As Louisville City FC faces Hartford Athletic in the second of back-to-back meetings — this time in the Prinx Tires USL Cup Final — interim head coach Simon Bird has chosen to start the same lineup as the first meeting.
LouCity visits Hartford with silverware on the line Sunday at Trinity Health Stadium in Connecticut. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. ET. The game will air nationally on ESPN2, with local radio coverage on ESPN Louisville’s 680 and 105.7.
Last week, the two sides fought to a 2-2 stalemate in league play. Rather than making adjustments from that game, Bird has doubled down on his starting group.
Chris Donovan will lead the line, accompanied by Ray Serrano and Quenzi Huerman on the wings. Huerman has registered a goal contribution in back-to-back games, including a goal from the penalty spot last week. He starts for the third straight game for the first time this season.
Taylor Davila and Babacar Niang will pair in the midfield. Davila took an assist in last week’s draw, his ninth of the league season and 10th overall. That equals his league career high and puts him two away from his career high across competitions of 12, both set last season. Davila earned a place on the USL Championship Team of the Week.
The backline sees Amadou Dia and Manny Perez at wingback, with Kyle Adams, Kevon Lambert and Aiden McFadden playing in the middle.
With regular starter Brandon Dayes remains on international duty with the United States U-19 National Team, Lambert and McFadden steps — normally a midfielder and fullback — step in at center back.
Ryan Schewe remains in goal. The Sporing Kansas City loanee made his full LouCity debut in the USL Cup semifinal at San Antonio, making multiple saves in the shootout to help LouCity advance to Sunday’s final.
On the bench, there are three changes. Ryan Troutman returns to the gameday squad after missing last week with an excused absence, replacing Academy signee Collin Haus. Sean Totsch, meanwhile, is healthy enough for the bench. His selection means Mukwelle Akale will not dress. Sam Gleadle will also not dress, after making the gameday squad last week.
Notable options include leading scorer Jansen Wilson and Jake Morris, who scored in last week’s draw. Zach Duncan saw action last week for the first time in over a month, playing 45 minutes off the bench.
Team sheet at Hartford Athletic – USL Cup Final:
29 – Ryan Schewe
13 – Amadou Dia
32 – Kyle Adams (c)
31 – Kevon Lambert
2 – Aiden McFadden
15 – Manny Perez
8 – Taylor Davila
19 – Babacar Niang
7 – Ray Serrano
21 – Quenzi Huerman
9 – Chris Donovan
Available substitutes: 30 – Ryan Troutman; 3 – Jake Morris, 4 – Sean Totsch, 6 – Zach Duncan, 14 – Tola Showunmi, 25 – Jansen Wilson, 27 – Evan Davila, 99 – Cooper Conley
