-1 result in front of a raucous home crowd. Look for Moreno to author another highlight-reel moment, and for Avila to hammer the point home late. Tulsa will land their punches—count on Colli to create havoc—but on this night, the Locomotive will be fueled by more than tactics or talent. They’ll be driven by the knowledge that destiny is knocking, and they’re not about to let the door go unanswered.
Mark it down—the real test of a would-be champion is what happens when the spotlight gets hottest. Tulsa, meet your reckoning. El Paso, grab your moment. The race for the title just hit maximum velocity.