With his first lineup of the 2024 regular season, Louisville City FC coach Danny Cruz answered one of the club’s biggest offseason questions Saturday.
Defender Kyle Adams will wear the captain’s armband to start the 34-game USL Championship campaign as LouCity kicks off at 3 p.m. ET versus El Paso Locomotive FC.
The decision came following the offseason retirement of longtime City captain Paolo DelPiccolo and in the wake of a long-term injury to winger Brian Ownby, who was set to captain the boys in purple until coming off in the club’s preseason finale.
Adams, a 27-year-old left-sided center back from New Zealand, arrived to Louisville last summer in a transfer deal from San Diego Loyal SC. Often called “Kiwi” in the LouCity locker room, he brings a cool and calm disposition to his new leadership role.
Adams will line up in front of goalkeeper Damian Las against El Paso as part of what appears to be a 3-5-2 formation. Reigning USL Championship Defender of the Year Arturo Ordóñez, from Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC, and veteran Sean Totsch round out the back line.
Two new faces in purple will work the flanks with Jake Morris, an arrival from the Columbus Crew, on the left and rookie Jansen Wilson from Elizabethtown, Kentucky, on the right.
LouCity’s midfield trio consists of Taylor Davila, another newcomer exiting an All-League First Team campaign, LouCity Academy product Elijah Wynder and Ray Serrano. Adrien Perez, who’s coming off a 10-goal season at San Diego, and Wilson Harris figure to line up atop the formation.
Just now opening its season, LouCity will meet an El Paso squad that has already played twice in the last week at Southwest University Park, losing to Hartford Athletic last Saturday and drawing with Monterey Bay FC on Wednesday.
LouCity-El Paso will air locally on WBKI/The CW and ESPN Louisville’s AM 680/FM 105.7 with streaming coverage via ESPN+.
Team Sheet vs. El Paso Locomotive FC
18 – Damian Las
3 – Jake Morris
32 – Kyle Adams (C)
5 – Arturo Ordóñez
4 – Sean Totsch
25 – Jansen Wilson
17 – Taylor Davila
23 – Elijah Wynder
7 – Ray Serrano
16 – Adrien Perez
14 – Wilson Harris
Substitutes: 18 – Danny Faundez, 6 – Wes Charpie, 11 – Niall McCabe, 20 – Sam Gleadle, 22 – Dylan Mares, 24 – Tola Showunmi, 27– Evan Davila