He came on for his USL Championship debut in the 66th minute Saturday night against Loudon United FC. Then, in the 78th, he won a determined corner for his team. His other four touches included a shot and three completed passes.
Yet Elijah Wynder is only 17 years old. Louisville City FC’s first academy signing dating back to 2019 is what the locker room celebrated just as much as a 2-0 victory over Loudoun, marking the first multi-goal game this season for the boys in purple.
“It’s incredible to see him improve,” said midfielder and captain Paolo DelPiccolo. “This was not a charity appearance. He has earned every minute he’s gotten and probably even more. He’s played so well lately and for myself, personally, we’re so happy to get him on the pitch.
“Then to come in and do so well and get that 2-0 victory and the maturity he has shown, I’m so happy for him.”
Wynder, named the Boys Soccer Player of the Year at the Courier Journal’s Sports Awards in June, made it into the 18 on three occasions last season. He also saw the field in U.S. Open Cup play.
His 23 minutes Saturday represented the first in USL competition for a local star who can play with the pros while maintaining amateur status under terms of a USL academy contract.
“That’s a really important win for our club and an added bonus to see some young guys play so well,” said coach John Hackworth, who also started 16-year-old Jonathan Gomez at left back Saturday. “For Elijah to get his pro debut, in a hard game and real game, I can tell you that whole locker room is overjoyed for him.
“We all saw him grow and develop, so it’s great that he added to a victory that was very important for all of us.”
Wynder racked up an impressive numbers as a junior at Louisville Collegiate with 24 goals and 12 assists, leading the team to a state title. A quiet type, he serves notice with example, including that late corner earned to keep LouCity in possession late as Loudoun United FC tried to scrap back at Lynn Family Stadium.
“In that play, I knew we needed the corner and I had fresh legs, so I put in a little extra work for those who were playing the whole game,” Wynder said.
“It was a great feeling getting it under my belt,” he added of the playing time. “I hope for more in the future.”
Wynder is one of a trio of academy players who work regularly with LouCity’s first team. Others are goalkeeper Muamer Ugarak and midfielder Damir Beganovic. Gomez, meanwhile, is already a full professional as a teenager.
There are players on LouCity’s roster who can, quite literally, feel twice the age of these counterparts.
“It hit that I’m not a young guy anymore when you see these guys and they were born when I was in high school,” DelPiccolo said. “It’s great. It’s great to have the young kids coming up — the youth that is hungry for energy.
“We are guiding them as best we can. We are keeping them disciplined but encouraging them. It’s a fun task for me and something I take pride in as a leader to help them reach their potential.”
In particular, defender Alexis Souahy sees Wynder as “a totally different player” from when LouCity signed him to now.
“How he has improved week in and week out and throughout his time with us is just incredible to see,” Souahy said. “We’re all happy for him.”
