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As Louisville City FC climbs back up the USL Eastern Conference standings, coach James O’Connor is concentrating on things other than the table — namely keeping his club in its current run of form.

With back-to-back wins last week, LouCity now sits third behind only the Charleston Battery and Tampa Bay Rowdies. Five points behind the Battery, LouCity has played two fewer games.

“I tend not to look too much at the league table, especially at this part of the season,” O’Connor told local media at his regular weekly press conference. “It’s very early on. I think it’s important you focus and you’re trying and make sure you get good performances.”

LouCity temporarily took first place after an April 15 win over the Rowdies. But after that, the side drew three games and lost another, all while taking a pair of weekends off on the schedule.

Since then, the boys in purple have won three of their last five. A 4-4 draw at Charleston prevented the league leader from creating more distance. The Rowdies are just a point ahead of LouCity.

“I think for us, it’s focus on the controllable and the next game, Pittsburgh,” O’Connor said of Saturday’s 7:30 p.m. Saturday tilt at Slugger Field. “So we need to get a good weeks training to us and then we need a good performance against Pittsburgh.”

More from Coach’s press conference:

On the Pittsburgh Riverhounds’ strengths: “They play a lot of good football. They play through the middle. They like to possess the ball. They’ve got good movement. They’ve got good attacking players – Corey Hertzog and Kevin Kerr – and so we’ve got to be mindful of that and try to create some problems for them as well.”

On setting goals at this point in the season: “I think I look at every other game and make sure we try to prepare for that. If you can train to be the very best you can be every day and you can play and give really strong performances, then the league table looks out for itself. I think that’s the biggest thing for us — making sure we focus on the process, which is training really well and then getting prepared for the game on Saturday.”

On his team’s increase in offense, especially a 3-0 win Sunday at New York Red Bulls II: “I think we’ve done it before. We just haven’t necessarily taken the chances. I think we’ve had chances in other games and we could’ve maybe scored more goals that we did. Sunday was a good example…W could’ve scored more goals than we did. But I think for us, we are very encouraged by the performance. I think in games we’ve had some good chances that we haven’t necessarily always taken them. So that’s what was so pleasing about Sunday — we took the chances that we got.”

Midfielder Mark-Anthony Kaye made a milestone appearance Tuesday night for Louisville City FC, becoming the first player to earn a senior national team cap while with the club.

The Toronto native Kaye came on in the 79th minute of a 2-1 Canada win over Curacao in Montreal, with the international friendly serving as a sendoff leading into his nation’s run at the CONCACAF Gold Cup.

“We were trying to chase for three points, so I don’t think the moment hit me until the game was done — that I actually got my first cap,” Kaye said. “I feel like as soon as I got in, it was like,’ Game on. How am I going to affect the game? How am I going to assert myself?’”

Kaye entered what was at the time a tied game in place of team captain Patrice Bernier, a midfielder with Major League Soccer’s Montreal Impact. Minutes later, a penalty try bounced off the post, and the Impact’s Anthony Jackson-Hamel fired a game-winning goal as the play continued. 

“It happened so fast — a ricochet and then we shoot and score,” Kaye said. “I just remember running into a big group of players celebrating.”

At 22 years old, Kaye earned multiple touches on the ball in his time on the pitch. He was one of three Canadian players to make a national team debut on Tuesday and was previously named to the 40-man provisional Gold Cup roster, eligible to contribute during the official national team championship of North America, Central America and the Caribbean

Canada coach Octavio Zambrano called Kaye to the national team after a late March stint with the U-23s, in which he contributed to a pair of wins and took Man of the Match honors in his second appearance.

Kaye will travel back to Louisville on Wednesday ahead of this weekend’s USL game against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds.

“I feel like I’ve done enough — all I could do — to stake my claim and hopefully put my name in that group for the Gold Cup,” he said. “If not, there are always other opportunities, and I’m just grateful for the one that came tonight.”

Midfielder Devon “Speedy” Williams is the only other player on LouCity’s roster to make a full international appearance, something he accomplished in 2010 with Jamaica before turning professional. Goalkeeper Greg Ranjitsingh also earned a call up last September to train with his father’s home nation, Trinidad and Tobago, during World Cup qualifiers.

The United Soccer League on Tuesday listed goalkeeper Greg Ranjitsingh and midfielder Richard Ballard on its Team of the Week after the pair keyed wins for Louisville City FC.

Ranjitsingh secured eight saves across a 1-0 win over the Charlotte Independence and 3-0 result at New York Red Bulls II. Ballard, a Louisville native, scored his first USL goal against the Independence and added another in stoppage time in the New York game.

Defender Kyle Smith, who opened scoring against New York with his first goal of the year, was named to the Team of the Week “Bench.”

LouCity jumped to No. 3 in the Eastern Conference standings with games in hand after a perfect week. Next, aa 7:30 p.m. Saturday return to Slugger Field ahead as the Pittsburgh Riverhounds visit.

Ranjitsingh came up particularly big late against Charlotte, when he recorded multiple punch-outs in stoppage time, including at the death. The third-year keeper’s saves in the 19th and 51st minutes Sunday against Red Bulls II made it two straight clean sheets.

Last Wednesday, Ballard found a deflected ball off teammate Cameron Lancaster and drove in his first USL goal in the 57th minute. It ended up the game-winner as well.

“It’s just that much sweeter to do it in front of my hometown and celebrate with my city,” said Ballard, who graduated from DuPont Manual High School before attending Indiana University. 

Ballard made it a scoring streak by firing a left-footed strike from teammate Kyle Smith into the goal during stoppage time at New York.

USL Team of the Week

GK – Greg Ranjitsingh, Louisville City FC: Ranjitsingh recorded back-to-back shutouts as Louisville earned victories against the Charlotte Independence at home and New York Red Bulls II on the road.

D – Onua Obasi, Ottawa Fury FC: Obasi had a dynamic two-way performance, leading Ottawa with 57 passes and three tackles and three interceptions in a 1-0 win against the Harrisburg City Islanders.

D – Kyle Hyland, OKC Energy FC: Hyland’s standout second-half goal put Energy FC ahead for good in a 3-2 midweek win against Phoenix Rising FC, and was also solid in a 0-0 draw against San Antonio FC.

D – Amadou Dia, Phoenix Rising FC: Dia had a strong debut for Rising FC, providing the assist on the opening goal by Didier Drogba and performing well up and down the left flank.

M – Richard Ballard, Louisville City FC: Ballard scored his first two league goals, including the game-winner against the Charlotte Independence, as Louisville won twice over the week.

M – Justin Portillo, Charleston Battery: Portillo scored the only goal, and was a strong presence in central midfield as the Battery defeated the Richmond Kickers 1-0 in the 60th all-time meeting between the clubs.

M – Sebastian Velasquez, Real Monarchs SLC: Velasquez recorded the assist on both goals as the Monarchs claimed their eighth consecutive victory with a 2-0 win against the Portland Timbers 2.

M – Antoine Hoppenot, Reno 1868 FC: Hoppenot record the game-winner against Sacramento Republic FC after having notched an assist in 1868 FC’s win against Rio Grande Valley FC earlier in the week.

F – Wojciech Wojcik, OKC Energy FC: Scored twice, including the game-winner, as Energy FC defeated Phoenix Rising FC 3-2 in the USL Game of the Week last Tuesday night.

F – Dane Kelly, Reno 1868 FC: Extended his goal-scoring streak to six games with goals against both Rio Grande Valley FC and Sacramento Republic FC as 1868 FC took a pair of wins.

F – Kevaughn Frater, Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC: Recorded a pair of goals, including a 90th-minute game-winner, to lift the Switchbacks past the LA Galaxy II.

Bench: Angelo Cavalluzzo (TOR), Justin Hoyte (CIN), Kyle Smith (LOU), Jorginho James (RGV), Seku Conneh (BST), Mark Anthony Gonzalez (SPR), Didier Drogba (PHX)

Louisville City FC’s remaining 2017 home games will feature more than the normal 90 minutes of on-field entertainment.

Starting Saturday, Falls City Beer and Modelo Especial present LouCity’s inaugural pre-match Party by the Pitch, which features $4 craft and lager beers. A $6.75 special kids meal deal (hot dog, chips and soda) will also be available once gates open at Slugger Field.

From 6-7:15 p.m., fans can snag the special, reduced-price food and drink at the Overlook Deck inside Slugger and enjoy some pre-match entertainment ahead of a 7:30 p.m. kickoff against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds in a USL Eastern Conference matchup.

As part of the pre-match Party this Saturday, the United States Tennis Association will be providing a ‘mini-tennis’ area which features pop-up nets for kids to practice their strikes along with a “fastest serve” contest.

USTA Kentucky is a nonprofit tennis program provider for the State of Kentucky.  Multiple program offerings are designed for the very beginner to the most competitive — from age 3 to 103.

Party by the Pitch-goers will be also be able to take in the team’s pre-match warmups and get a jump on the ticket and merchandise lines. Music will include selections from 91.9 WFPK Independent Louisville; for future pregame parties, LouCity hope to feature live music from local bands.

Other upcoming LouCity home games are July 1 (vs. Ottawa Fury FC), July 15 (vs. FC Cincinnati) and July 29 (vs. New York Red Bulls II). All start at 7:30 p.m. on a Saturday.

Tickets remain on sale by calling (502) 384-8799 or at LouisvilleCityFC.com/tickets.

In its third season of play in the United Soccer League, LouCity has again proven to be a top Eastern Conference contender. The club’s 6-1-4 record, good for 22 points entering Saturday’s game against Pittsburgh, has the boys in purple at No. 3 in the standings.

MONTCLAIR, N.J. — Finally.

In its sixth game against the New York Red Bulls II, Louisville City FC on Sunday finally walked away a winner, with a 3-0 victory a swing in the opposite direction for a rivalry between top USL Eastern Conference clubs.

Defender Kyle Smith scored his first goal of the year, Brian Ownby tapped in his third, and Richard Ballard added his second in as many games in stoppage time of a decisive effort at MSU Soccer Park, the Red Bulls II’s new home at Montclair State University.

“Just obviously really, really pleased with our performance and the mental toughness that the guys showed to push through the heat,” said coach James O’Connor. “Fantastic. Honestly, I’ve said this a number of times: incredibly proud of the guys’ effort and their quality today. It was an exceptional performance.”

A lopsided result won’t erase the past, including last year’s Eastern Conference Final loss to New York in a penalty shootout. Still, LouCity managed to earn not just its first victory, but its first point, against the defending USL champions.

The outcome never seemed in doubt after Smith started the scoring on a nice run into the box. Ownby tapped a pass to him, and Smith slotted a shot to the goalkeeper’s right in the 25th minute.

“We hadn’t beaten New York yet, so we really needed this, and then to get the three goals was even more icing on the cake,” Smith said. “I think we could’ve even had more goals. But, yeah, I mean obviously we wanted that championship last year, but a little revenge is nice.”

It was the rare game in which LouCity didn’t out-possess an opponent — New York held the ball 58.8 percent of the game — and shots were 13-8 in favor of the host Red Bulls II. But LouCity coasted behind another big effort from goalkeeper Greg Ranjitsingh.

Facing a 1-on-1 challenge from reigning USL MVP Brandon Allen, Ranjitsingh stood tall on a 19th-minute shot. He dove right to deter another Red Bulls II shot in the 51st minute as well, just seconds after Ownby had doubled the lead.

The midfielder Ownby — who with a goal and assist was voted Man of the Match — found space behind the New York defense and slipped in a shot on an easy touch. That gave LouCity a secure advantage before the Louisville native Ballard delivered the final blow off the bench with a nice strike in stoppage time.

“I mean it’s always nice to get three (goals),” Ownby said. “We could’ve easily had this year 30-plus goals at this time with our chances. But it’s nice to put a couple in the back of the net, and hopefully this will just bring us throughout the rest of the season. Because especially with the team we’re playing against — New York’s a good squad — so hopefully from here on out we just keeping banging in some of them.”

LouCity collected six points this week, with Sunday’s victory added on to a 1-0 Wednesday home win over the Charlotte Independence. The boys in purple now sit third in the USL Eastern Conference standings at 6-1-4, their 22 points not far behind the No. 1 Charleston Battery’s 27 points. The Battery have played two more games than LouCity.

Next for O’Connor’s side is a 7:30 p.m. Saturday homecoming against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds, a club LouCity defeated 1-0 back on May 20.

Game Summary

Match: New York Red Bulls II vs. Louisville City FC

Date: June 11, 2017

Venue: MSU Soccer Park

Kickoff: 4:05 p.m.

Weather: 89 degrees, sunny

Man of the Match: Brian Ownby

Scoring

New York Red Bulls II (0,0,0)

Louisville City FC (1,2,3)

Goals

Louisville City FC:

25’ Kyle Smith strikes it in from inside the box; assist to Brian Ownby
55’ Brian Ownby catches up with a long send to slide it in pass the goalkeeper from a couple yards out; assist to Paolo DelPiccolo
93’ Richard Ballard sends a left-footed strike in to the left corner of the goal; assist to Kyle Smith

Lineups

New York Red Bulls II: 24- Louro, 37- David Najem, 46’- Kevin O’Toole (69’ 92- Ethan Kutler), 47- Hassan Ndam, 20- Justin Bilyeu, 6- Dan Metzger, 22- Florian Valot (69’ 91- Douglas Martinez), 17- Arun Basuljevic, 88- Vincent Bezecourt, 12- Zeiko Lewis, 21- Brandon Allen (62’ 70- Junior Flemmings)

Subs: 50- David Abidor, 35- Jordan Scarlett, 36- Andrew Tinari

Head coach: Jon Wolyniec

Louisville City FC: 1- Greg Ranjitsingh 24- Kyle Smith, 19- Oscar Jimenez, 6- Tarek Morad, 18- Paco Craig (63’ 15- Sean Reynolds), 4- Sean Totsch, 10- Brian Ownby (80’ 23- Richard Ballard), 8-Guy Abend, 36- Paolo DelPiccolo, 22- George Davis IV (63’ 80- Devon “Speedy” Williams), 9- Cameron Lancaster

Subs not used: 28- Tim Dobrowolski, 11- Niall McCabe,14- Ilija Ilic, 12- Luke Spencer 

Head coach: James O’Connor

Discipline

New York Red Bulls II: 66’ David Najem – Yellow Card

Louisville City FC: 90’+ Cameron Lancaster — Yellow Card

Officials

Referee: Guido Gonzales Jr.

Assistant Referee 1: Tom Felice

Assistant Referee 2: Zeno Cho

4th Official: Spencer Scopel

Louisville City FC coach James O’Connor tweaked his club’s formation a bit Sunday, pushing up his outside backs — Kyle Smith and Oscar Jimenez — into the attack.

The move paid off, as Smith in the 25th minute starting the scoring before Brian Ownby and Richard Ballard added goals of their own in a 3-0 win over the New York Red Bulls II, a rematch game from the 2016 Eastern Conference Final.

Questions of LouCity’s goal-scoring abilities again seemed a matter of the past. On June 3, the club scored four in a draw with the Charleston Battery. The netted another shot in a midweek win over the Charlotte Independence. Now, another victory has the boys in purple within sight of the Eastern Conference lead.

With 22 points, LouCity’s just one behind the second-place Tampa Bay Rowdies with three games in hand. The Charleston Battery have five more points than LouCity, but are giving up two games at the one-third mark of the 2017 season.

Here’s what else stuck out Sunday…

• Heading into the game, the Red Bulls II had scored a goal in every game aside from one. A pair of tackles in the box by defender Paco Craig bolstered the lineup, and goalkeeper Greg Ranjitsingh made a pair of stops — one in both halves — that should have him in USL Save of the Week contention.

• Ownby continued proving he’s one of LouCity’s top playmakers. In addition to scoring the club’s second goal, he assisted Smith’s shot that opened the scoring on a run into the box and a ball flicked back through the defense. Smith comfortably finished the chance.

• After five games in just more than two weeks, LouCity will look to match its season-best winning streak at 7:30 pm. Saturday at Slugger Field. LouCity also knocked off Orlando City B, the Richmond Kickers and Tampa Bay Rowdies from March 30-April 15.