Wednesday
When: 6:55 p.m.
Where: Isotopes Park, 1601 Avenida Cesar Chavez
TV/radio: New Mexico 50/FM-101.7
Records: El Paso Locomotive (4-2-1), New Mexico United (2-3)
The series: United leads 7-6-7.
After another off week, and for the second time in a month, New Mexico United is back in USL Championship play.
Here are some things to note:
Free kicks
1. ALL ABOARD? United’s recent matches against El Paso Locomotive haven’t exactly been kind to United.
El Paso hasn’t lost to New Mexico since March 22, 2025. Sure, there have only been three matches between the rivals since then, but Locomotive has won two of those in decisive fashion.
El Paso came away with a 3-0 victory on May 3, 2025. It also topped United 4-0 in the second round of this year’s U.S. Open Cup on April 1 at UNM’s Track and Soccer Complex — tied for United’s worst home loss. Alvaro Quezada, Alex Méndez, Rubio Rubín and Eric Cavillo scored for Locomotive. The last three came in the second half.
In between the two? A 2-2 draw (officially) in the third round of last year’s U.S. Open Cup. El Paso, however, advanced to the tournament quarterfinals 4-1 on penalty kicks … because someone had to.
2. ABOUT TIME: Between the U.S. Open Cup, the USL Cup — which began April 25 — and multiple bye weeks, United hasn’t gotten many opportunities to actually compete in a match that counts towards the USL Championship standings.
Wednesday’s matchup against El Paso will be just the second league contest for New Mexico in the last month. The other was a match at Phoenix Rising FC on April 11. United lost 3-0 that day.
But there is some good news for fans. New Mexico has another home match on Saturday against Las Vegas Lights FC. Nothing like a two-for-one weekly special.
3. THAT’S THE GOAL: It certainly doesn’t hurt to put the ball in the back of the net and Locomotive has been the best in the USL at doing so. El Paso leads the league in goals (17) and conversion rate on its shots (25%) despite tying for 12th in shots overall (90).
It helps having two of the league’s top scorers on the roster. Rubín’s five goals are tied for third, one behind Colorado Springs’ Khori Bennett and Phoenix’s Ihsan Sacko. El Paso’s Amando Moreno is tied for eighth with four. Locomotive also has Méndez, who has three goals.
United, meanwhile, has scored just five times in league play. That’s tied for 23rd with Sporting Jax. NMU is last in shot attempts (56) and tied for 18th in conversion rate (12%).
4. WHERE TO STAND? Since United is getting back into USL Championship play, it never hurts to have a standings refresher.
New Mexico is currently 10th in Western Conference, ahead of Lexington SC and Monterey Bay FC. United and Lexington both have six points, but New Mexico has one more win. Monterey Bay has two points.
El Paso is third in the West with 13 points, behind San Antonio FC (16) and Orange County SC (15). San Antonio and Orange County have also played two more matches than Locomotive.
Key matchup
United keeper Kris Shakes vs. Locomotive forward Rubio Rubín
Seems like the right choice, especially if Shakes is the man in goal for New Mexico. Raiko Arozarena was United’s starting keeper for this year’s U.S. Open Cup match between the clubs. But Shakes could do with a boosted performance in league play. In five USL matches, he’s conceded eight goals. He’s also faced 28 shots. Rubín, a former U.S. men’s national team player and current Guatemala member, will likely be Shakes’ main opposition. He’s scored his five goals on 15 shots.
Player of the week
United forward Justin Rennicks
The former New England Revolution player delivered as a substitute for United with the go-ahead goal in the second half of the club’s 2-1 USL Cup win over AV Alta FC on April 25. Whether such dramatics are required again remains to be seen, but at least United has a player on the bench who can possibly deliver if asked.
By the numbers
3-0-0: El Paso’s record in USL away matches this season. Locomotive is 1-2-1 at home.
1: The number of home matches United has had in league play. New Mexico beat Colorado Springs 3-2 on March 28.
8: The number of Locomotive players who have recorded at least one goal. Seven have notched at least one assist.
15: The number of yellow cards United has received in five USL matches. El Paso has been awarded 20 and received two red cards.
David Glovach covers New Mexico United and other sports for the Journal. Reach him at dglovach@abqjournal.com or via X @DavidGlovach.
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