Sean Reynolds carried over a red card suspension from 2016 to 2017 that made breaking into the lineup difficult. But throughout the wait, Louisville City FC coach James O’Connor saw the defender show plenty of patience.
Reynolds was rewarded with starts in LouCity’s last two games, first a win over Ottawa Fury FC before a 1-1 draw with the USL Eastern Conference-leading Charleston Battery.
“He’s got a place on the team now, and he’s performed well in the last couple of games,” O’Connor said of Reynolds, a third-year LouCity player. “He handles himself correctly. He trains hard. He’s a team player. Sean is somebody who we have a lot of belief in, and we’re pleased with how he performed.”
Reynolds’ shining moment came at the 75th minute when he found himself the only thing between Charleston midfielder Maikel Chang and the back of the net. Reynolds stood tall to make a clearance and keep LouCity level late.
Earlier in the game, Reynolds shut down a deep run into the box by Charleston’s O’Brian Woodbine, sliding in for a late tackle that cleared that threat as well.
With Reynolds on the back line last week, Ottawa registered just one shot on goal. The Battery managed only two. Certainly, he’s proved a key addition to the defense.
Here’s more of what we learned from Saturday’s game:
• While LouCity would have preferred three points, a draw came thanks to another comeback effort in Charleston. And a point in the standings leaves the boys in purple still only six points back of the Battery with two games in hand, enough to make them up.
• Along with Reynolds, forward Ilija Ilic made his second straight start and third since June 3, the first time LouCity and the Battery met. Ilic, who put a shot off the bar against Ottawa, was able to finish this time for his first goal of the year in USL play.
• Attention now turns to what’s ahead: the first home game of 2017 against rival FC Cincinnati. Before arriving to Slugger Field, the orange and blue face a busy slate. Following Thursday’s away loss to the Tampa Bay Rowdies, Cincinnati hosts the Richmond Kickers on Sunday and travels to Miami for a Wednesday U.S. Open Cup quarterfinal game.
