With Saturday’s friendly against Atlante FC marking the third of five Louisville City FC games in 15 days, a number of LouCity Academy players figure to appear throughout the 90 minutes. At least one will make his first team debut, too, with forward Issac Cano named to the starting 11.
A 19-year-old from Lexington, Ky., Cano starred in high school for Paul Laurence Dunbar, including on its 2021 state championship team. He signed a USL Academy contract entering LouCity’s 2023 season, allowing him to play for the first team while preserving collegiate eligibility.
Cano will line up at the top of a front three that also includes Maarten Pouwels and Brian Ownby in winger roles. This marks Ownby’s first start since June 3, and he’ll be on a minutes limit while working back from a muscle strain.
A veteran midfield will fall in behind with Dylan Mares, Paolo DelPiccolo and Tyler Gibson all starting. The back line consists of Oscar Jimenez, Carlos Moguel Jr., Ramzi Qawasmy and Owen Damm. Danny Faundez got the nod at goalkeeper.
As with LouCity’s first international friendly — played June 21 against Germany’s FC Kaiserslautern — substitutions for both sides are unlimited Saturday. Coach Danny Cruz has a lengthy bench to choose from, including a number of other LouCity Academy standouts available to earn minutes.
Saturday’s game will air locally on MyTV 58 and ESPN 680/105.7 with streaming coverage on ESPN+.
LouCity enters off a defeat to Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC, the Eastern Conference leader, in a midweek USL Championship game. The boys in purple next return to league play Wednesday at Detroit City FC.
Team Sheet vs. Atlante FC
18 — Danny Faundez
19 — Oscar Jimenez
8 — Carlos Moguel Jr.
51 — Ramzi Qawasmy
67 — Owen Damm
12 — Tyler Gibson
36 — Paolo DelPiccolo (C)
22 — Dylan Mares
90 — Maarten Pouwels
10 — Brian Ownby
70 — Issac Cano
Pro substitutes: 6 — Wes Charpie, 7 — Ray Serrano, 11 — Niall McCabe, 13 — Amadou Dia, 15 — Manny Perez, 17 — Cameron Lancaster, 23 — Elijah Wynder, 28 — Oliver Semmle, 77 — Enoch Mushagalusa
Academy players: 71 — Colin Elder, 73 — Jabari Rasheed, 74 — Gio Chavez, 75 — Jack Travis, 76 — Nick Harshaw, 78 — Dakota Hart, 79 — James Maxwell, 80 — Hayden Stamps, 81 — Santiago Sanchez, 91 — Alex Kron
