Here’s what to know ahead of kickoff between Louisville City FC and Indy Eleven at 7:30 p.m. Saturday inside Lynn Family Stadium…
Hot start: With a win, LouCity would match the club’s best-ever start of 4-0 in 2018, when the boys in purple also most recently raised the USL Championship trophy at the end of the year. Showing staying power, seven players from 2018’s team are still on the roster: defenders Oscar Jimenez and Sean Totsch; midfielders Napo Matsoso, Niall McCabe and Paolo DelPiccolo; as well as forwards Cameron Lancaster and Brian Ownby.
Top of the table: After playing with groups (2020) and divisions (2021) amid the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the USL Championship has reverted to its traditional Eastern/Western conference format for 2022, and LouCity is atop the east early. Loudoun United FC and Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC — both 2-0 — are the other Eastern Conference clubs to have not yet dropped points.
Shutout streak: Along with a perfect start LouCity has yet to allow a goal, matching — once again — a mark from 2018. Twice that season the boys in purple put together three consecutive clean sheets. The club’s longest run of shutouts lasted five games through June of 2016 when not allowing a single goal in USL Championship competition.
The LIPAFC: Last season brought about a Louisville Indianapolis Proximity Association Football Contest first as Indy Eleven claimed the better of LouCity in the season series, winning two of four meetings to go with a draw and loss. Following Saturday’s game, LouCity will see the Eleven — who joined the USL Championship in 2018 — once more this season when traveling to Carroll Stadium on Aug. 31.
Know the foe: Indy Eleven has stumbled to an 0-2 start to the season, but it appears to have lost to top competition. Loudoun United FC went on to defeat New York Red Bulls II, 3-0, and the Tampa Bay Rowdies are also unbeaten. The Eleven are led by first-year head coach Mark Lowry, who twice took El Paso Locomotive FC to the Western Conference Final.
Locking down: LouCity had the firepower last season to win a USL Championship title, but a tendency to leak late goals ultimately did in the boys in purple, who have returned in 2022 looking much improved in that regard. Wednesday’s midweek victory at New York Red Bulls II continued a trend that has seen opponents shut down offensively, as the hosts managed just one shot on target and an expected goals total of 0.55. Through three games, the club’s shots on target/xGA averages per game are 1.3/0.38.
Landmark appearance: One of LouCity’s most-storied players is on the verge of a career milestone with DelPiccolo — the club’s longtime captain — sitting on 199 career USL Championship appearances. The vast majority of those were made in purple since the University of Louisville product signed to start the 2016 season. When next on the pitch, DelPiccolo will become the 12th player in the league to reach 200 regular-season appearances.
Account opened: Versatile forward Ray Serrano earned his first club start Wednesday and minutes later delivered his first goal, the product of combination play involving Enoch Mushagalusa and Paolo DelPiccolo. Serrano had subbed on in LouCity’s prior two games, with the 19-year-old winger already a fifth-year pro having signed for the Seattle Sounders at age 15 back in February of 2018. Last year, Serrano led Tacoma Defiance with 6 assists and 38 chances created.
A club debut: While Ian Soler saw the field for only seconds Wednesday, it was a sign of things to come when the Spanish defender subbed on in the 91st minute of the Red Bulls II victory. Soler, who most recently played in Poland’s first division, signed in February and had to await his work visa arrival until he moved to Louisville in March. A center back with English tutelage — Soler spent two years with Fulham FC’s youth system — figures to be in line for more minutes as the season goes.
