Kyle Smith sat at his desk this time last year, then working as an accountant at the University of Cincinnati, wanting to be part of Louisville City FC’s team.
Months earlier, he had tried out and didn’t make it the cut. But Smith returned this past offseason, caught coach James O’Connor’s attention and eventually signed.
The 24-year-old will return home Saturday to Nippert Stadium as one of LouCity’s stars to compete in a rivalry game full of them. Smith was recently named USL Midseason Rookie of the year, teammate Chandler Hoffman the Midseason MVP and FC Cincinnati’s Mitch Hildebrandt the Goalkeeper of the Year.
All three will take the field at 4 p.m. in what O’Connor called a “huge game” between the teams sitting first (LouCity) and third (FC Cincinnati) in the Eastern Conference standings. Another large crowd is expected after the River Cities Cup rivals played in front of 20,497 on April 16 at Nippert.
“When you’re up against that many people who are cheering against you, it’s important you have the right mindset and the right mentality,” O’Connor said. “Equally, you hope we get half of Louisville that jumps in the car and goes up there for a Saturday.”
The coach rarely has to doubt Smith’s intensity. Signed as a midfielder, he shifted to right back out of necessity; LouCity needed a replacement for Bryan Burke, the USL’s 2015 assists leader and Defender of the Year.
With a league-high six assists — Smith pushes up in the attack from his position — he’s on pace to perhaps better Burke’s record from a season ago. And to add to the tally against Cincinnati?
“I don’t really think about it like playing against my hometown team,” said Smith, who also graduated from Lexington’s Transylvania University. “They’re just another team. I’m trying to win. I’m playing for Louisville. I’m not playing for Cincinnati.
“But at the same time, I’m from there, so I’m representing the city as well.”
Hoffman, LouCity’s striker, has emerged as one of the league’s best goal scorers. Even as Louisville played down a man for most of its last game in Cincinnati, Hoffman registered a hat trick, scoring all three goals in a 3-2 win over the host club.
On the season, Hoffman has 14 goals, as with Smith’s assists tied for the best mark in the USL. In goal, the other midseason award winner Hildebrandt has saved 74.3 percent of opposing shots on goal, allowing only one to hit the back of the net a game.
“They’re very strong in the back — don’t give up a lot of goals — and then once they get the ball and attack, they’re very dangerous,” LouCity defender Ben Newnam said of FC Cincinnati. “We’ve got a game plan going into it, and hopefully it works out for us.”
Part of the plan revolves around Smith, who covers plenty of ground on the right side. When not on the offensive, he’ll be tasked with stopping FC Cincinnati’s long balls, many of them played diagonally to flip the field in the attack.
Friends and family will be watching.
“I’m trying to represent for my city and my friends and family but more importantly for my team,” Smith said. “…It’s a little nerve-wracking, but at the same time it’s exciting.”
