On a three-game winning streak, Louisville City FC’s back on the road for a 7 p.m. Saturday USL Eastern Conference showdown with the Harrisburg City Islanders.
Here’s what to watch for…
Tune In
TV: WBNA TV-21 will air the game live and in high definition locally with Jordan Angeli and Mike Pepper on the call.
Radio: TJ Walker (play-by-play) and Jeff Milby (color commentary) will voice the action on NewsRadio 840 WHAS, with pregame coverage starting at 6:45 p.m.
Streaming: Watch live via the USL Match Center or at www.loucity.com.
Follow Along
For Starting XI information and in-game updates, check us out on social media. It’s @loucityfc on Twitter, Louisville City FC on Facebook and louisvillecityfc on Instagram. Vote for the Modelo Man of the Match on Twitter starting in the 75th minute.
Links
• Teammates again, Ownby and Davis IV have LouCity on a roll
• Videos: O’Connor, players preview Saturday’s game
• LouCity’s players ‘to work even harder’ amid success
• Boys in purple not overlooking last-place Harrisburg
• LouCity pursuing season-best fourth straight win
Notes
The standings: A 3-0 home win last weekend over the Pittsburgh Riverhounds vaulted Louisville City (7-1-4, 25 points) to second in the Eastern Conference standings. With two games in hand, the club sits three points behind the first-place Charleston Battery, who also play at 7 p.m. Saturday. The City Islanders (2-7-4, 10 points) are at the bottom of the table, a point behind Toronto FC II and the Richmond Kickers.
Winning streak: LouCity’s recent run of form is among its best of the season with victories over the Charlotte Independence (June 7) and New York Red Bulls II (June 11) along with the Riverhounds win. This matches the winning streak the team held at the beginning of this season with victories over Orlando City B, the Richmond Kickers, and the Tampa Bay Rowdies. LouCity’s longest-ever winning streak came during a six-game stretch in 2015.
Scoring surge: Before LouCity’s June 3 game at Charleston, the attack was questioned. The boys in purple answered by scoring four goals in a draw with the Battery. They’ve totaled 11 goals in four games in June, raising their goal differential to plus-10, second-best in the Eastern Conference — behind only the Battery. A tactical tweak — LouCity rotates between its usual 4-2-3-1 formation and a 3-4-3 — has helped.
Lancaster Player of the Week: Forward Cameron Lancaster earned LouCity’s first USL Player of the Week award since April of 2016 following a multi-goal performance against Pittsburgh. He hit an 8th-minute free kick from straightaway before tapping in another goal in the second half. Lancaster is now tied with George Davis IV for the team scoring lead at four goals.
Ranjitsingh’s return: Goalkeeper Greg Ranjitsingh has posted three clean sheets in his last three games and made USL Team of the Week for performances against the Charlotte Independence and New York Red Bulls II. The third-year keeper, who missed time after suffering an injury in the season opener, has come back strong, making nine saves in four games to go with four punch-outs.
Hometown hero: Coach James O’Connor described midfielder Richard Ballard as “unlucky” to not start last time out. The rookie from Louisville made an impact anyway, contributing an assist as a substitute. It marked the fourth straight game he’s had a hand in a goal, scoring against Charlotte and New York. Ballard also crossed a ball in against Charleston earlier this month that wound up an equalizing own goal.
Kaye’s call up: LouCity midfielder Mark-Anthony Kaye earlier this month became the club’s first current player to make a senior national team appearance, going on in the 79th minute of Canada’s win over Curacao. The Toronto native returned to training with LouCity last week and is on the 40-man provisional roster of players eligible to compete in the CONCACAF Gold Cup for Canada.
Ownby’s big season: Midfielder Brian Ownby, LouCity’s assists leader with three, earned his third USL Team of the Week honor on Tuesday. He set up Lancaster’s 64th-minute goal against the Riverhounds and, in his first season with LouCity, has also scored three goals. The veteran midfielder previously played for MLS’ Houston Dynamo and the USL’s Richmond Kickers
Injury report: Forward Luke Spencer is available for a return to the pitch after tweaking his hamstring May 31 in a U.S. Open Cup game at FC Cincinnati. Spencer missed the following two games before returning to the bench June 11, though he didn’t appear. LouCity is not dealing with any other injuries.
