Head coach Danny Cruz will rely on a mix of new and old at 6:30 p.m. Saturday when Louisville City FC opens the playoffs at Memphis 901 FC.
Cruz selected eight starters that helped the boys in purple lift last year’s Eastern Conference trophy, with 2023’s fresh faces consisting of defender Kyle Adams, goalkeeper Oliver Semmle and midfielder Rasmus Thellufsen.
The Eastern Conference Quarterfinal will be played at AutoZone Park, a purpose-build baseball stadium that will challenge a LouCity squad used to the pristine Lynn Family Stadium pitch. Saturday’s winner advances to either play Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC away or host Detroit City FC in the conference semifinals.
From back to front, a defensive line of Wes Charpie, Kyle Adams, Sean Totsch and Manny Perez will take the pitch in front of Semmle, who leads the USL Championship in clean sheets. Charpie returns from a one-game yellow card accumulation suspension to end the regular season.
Tyler Gibson and Carlos Moguel Jr. have battled for playing time in the midfield all year. Both will start Saturday with team captain Paolo DelPiccolo joining them.
Cruz’s front three consists of Brian Ownby, Cameron Lancaster and Thellufsen. Lancaster will start for the first time since Aug. 19. The Englishman returned last weekend from absence to tend to a personal matter to score in City’s regular season finale.
LouCity-Memphis will air locally on MyTV 58 and ESPN Louisville’s 680/105.7. USL Championship games also stream live on ESPN+
Team Sheet vs. Memphis 901 FC
28 – Oliver Semmle
6 – Wes Charpie
32 – Kyle Adams
4 – Sean Totsch
15 – Manny Perez
12 – Tyler Gibson
8 – Carlos Moguel Jr.
36 – Paolo DelPiccolo (C)
5 – Rasmus Thellufsen
10 – Brian Ownby
17 – Cameron Lancaster
Substitutes: 18 – Danny Faundez, 19 – Oscar Jimenez, 11 – Niall McCabe, 22 – Dylan Mares, 9 – Jorge Gonzalez, 14 – Wilson Harris, 90 – Maarten Pouwels