LOUISVILLE CITY FC
watch as they let wins slip to draws and draws
slip to losses. Longtime fans will remember
lackluster results like in 2016 when they drew
0-0 Bethlehem Steel, 2-2 against a Wilmington
team that folded later on that year and a heart-
wrenching loss to Orlando City B that many fans
will still get upset about.
This year, the squad has minimized falling flat,
even against a stronger Eastern Conference. The
team learned from that frustrating draw at home to
Toronto FC II, a lackluster performance at Tampa
Bay, who’s wage bill dwarves LouCity’s. A fluke
of a game was had in Charlotte on their second
meeting of the season, when an Enzo Martinez
hat trick sunk the Purples for their fourth of only
six league losses. They rescued a 4-4 draw at
Charleston, where they twice found themselves
down by two goals. They also defeated the New
York Red Bull II on all three occasions they met,
including the Eastern Conference Final rematch
from last year. Let’s also remember the soaring
triumphs, the 4-0 win at Bethlehem Steel, the
5-0 trump of Harrisburg City, the 4-1 smashing
of Saint Louis.
And the five-goal extermination of Cincinnati.
More remarkable than the team’s propensity to
put up crooked numbers, was their ability to win
narrowly. On 11 occasions this year, Louisville
City won by a margin of one goal. Of course, that
includes the most famous win of them all, the
USL Cup Final.
It was an electric evening. Western Champions
and 4th seeded Swope Park Rangers were in town,
hungry after being on the receiving end of a 5-1
hiding at the hands of New York in the previous
seasons final. A TV deal meant that the game
started at 9 p.m., but that did nothing to dampen
the spirits of the 14,456 on hand.
It was a tense game. Louisville City played
remarkably sloppy in midfield; perhaps the
occasion was getting to them. The first half saw
a goal for each team ruled offside, but nobody
really had the definitive edge.
A couple of untimely injuries meant Swope was
forced to make a few substitutions before they
wanted to. They grew shakier in defense as the
second half wore on, but LouCity grew stronger,
bolder. In the 88th minute, off of a Kyle Smith
throw in, Speedy Williams lofted a cross into
Cameron Lancaster from deep in the midfield.
If you ask any of the players what happened
next, they’ll tell you it was a blur.
But it was a Louisville City goal.
The rest is Louisville sporting history.
30 EXTOL SPORTS / DECEMBER 2017