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Down the stretch of the 2016 USL season, coach James O’Connor’s message to his Louisville City FC players is simple: control what you can control.

Players can’t influence calls in their own games, nor can they change outcomes elsewhere around the country, particularly in New York and Cincinnati, where rival clubs are fast closing on Eastern Conference-leading LouCity.

But they can take care of business at home, where on Saturday Louisville hosts the defending USL champion Rochester Rhinos. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. at Slugger Field only three days after LouCity played the Harrisburg City Islanders to a 1-1 draw.

“We have so much to be positive about,” O’Connor said. “I love the work ethic of our guys. I love the passion they show. But, equally, I love how they play.

“…We’ve got such a great group of guys that are desperate for success and show every week what it means to play for Louisville City. I think the supporters acknowledge that and love how passionate the guys are.

“I think for us, it’s making sure tomorrow we get as many people as we can into Slugger and make it a real sort of boisterous atmosphere that we can go get a great performance from the guys.”

Since seeing its 17-game unbeaten streak end, Louisville City has played to a 1-1-1 record. The loss came to Orlando City B, the only one of those teams on the top half of the table. But LouCity has out-shot its last three opponents 41-22 and led Orlando until the Lions scored twice in the dying minutes.

Against Harrisburg, the club had to rally from a 1-0 halftime deficit to draw.

“We just have to be better, play quicker and bring the intensity more in the first half,” defender Kyle Smith said. “I think if we do that, we can go on and win the game.”

The City Islanders sit 12th of 14 teams in the Eastern Conference. Because of that, midfielder Paolo DelPiccolo thought similarly to LouCity’s supporters: points were left on the table.

“It’s tough,” he said. “These are games that, going into them, are meaningful games, and every point is quite valuable. Obviously you look at it — the table’s getting tight at the top, and we have to keep picking up every point that we can.”

Seven games remain for LouCity, which is chasing a championship a year after finishing second to Rochester in the Eastern Conference. This year’s version of the Rhinos sports many of the same features, mainly a solid defense that hasn’t given up multiple goals in a game since June 11.

With only two full days between games, O’Connor gave his players time off and trained outside the heat of the day.

The New York Red Bulls I playing Friday against Orlando City B, so it’s possible LouCity goes into Saturday somewhere other than first place. That’s not a concern yet for the coach.

“I think a lot of people, for me, are focusing on things way too soon,” O’Connor said. “There’s so much football still to be played. There’s seven games. That’s 21 points.”

He added that “it’s about focusing on what you control.”

In a rematch of last year’s USL Eastern Conference championship game, Louisville City FC took all three points June 18 against the Rochester Rhinos. The clubs meet again Saturday, this time with LouCity looking to maintain first place and the Rhinos aiming to remain in the playoff race.

Here’s what to watch for at Slugger Field with kickoff set for 7:30 p.m.

Team Records

LouCity: 13-3-7 (46 points) in 23 games; 1st in the USL’s Eastern Conference standings.

Rochester Rhinos: 9-5-8 (35 points) in 22 games; 6th in the USL’s East.

Follow Along

Saturday’s game will air, as with other LouCity games, live on Youtube, with play-by-play from Jim Wombwell and color commentary by Adrian Parrish, director of coach and player development for the Kentucky Youth Soccer Association. Local CBS affiliate WLKY will re-air the game at 1 p.m. Sunday.

For Starting XI and in-game updates, follow @loucityfc on Twitter and Louisville City FC on Facebook. Find us at louisvillecityfc on Instagram.

Vote for LouCity’s Modelo Man of the Match starting at the 75th minute of Sunday’s game on Twitter.

Links

• After stumble, players ‘desperate for success’
• Know the foe: Rochester Rhinos
• Upcoming LouCity game to feature video referee
• LouCity’s Son departs to finish school, serve country
• ‘Jekyll and Hyde’ LouCity draws with City Islanders

Notes

Scoreboard watching: LouCity could go into Saturday out of first place depending on the result of Friday night’s New York Red Bulls II-Orlando City B game at Red Bull Arena. Three points for a win would put Louisville back in front, and a point for a draw would mean, at worst, a tie for the USL’s Eastern Conference lead. The Red Bulls maintain games in hand with the two teams set to meet Aug. 19.

What’s at stake: The top eight teams from both USL conferences advance to single-elimination playoffs, up from six a year ago. The stronger the regular-season record, the higher chance of hosting postseason games. Better-seeded teams get priority during their run, meaning a first-place LouCity could play as many as four extra games at Slugger.

Quick turnaround: LouCity played the Harrisburg City Islanders to a 1-1 draw Wednesday at Slugger Field, but going just two days between games is nothing new for the club. It last happened in June, when after a 1-0 Saturday road win over Rochester the guys in purple returned to play Toronto FC II on a Tuesday at Slugger, notching a 4-1 win.

Tune in: WLKY, LouCity’s TV partner, will show a full replay of the Rochester game at 1 p.m. Sunday, marking the latest local broadcast for the pro soccer club. The CBS affiliate showed live LouCity’s July 23 rivalry game at Cincinnati, and WLKY sister sation MeTV aired an April 27 game against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds.

The streak: LouCity went into the FC Cincinnati game riding a string of 17 straight unbeaten, five off the USL record set by the 2013 Richmond Kickers. While the roll ended, the club has tallied only three losses this season and remains in contention for a USL title. LouCity’s previous franchise-best undefeated streak was six games in 2015.

Current form: Since the streak ended, LouCity is 1-1-1, with the loss to Orlando City B, the only one of those three on the top half of the Eastern Conference table. Louisville has out-shot those opponents a combined 41-22 but failed to fully capitalize on the chances. Perhaps looking to break through, coach James O’Connor started Cameron Lancaster at forward against Harrisburg.

Stats leaders: USL Midseason MVP Chandler Hoffman (14 goals) and Midseason Rookie of the Year Kyle Smith (6 assists) are both one off the league lead in their respective categories. Hoffman is chasing the LA Galaxy II’s Jack McBean, who has 15 goals, while the right back Smith is one assist from equaling Sacramento Republic FC’s Daniel Barrera.

Golden Boot chase: Hoffman is in position to lead the USL in scoring a year after Matt Fondy scored 22 goals in 28 games for LouCity. It was reported this week that McBean will join English side Coventry City on a six-month loan, effectively counting him out of the race for the Golden Boot should Hoffman convert two more chances. Saint Louis FC Irvin Herrera and FC Cincinnati’s Sean Okoli are tied for third in scoring with 11 goals apiece.

Davis IV hits stride: Midfielder George Davis IV, who scored six goals in 23 appearances last season for the Richmond Kickers, is one away from equaling that output at LouCity. The University of Kentucky product scored both goals last Friday in a 2-1 win over the Pittsburgh Riverhounds before named to the USL Team of the Week. Dating back to 2011, Davis IV scored seven goals in a season for the Dayton Dutch Lions.

Stalwart returns: Since missing more than a month’s worth of games, midfielder Kadeem Dacres is back to playing significant time on the right side of the field. While the effort hasn’t shown up on the stat sheet — he’s without a goal or assist since April 27 — one of LouCity’s leading scorers from a season ago has led a number of attacks and showcased skill with the ball at his feet.

Last season, Louisville City FC fans quickly built a regional rivalry with Saint Louis FC, but they came to know the Rochester Rhinos as the club to catch on the field. A draw and a loss during the United Soccer League’s regular season led to a playoff defeat to the Rhinos, one first-place LouCity will look to avenge Saturday.

Match time is 6:05 p.m. in Rochester, N.Y., with a broadcast available at LouisvilleCityFC.com. Fans will also gather for the club’s official watch party at the Great Flood Breweing Company.

Record: 5-3-3 (18 points)

Conference: Eastern

Standings: 6th

Coach: Bob Lilley

Field: Rhinos Stadium (13,768)

Series: Louisville is 0-1-2 against Rochester, one of just two teams to have defeated LouCity more than once.

Franchise history: Founded in 1996, the Rhinos won four league titles before their 2015 USL crown and remain the only non-Major League Soccer club since the MLS started to win the U.S. Open Cup, a feat Rochester accomplished in 1999.

Current form: The Rhinos didn’t much threaten Wednesday night in a 1-0 U.S. Open Cup defeat to MLS’ New York Red Bulls, allowing an early goal in the 1-0 loss. Rochester’s form otherwise can be described as inconsistent. Its last three USL results were a draw, win and loss.

Style of play: A defensive-minded bunch, the Rhinos have scored 14 goals this year and allowed just 11, second-fewest in the USL behind New York Red Bulls II. The Red Bulls have given up just six and, as a result, are a point off LouCity in the Eastern Conference standings with a game in hand.

Player to watch: Christian Volesky netted a goal apiece in Rochester’s last two matches, pushing him to a team-high five on the season, and he’s done it by taking just 15 total shots. The forward from Nevada tallied 14 goals last year, his first with the Rhinos and fresh off named the 2015 MLS Combine’s MVP.

James O’Connor says: “Obviously, they won the championship last year. Bob did a great job there. They’ve had some changes. They’ve got some new personnel. They’ve got some really good players. It will be a good test for us. They’re obviously fighting to stay in the playoffs and go on and challenge and make sure they’re up there again…It’s a massive game for us this weekend.”

A Louisville City FC game that next week could determine first place in the USL’s Eastern Conference will feature a live Video Assistant Referee trial as part of a collaboration with Major League Soccer and the International Football Association Board.

New York Red Bulls II’s final five home games, including an Aug. 19 meeting with LouCity, will feature the new addition after a successful, closed-door test of it at Red Bull Arena.

“We are absolutely thrilled to be part of what is a historic moment for our sport,” said USL President Jake Edwards. “The use of the VAR system will help referees make sure that clear and obvious errors are omitted from the game, boosting the integrity of the sport in the future. We are very excited to see the system in live action at Red Bull Arena.”

The IFAB focuses on ensuring that communication between match officials and the Video Assistant Referee is clear, precise, and efficient, with the aim of reducing avoidable delays during the review process and minimizing the impact on the flow and excitement of the game.

In addition to the work previously done in the United States, workshops and meetings have also been held in the Netherlands and Switzerland. For the first time on Friday, as the Red Bulls II host Orlando City B, the system will be used for a professional league game.

The Red Bulls sit two points behind LouCity on the Eastern Conference table.

“With our team having seen the system in operation throughout this testing phase, we are looking forward to seeing further VAR live experiments used in USL games,” said USL VP of Competition and Operations Perry Van Der Beck, who will be in attendance on Friday night. “This is a groundbreaking moment for soccer as a whole, and we are proud to be part of it as we work alongside MLS and the IFAB on this project.”

Other Red Bulls games featuring the video referee system are against FC Cincinnati (Aug. 28), the Harrisburg City Islanders (Sept. 7) and FC Montreal (Sept. 17).

Louisville City FC coach James O’Connor announced Thursday that midfielder Jonghyun Son has left the club to resume his education at Indiana’s Holy Cross College, where he played before signing professionally this year.

Son is also required, as with other South Korean males, to serve at least two years in the military before age 35.

“He’s decided to use this time to finish his degree and go back to do his national service as soon as possible,” O’Connor said. “Obviously, we thank him for his contributions, respect his decision and wish him the very best.”

A former member of South Korea’s U12 and U13 Youth National Teams, Son appeared in three regular-season games for LouCity, tallying one shot in goal in 225 minutes played.

He arrived to Louisville an all-conference performer at Holy Cross. As a junior, Son scored five goals in 20 games. Playing a more defensive role as a senior, he boosted a team that registered nine clean sheets.

Son is the second LouCity player this season to return to college; goalkeeper Scott Goodwin also made the decision after accepted to Harvard Medical School. O’Connor signed rookie Tim Dobrowolski in response.

The coach said it’s unlikely he’ll fill Son’s roster spot this year “at this stage, unless we pick someone up and see an exceptional talent we will use for next season.” Players must see time in a minimum five games during the regular season to participate in the playoffs, according to United Soccer League rules.

LouCity remains in first place in the USL’s Eastern Conference with a 13-3-7 record heading into Saturday’s 7:30 p.m. meeting with the Rochester Rhinos at Slugger Field.