By Chris Mattingly
When the opening bell rings Monday morning at Bullitt East High School, senior Colin Elder will have stories to tell.
Elder, announced Friday as a USL Academy contract signing for Louisville City FC, subbed on in the 85th minute of Saturday’s home opener against El Paso Locomotive FC. And the forward’s day was far from over after getting on in front of a Lynn Family Stadium crowd of 10,881.
“I’ve got prom tonight,” Elder said after the game, “so it should be a really good day. I wish we could have got a better result.”
LouCity’s 3-0 defeat to El Paso couldn’t wipe the smile off Elder’s face. This school year, he set Bullitt East soccer’s career goals record with 90 and kicked for the Chargers’ Class 6A state championship football team. A standout on LouCity’s U-19 youth academy squad, he also spent part of preseason on the road with the club’s pros.
“Well, it’s been great,” Elder said. “I started the year with them in preseason going to Tucson and then took the trip to Seattle. That was great to get my foot in the door, get close to the guys — making friendships.”
Colin at 3 p.m. vs. Colin at 8 p.m. https://t.co/zQsFX6pnkd pic.twitter.com/SXnBwzwYA4
— Louisville City FC (@loucityfc) March 26, 2023
Elder thanked Bullitt East, saying they’ve “supported me really well,” allowing him to miss some class time for trainings and trips.
“They are really eating it up,” he said.
It all led up to Saturday, when Elder came on as a substitute for Jorge Gonzalez. He admitted to a few butterflies when appearing in front of LouCity’s home opener-record crowd.
“I didn’t know how to act,” he said. “It was awesome.”
Asked for positives following the game, coach Danny Cruz could only point to Elder on an off day for the boys in purple.
“You look at our pathway and the importance of the community and getting these kids opportunities to see Elder’s jersey on the field,” Cruz said.
Elder, who’s committed to play at Bellarmine University, is looking forward to any other opportunities with the LouCity first team before joining his college squad this fall.
