Looking to reverse its attacking fortunes, Louisville City FC will turn to a pair of veteran presences Saturday when the boys in purple host Loudoun United FC.
Coach Danny Cruz selected striker Cameron Lancaster and midfielder Niall McCabe while making two changes from last weekend’s scoreless draw at Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC.
Lancaster is amid a battle for minutes with LouCity’s current leading scorer, Wilson Harris, and the recent addition Maarten Pouwels. McCabe, having missed most of the season’s first half due to injury, has worked himself back for this first start since City’s March 11 season opener, when he scored just four minutes into a victory at Orange County SC.
Both additions could be key for a LouCity side that has numbered just three multi-goal games this season.
It’s defense that has the boys in purple within striking distance of the top of the table, and a familiar group will line up in front of rookie goalkeeper Oliver Semmle, the USL Championship’s clean sheets leader with eight: Amadou Dia, Sean Totsch, Wes Charpie and Oscar Jimenez. Notably, this makes Totsch the second LouCity player following Paolo DelPiccolo to hit 200 club appearances.
Tyler Gibson returns in the holding midfield with McCabe and Wynder ahead of him. From left to right, Enoch Mushagalusa, Lancaster and Rasmus Thellufsen make up the front three.
Brian Ownby misses Saturday after entering the weekend questionable. Ownby returned from a hamstring pull to register the game-winning assist June 24 against Las Vegas Lights FC before sidelined by another muscle strain.
LouCity-Loudoun will air locally on WBKi/The CW and ESPN Louisville’s 680/105.7. USL Championship games also stream via ESPN+.
Team Sheet vs. Loudoun United FC
28 — Oliver Semmle
13 — Amadou Dia
4 — Sean Totsch (C)
6 — Wes Charpie
19 — Oscar Jimenez
12 — Tyler Gibson
11 — Niall McCabe
23 — Elijah Wynder
77 — Enoch Mushagalusa
5 — Rasmus Thellufsen
17 — Cameron Lancaster
Substitutes: 18 — Danny Faundez, 15 — Manny Perez, 8 — Carlos Moguel Jr., 22 — Dylan Mares, 36 — Paolo DelPiccolo, 7 — Ray Serrano, 14 — Wilson Harris
