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A Louisville City FC-best 10,062 fans packed into Slugger Field on Saturday for the second edition of the River Cities Cup, with 95-degree temperatures not a deterrent for the record crowd. LouCity eclipsed its previous high of 9,434 recorded at last year’s friendly against Orlando City SC as the club played FC Cincinnati to a scoreless draw.

Check out fan photos from the evening below, and join us next time at Slugger. Tickets are available for a July 4 showdown with FC Montreal, with fireworks after the game.

The United Soccer League’s Game of the Week features the Nos. 1 (Louisville City FC) and 3 (FC Cincinnati) teams in the Eastern Conference standings at Slugger Field, where it’s possible we see a new attendance record set Saturday.

The broadcast starts at 7:30 p.m. before game time at 7:50 p.m. Watch on ESPN3 or, in Louisville, on MeTV. Below, we’ll also feature social media posts and commentary throughout the match.

A season after Matt Fondy set the United Soccer League scoring record with 22 goals in 28 matches, Louisville City FC’s Chandler Hoffman is making his own bid for the USL’s golden boot. He’s hardly alone, however, in LouCity’s attack.

As Guy Abend secured a brace Tuesday with two goals against Toronto FC II, Louisville saw its 14th different player score a goal by the season’s midpoint, already more than the 13 with goals in 2015.

Hoffman exited at the half, his team ahead 3-0, to save energy for the club’s next challenge — Saturday’s 7:50 p.m. meeting with River Cities Cup rival FC Cincinnati at Slugger Field.

“I think that for Chandler it was important that we got some rest in,” said coach James O’Connor. “He’s played a lot of games, so I think second half we tried to get some guys on who need some minutes and give guys some rest as well.

“We’ve obviously got some games coming up as well so it’s just trying to get a balance with everything, and it doesn’t look like it’s getting any cooler here either.”

Hoffman, who won a Major League Soccer Cup during his time with the LA Galaxy, ranks second in the USL in scoring with 10 goals, helping LouCity to a USL-best 13-match unbeaten streak.

FC Cincinnati enters having not lost in nine straight, not falling since its April 16 defeat to Louisville at Nippert Stadium. That night, the teams played in front of 20,497 fans. In the return game LouCity will likely set a new attendance record, eclipsing the 9,434 to attend last year’s friendly with Orlando City SC of MLS.

Here’s more of what to watch for Saturday.

Team Records

LouCity: 10-1-4 (34 points) in 15 matches; first in the USL’s Eastern Conference standings.

FC Cincinnati: 8-2-3 (27 points) in 13 matches; third in the USL’s East.

Follow Live

Saturday’s game will air on ESPN3, in Louisville on MeTV and on YouTube with Michael Watts (play-by-play), Cory Gibbs (color commentary) and Heather Mitts (sideline reporter) on the call.

For Starting XI and in-game updates, follow @loucityfc and @loucityespanol on Twitter, and Louisville City FC on Facebook. Find us at louisvillecityfc on Instagram and loucityfc on Snapchat.

Vote for LouCity’s Modelo Man of the Match near the end of Saturday’s game on Twitter.

Notes

Back to the top: Saying Louisville City FC has “the chance to put clear water between itself and the chasing pack available in the next seven days,” the United Soccer League’s Nicholas Murray this week returned the club to No. 1 in the league’s power rankings. And that was before LouCity knocked off Toronto FC II by a 4-1 score on Tuesday night. Murray’s power rankings listed the Sacramento Republic at No. 2 and FC Cincinnati at No. 3. Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 and Red Bulls II filled out the top five.

Game day promotions: As LouCity seeks an attendance record, the club is asking fans to Purple Out at Slugger, sporting the primary color. Presenting sponsor Baptist Health is also set to give away 1,500 mini cowbells to fans. With the game LouCity’s second ESPN3 broadcast of the season, following the April 27 draw with the Pittsburgh Riverhounds, game time has moved 20 minutes back to 7:50 p.m.

Cincinnati native stands out: LouCity’s Kyle Smith caught the attention of coach James O’Connor at a tryout camp last December and became a surprisingly big offseason addition. The Transylvania University graduate has logged the most minutes of any player with the club. Listed as a midfielder, Smith plays at right back and is tied for the team lead in assists at four. He also scored his first professional goal May 28 in a 2-0 win over the Charleston Battery.

Montano recognized: In just his second start of the season, Louisville City FC defender Enrique Montano made enough of an impact to land a spot on the United Soccer League’s Team of the Week. Montano on Tuesday led a pair of defensive players recognized by the league, as goalkeeper Greg Ranjitsingh also earned a mention on the bench after posting a 1-0, shutout victory at Rochester. In addition to helping along the back line, Montano took charge on throws and set pieces against the Rhinos in his return to the Starting XI.

Forty Under 40: Louisville Business First on Monday named Louisville City FC president Amanda Duffy to its list of young professionals “making important contributions in our business community.” Duffy, the only female president in the 29-team USL, joined LouCity before its inaugural season originally as vice president of operations. She was promoted to general manager and then in November named president after the club finished second in the Eastern Conference standings and second overall in the league in average attendance.

Austin Berry’s return: The 2012 Major League Soccer rookie of the year signed with his hometown club, FC Cincinnati, now four years removed from a stellar career at the University of Louisville. The defender has appeared in five matches this season and scored two goals from just three shots attempted.

Hoffman on a roll: Striker Chandler Hoffman enters the week tied for second in the USL in scoring with 10 goals. He’s in the running for the league’s golden boot along with LA Galaxy II’s Jack McBean (12 goals) and Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2’s Kyle Greig. Hoffman has three multi-goal matches this season, including a hat trick April 16 at FC Cincinnati.

Familiar faces back: As an 84th-minute substitute, Kadeem Dacres entered Saturday’s 1-0 victory over the Rochester Rhinos and in the process logged his first minutes in USL play since a May 14 match against Saint Louis FC. A game earlier, on June 11 against the Wilmington Hammerheads, Magnus Rasmussen made his season debut on the comeback from a hip injury. Rasmussen scored 8 goals for LouCity in 2015 and Dacres 6.

Last December, as new United Soccer League franchise FC Cincinnati built its inaugural roster, Kyle Smith traveled two hours south to try out for its biggest rival.

The Cincinnati native caught the attention of Louisville City FC coach James O’Connor and earned an invtation to a trial camp two months later. On March 14, LouCity announced Smith’s signing, and since then the Transylvania University product has made the biggest impact of any rookie on the roster.

“To come to an open tryout and play the way he has and play as many minutes as he has, he deserves enormous credit,” O’Connor said. “He’s come in — he’s been an absolute breath of fresh air. He’s had the right attitude, the right mentality, and he’s worked his socks off every single day.

“He was given an opportunity in the first game, and he’s managed to take it and grab it with both hands.”

With Louisville atop the USL’s Eastern Conference standings at the season’s midpoint, Smith has logged more minutes on the field in 2016 than any player on the first-place club. Listed as a midfielder, he plays at right back and is tied for the team lead in assists at four. He also scored his first professional goal May 28 in a 2-0 win over the Charleston Battery.

Smith started LouCity’s first River Cities Cup meeting, a 3-2 victory for the visitors April 16 at Cincinnati’s Nippert Stadium, and helped defend as his team played the second half down a man. Emotions will run high again at 7:50 p.m. Saturday against his hometown club with friends and family at Louisville Slugger Field.

“It adds a little bit of pressure, but pressure’s a good thing,” Smith said. “It makes me play better.”

Smith has the role held last season by Bryan Burke, the USL’s Defender of the Year and assists leader. While tasked with manning the back line, the position also plays a major part in attacks in O’Connor’s system.

Smith had before this season only played in the midfield. O’Connor and staff deemed he might succeed in a new role.

“Equally, you need that player to be full of desire and to take on information,” the coach said. “Kyle is someone who, from the onset, we’ve spoken about things and he takes them on board quickly.”

“…It’s 100 percent effort, maximum intensity, and he understands what we want for that particular role. He deserves all the credit. He’s come in and done great.”

LouCity hasn’t lost in 13 straight matches, the longest streak this season in the USL. FC Cincinnati’s last defeat came to Louisville. Since then, the first-year club has reeled off nine in a row unbeaten, rising to third on the Eastern Conference table.

A national audience — ESPN3 has the broadcast — will watch as Smith and LouCity aim to continue their streak.

“I’m sure for him and all of his family, it’ll be a massive occasion, but it’s a massive occasion for us as well and all the group,” O’Connor said. “To have such a big team come to town and create a rivalry, I think it’s something we’re all excited about and looking forward to.”

With the largest crowd so far this season expected Saturday at Louisville Slugger Field, Louisville City FC will host a revamped version of its official tailgate featuring $2 LouCity Ritas, a team-themed margarita, and free gear.

The el Jimador Pitch Party, which starts at 5:30 p.m. ahead of LouCity-FC Cincinnati, includes local food trucks and a DJ at East Witherspoon St. and North Preston St., in the lot West of the stadium. The Spudz Chips truck will be on site with a big screen TV.

In addition to el Jimador and Brown Forman cocktails, beers from Falls City and Modelo Especial are available at Pitch Parties — and cheaper than the ones sold inside Slugger.

Fans are encouraged to wear LouCity’s primary color to Saturday’s River Cities Cup match. With it declared a Purple Out, the club will give away jerseys at the Pitch Party. Other purple merchandise is 15 percent off at the tailgate and 10 percent off inside the stadium.

Then show off the swag at the Magbooth, an on-site photo service customized for LouCity fans.

The Pitch Party wraps up just before game time — 7:50 p.m. — between first-place Louisville and FC Cincinnati, which is unbeaten since LouCity scored a road victory April 16 over its new rival.

The parking lot between E. Witherspoon St. and E. Washington St.