Derby Info: Utah Avalanche vs La Roca FC
Date: Sunday, November 5, 2023
Location: St. Joseph Catholic High School | Ogden, Utah
Age Groups: U13-U18/19

This weekend's Continental Tire ECNL Derby Day is the season kickoff between two in-state rivals, as Utah Avalanche hosts La Roca FC in Northwest Conference action in all age groups. Both clubs are looking to get their Northwest Conference slate of games kicked off with an impressive Derby win this weekend.

Club: Utah Avalanche
Year Founded: 2001
Location: Salt Lake City, Utah
Things You Should Know: 07 and 09 - 2023 ECNL Girls Champions League Qualifiers

Quotables: With Utah Avalanche and La Roca FC so close together in Utah, Jimmie Powell, Utah Avalanche's Director of Coaching, described the rivalry as something similar to what you would see in the Premier League with Manchester City and Manchester United.

"The two clubs sit right on top of each other," Powell said. "We couldn't be more integrated. It's almost like Manchester where you could be a red or a blue."

Powell described that the two clubs are so closely intertwined that many of the coaches have spent time at both clubs, and that even sometimes players will have played for both sides.

"It is very much like a battle of brothers," Powell said. "Our clubs are very different in terms of how we approach things stylistically, but we are very connected."

With all of the players often knowing each other so well, Powell said an important emphasis going into games like this is to stay focused on playing the game, and not get caught up in the opponent you are playing.

"We always have to remind them that the first thing you have to do is play the game and not the opponent," Powell said. 

While competing and trying to establish themselves as the best in the area is an important factor in these types of games, Powell still says he hopes players choose to play for the Avalanche because of the club, and not just the results on the field.

"It's really the only time locally that we have a chance to compare to other teams in the area," Powell said. "We hope that the majority of players choose us for us though, rather than a result here or there, but obviously it goes into any player's thought process on who might be the better club."

Club: La Roca FC
Year Founded: 2005
Location: South Weber, Utah
Things You Should Know: 06 and 07 - 2023 ECNL Girls Champions League Qualifiers

Quotables: With the Northwest Conference schedule set to get underway with Sunday's Derby, David Chevez, La Roca FC's Director of Coaching, says that all his players are not only excited for the start of Conference play, but that playing Utah in a Derby will give it some extra excitement due to the importance of the games.

"We're the top clubs in the state of Utah and it's a great platform to have a Derby," Chevez said. "The whole buildup through the week, everyone is talking about it, and it's exciting and important."

Chevez said with the players coming out of their high school seasons, everyone is training hard to be prepared for Avalanche, since everyone wants to make sure they are in their best shape for the rivalry games.

"The girls are coming back from high school season," Chevez said. "They are excited because we play Avalanche and they want to be in the best shape possible so they can perform because the girls, the parents, everyone knows about this rivalry and it's hard to take a loss in this one."

With the clubs so intertwined, Chevez discussed how this game is such a unique experience, but that all those friendships have to be put on hold once the games start.

"It's a unique situation because the rivalry is huge, but at the same time there's a lot of friendships between families, players, and coaches," Chevez said. "When you jump on the field you forget about those relationships, but after the game it goes back to normal."

As far as the games go though, Chevez says it is always a great test playing against Avalanche, and oftentimes the age groups go back and forth from year to year because they are such competitive games.

"The games are always a battle," Chevez said. "The quality is always great amongst every age. It might change from year to year with one age group being stronger than the other, but the competition is always there and we are all excited for this."

With La Roca having huge goals for this upcoming season, Chevez says that Sunday's Derby is a great chance for his team to get off to a positive start for what they hope will be a successful campaign in the Northwest Conference.

"We're looking forward to this to kick off the ECNL season," Chevez said. "We have big goals to fulfill this year and we hope these games are the beginning of a great season for us."