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Paco Craig played the most minutes of any Louisville City FC player during the 2016 postseason but hadn’t seen the field this year until Saturday night. The defender made a swap on the back line worth it, going the full 90 minutes in a 1-1 draw where coach James O’Connor described the only goal allowed as “cheap.”

Yes, LouCity will want it back. But with the 6-foot-2 Craig back in center defense, the club limited a tall Cincinnati front line’s aerial looks on goal. Craig went the full 90 minutes and helped his side tally 21 clearances. The FC Cincinnati defense needed just six.

Tarek Morad filled in at left back in the first game of the season where newcomer Oscar Jimenez didn’t appear. Also, Guy Abend made his first start of the year in the midfield, also going the distance.

Here’s more of what we took away from LouCity at FC Cincinnati:

• FC Cincinnati star Djiby Fall – who entered having scored six of his side’s seven goals so far this year — was held to just one shot attempt Saturday and 20 total touches on the ball. Eventually, Djiby was sent off in the 87th minute after a studs-up tackle on Kyle Smith and confrontation with Niall McCabe.

• Brian Ownby finally received the goal he’d been hunting for weeks. The former Richmond Kickers standout had seen multiple opportunities early this season and found the back of the net in the 20th minute, rocketing a left-footed strike past FC Cincinnati’s goalkeeper.

• LouCity took a group to Cincinnati with many ties to the Queen City. Smith, a second-year player, was born there, and backup goalkeeper Micah Bledsoe grew up there. Another Cincinnati product — and former FC Cincy striker — Luke Spencer came on in the second half.

• In its first five games of 2016, LouCity won four games and lost one, totaling 12 points. This year, the club has three wins and a pair of draws, marking its longest unbeaten streak to start a season.

Luke Spencer doesn’t see Saturday’s game against FC Cincinnati, his former club, as a chance to make a statement. Simply, the Louisville City FC forward is happy to head home to play in front of friends and family at Nippert Stadium.

“Yeah, it’s special to me” said Spencer, who attended Winton Woods High School before going on to a storied college career with Xavier University. “…It’s motivating to play in front of them, but also to see your old teammates, so it’ll be special.”

Spencer has featured much more for unbeaten LouCity than during his rookie season with FC Cincinnati when, coming back from injury, he backed up eventual USL MVP Sean Okoli.

The 6-foot-2 forward held multiple defenders off the ball before assisting George Davis IV’s goal last Saturday against the Tampa Bay Rowdies. Back on March 30, he scored his first professional goal in a victory over Orlando City B, then delivered his infamous backflip in celebration.

“He’s someone that we have great belief in,” said coach James O’Connor, who was glad to offer Spencer a contract out of the club’s invitation tryouts in January.

Shortly after selected 23rd in the 2012 MLS SuperDraft by the New England Revolution, Spencer suffered a devastating knee injury. Multiple ACL tears pushed back his professional debut and took away his chance to make the MLS roster.

After a coaching stint for Xaver, he signed on with FC Cincinnati for the club’s inaugural season. The atmosphere at Nippert Stadium — more than 15,000 tickets were sold as of Wednesday night — is one he knows well.

“It’s a tough place to play,” Spencer said. “It’s hard to hear your teammates. It’s hard to hear your coach giving instructions. You’ve got to stick together. Hopefully, we’ll have a lot of supporters of our own down there.”

LouCity split its away meetings with FC Cincinnati in 2016 and drew with its River Cities Cup rival at home. This year, the boys in purple will host FC Cincy on July 15 and Aug. 12 at Louisville Slugger Field.

Spencer logged few minutes last season. Amid a breakout open to 2017, he sits tied for first on the team in chances created and second in shots taken.

Now, he’s coming home with a new role.

“Really, it’s just the next game for me,” Spencer said. “I want to play well in every game I play in. I want to try and create and score. When I’m creating teammates in any game, I’m happy. It’s more just doing it in front of friends and family that I’d be looking forward to.”

Louisville City FC’s supporters have no doubt had a two-game stretch of the 2017 season circled, first with anticipated Eastern Conference contender Tampa Bay before rival FC Cincinnati.

But coach James O’Connor’s focus is always on the next game — and only that game. Following a 2-1 win over the Rowdies, he was finally able to speak on Cincinnati ahead of a 7 p.m. Saturday matchup at Nippert Stadium.

“It’ll be a very tough game for us,” O’Connor told reporters at his regular weekly press conference. “Intimidating atmosphere, but again a game we all look forward to. Great rivalry. Our supporters will be up there again. Hopefully in lots of numbers.”

FC Cincinnati drew a USL-record crowd for a season opener last Saturday when 23,144 witnessed a 4-0 win over Saint Louis FC. To add, former LouCity midfielders Aodhan Quinn and Kadeem Dacres now feature for the club’s River Cities Cup rival.

“It’ll be lovely to see Quinn and Kadeem,” O’Connor said. “They’re two lads I really like and I wish them both all the very best. As I’ve said to them, just not when they’re playing us. It’s the same for them. They’ll wish you all the best, just not when we’re playing each other.”

(Update: Dacres received a straight red card Wednesday night and will not play against LouCity. Quinn rested and is expected to start.)

LouCity had the same scenario play out when striker Luke Spencer made the move from his hometown club to Louisville.

“I’m sure for Luke it’ll be nice to go back,” O’Connor said.

Two weeks ago, former Richmond Kickers standouts Brian Ownby and George Davis IV suited up for LouCity in Virginia. Conor Shanosky, a former LouCity player, is now the Kickers’ captain.

“I think as we start to develop as a club things like this will happen more and more,” O’Connor said.

Here’s more from O’Connor’s meeting with the media…

• On Speedy Williams’ sub out of the Rowdies game: “We had a chat this morning. He’s in less pain now then he was, so we’ll just have to wait and see how that goes. We’re hopeful that won’t be anything too serious.”

• On facing a club with a large roster like FC Cincinnati: “The biggest thing for us always at this stage of the season is making sure our training is on point and we’re focusing on the things we can control. We can’t really control what happens in Cincinnati. How we train and how we prepare for games is what we need to focus on.”

• On George Davis IV’s recent production: “When you look at his work ethic, his contribution to the game, and his goal, the goal alone is a major contribution. But when you look at his overall contribution, it was fantastic. I think his intensity to his work is great, so we’ve been really, really pleased with George. He’s a great role model for everybody in the changing room. He trains really well and does all of the things that we ask of him. Really pleased with him to see him playing so well. Really, really happy with George.”

Louisville City FC and its hometown partner, the Falls City Brewing Co., will on Tuesday evening provide the first pours from a new co-branded line of beers. Thanks to the BoomBozz Craft Pizza & Taphouse, proceeds from them will go toward local charities.

First on tap is the LouCity IPA, a delicious brew featuring Azacca hops. It will debut during a launch party starting at 6 p.m. at the St. Matthews BoomBozz, 3939 Shelbyville Road, with players and members of the club’s front office on hand.

Pints of the LouCity IPA will sell for $3 at BoomBozz’s launch party and game watch parties, the first of which is set for Saturday as LouCity travels to play FC Cincinnati at 7 p.m.

“It has been a fantastic process working with these two great partners, Falls City and BoomBozz, to develop a beer made especially for our supporters,” said Campbell Brewer, LouCity’s director of corporate partnerships. “As with all of our partners, they have been extremely engaged with our fans, and we couldn’t be happier with their continued support.

“We look forward to the success of the beer and the growth of the watch parties this season, along with the new charity tie-in.”

More LouCity-labeled Falls City beers will be released throughout the season, each to benefit a new charity.

“We’re extremely excited to be partnering with LouCity for these exclusive beers,” said Brian U’Sellis, marketing manager at the Falls City Brewing Co. “As the team gains momentum and the fan base continues to grow, we hope this co-branded, local beer will bring fans together to support the team whether they’re at home or on the road.”

BoomBozz will extend its happy hour specials, including $5 and $6 social plates, throughout Tuesday’s launch party. LouCity will also have on hand ticket representatives and merchandise.

For a full schedule of LouCity road watch parties, visit LouisvilleCityFC.com/pubpartners. Look for the purple and gold tap handle at other area BoomBozz locations to try the LouCity IPA outside of official events.

Louisville City FC midfielder George Davis IV, who netted the first goal in a 2-1 win Saturday over the Tampa Bay Rowdies, was further rewarded Tuesday when named to the USL Team of the Week.

Davis IV’s Team of the Week nomination was his second already this season and comes amid a scoring streak. He has converted chances in LouCity’s last three games, all of them wins, as part of a run to the top of the Eastern Conference standings.

Davis IV also won 10 duels and made four tackles to help keep his side unbeaten early in the 2017 season. It was a deserved Modelo Man of the Match performance as voted by LouCity fans.

The Tampa Bay Rowdies entered Saturday with a perfect record, and Davis IV’s 22nd-minute strike was the first goal the club had conceded. Cameron Lancaster added another goal late to secure the win for LouCity.

A USL veteran out of the University of Kentucky, Davis IV ranks third on the league’s scoring list with 41 goals, behind only Reno 1868 FC’s Dane Kelly (50) and retired Richmond Kickers striker Matthew Delicate (42).

LouCity will next face FC Cincinnati and USL Player of the Week Djiby Fall, who scored all four goals in a win over Saint Louis FC, at 7 p.m. Saturday in Cincinnati.

USL Team of the Week

GK – Sean Melvin, Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2: Melvin put in a stellar five-save performance to lead WFC2 to a 1-0 road victory against the Portland Timbers 2.

D – Nouhou Tolo, Seattle Sounders FC 2: Tolo scored what proved to be the game-winning goal early, and then helped S2 preserve the lead with three tackles and two interceptions in a 2-1 victory against the LA Galaxy II.

D – Amer Didic, Swope Park Rangers: Didic completed 93 percent of his 91 passes, and recorded 13 clearances, five interceptions and four tackles as Swope Park shut out Sacramento.

D – Matt Bahner, FC Cincinnati: Bahner recorded the assist on the opening goal in FCC’s win against Cincinnati, and also won five of six duels and made five interceptions defensively.

M – George Davis IV, Louisville City FC: Davis’ third goal in as many games helped Louisville remain undefeated, as the midfielder also won 10 duels and recorded four tackles.

M – Billy Forbes, San Antonio FC: Forbes had a goal and assist as San Antonio defeated Reno 4-0. He also created another three scoring chances as SAFC earned its biggest win in club history.

M – Vincent Bezecourt, New York Red Bulls II: Bezecourt had a goal and two assists to lead the Red Bulls II to a 3-1 victory against Orlando on Friday, snapping a two-game losing streak.

M – Memo Rodriguez, Rio Grande Valley FC: Rodriguez scored a pair of goals as the Toros took a 3-1 win against Colorado Springs last Wednesday night for their second straight victory.

F – Miguel Gonzalez, OKC Energy FC: Gonzalez’s spectacular bicycle kick lifted Energy FC to its first win of the season, a 1-0 victory against previously undefeated Sacramento, last Tuesday.

F – Romario Williams, Charleston Battery: Williams notched a hat trick in 12 first-half minutes as the Battery recorded a thumping 5-0 victory against the Rochester Rhinos. F – Djiby Fall, FC Cincinnati: Fall scored the first hat trick in FCC history, and added another for a four-goal night in a 4-0 victory against previously undefeated Saint Louis FC.

Bench: Matt Cardone (SA), O’Brian Woodbine (CHS), Wes Charpie (STL), Masta Kacher (COS), Steevan Dos Santos (OTT), Cesar Elizondo (SA), Cardel Benbow (HAR)