Defense in tact: Coach James O’Connor will return players who started in goal and at all four spots along the back line in 2016 — and they performed admirably. LouCity’s goals against average of 0.90 per game ranked near the top of the 29-team USL and improved from the club’s mark of 1.21 during the inaugural 2015 campaign. O’Connor said he’s also seeking a left-footed left back heading into next season to bolster his side moving forward.
Niall’s progress: LouCity midfielder Niall McCabe continues to rehab following a Sept. 14 operation that ended his 2016 season early, working to heal up a surgically repaired labral tear in his hip. McCabe is off his crutches and remains on track to return to the field in 2017. Scott Ritter, LouCity’s athletic trainer and a Baptist Health professional, oversees McCabe’s progress on a daily basis.
Continuity: McCabe will be one of at least seven third-year LouCity players on next year’s roster. O’Connor, the head coach, along with assistant coach Daniel Byrd and goalkeepers coach Thabane Sutu have also been with the club since its beginning. The group has finished with the USL’s second-best overall record in both seasons and played in a pair of USL Eastern Conference Finals before losing to the eventual champions.
More competition: That’s a good thing, right? North American Soccer League transplants Tampa Bay and Ottawa are moving to the USL next year and expect to play in LouCity’s Eastern Conference. They bring with them large budgets and household names, such as Tampa’s Joe Cole, a 35-year-old midfielder who appeared in more than 120 English Premier League games near the beginning of his career.
O’Connor’s smile: It doesn’t often shine through his intensity. Perhaps it’s because the coach saw new merchandise items soon to be on sale at the LouCity Team Store. Stay tuned…
