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LouCity players, coach O'Connor expecting raucous playoff atmosphere
Sean Reynolds doesn’t remember seeing the supporters sit last year during Louisville City FC’s home playoff game. Kadeem Dacres said Slugger Field was as loud as ever.
And then there was James O’Connor.
“I went charging down the line,” the LouCity coach said this week, remembering his reaction to a go-ahead goal scored in overtime. He jumped into a crowd of players celebrating 2015 USL MVP Matt Fondy’s strike. “It was really embarrassing, if I’m being honest.”
But O’Connor wouldn’t mind a repeat Sunday when the Richmond Kickers visit for the first round of the USL Cup Playoffs. LouCity will look to replicate last year’s home postseason victory over the Charleston Battery that launched the club into contention for a championship.
“Certainly, the passion of the crowd showed in that game and transmitted to the players,” O’Connor said. “That’s exactly what we’re looking for — that type of atmosphere where we fill the stadium and everyone’s cheering the guys on.”
On the field, LouCity enters the playoffs on a roll. The club has played five straight games unbeaten, with four of those victories, including a 2-0 win Sept. 10 over the Kickers. The performance has been lauded has one of LouCity’s best this season.
Off the field, the club saw an uptick in attendance in 2016, drawing an average of 7,218 fans to Slugger Field over the course of 15 home games. The figure contributed to an unprecedented 33 percent rise in crowd sizes this season in the 29-team USL.
LouCity’s quest to become the last club standing starts at 7 p.m. Sunday.
“It’s always an exciting time,” said Reynolds, a second-year defender. “It’s win or go home. You have to show up every day and prepare, and come game time, you need to take care of business.
“It’s definitely going to be high intensity, and it’s going to show a lot of character from both teams. You’ll see who wants it more.”
LouCity carried a No. 2 Eastern Conference seed into last year’s playoffs, same as in 2016. The Rochester Rhinos knocked off the boys in purple in the conference final before going on to win a USL title.
This year, the New York Red Bulls, who tallied a USL record 69 points in 30 regular-season games, potentially stand in the way. They’ve defeated LouCity twice and by an aggregate score of 3-0.
Even in the days of smaller USL playoff fields, the favorite didn’t always win.
“I think we won the league by record points,” O’Connor, a former Orlando City SC player, said of his 2012 team. Minutes into the postseason, top-seeded Orlando found itself down multiple goals to Wilmington and didn’t recover.
Lesson learned. He’s preaching to LouCity players not to become complacent.
“You treat Richmond with the respect that they deserve,” O’Connor said. “All the teams that have made the playoffs are good teams.”
That’s including LouCity, which saw Fondy, assists champion Bryan Burke and Juan Guzman all move up to higher division clubs this year. O’Connor’s side returned back stronger with a handful of roster additions, coming away with two points per regular-season game.
From spring until mid-summer, LouCity played 17 straight USL contests without a loss. After consecutive defeats, the club finished 5-1-3 in its final nine games.
“We’re getting more things out of more guys this year, we have a deep bench, and everyone is contributing,” Dacres, a winger, said. “We’re firing on all cylinders right now. From the defense up the to offense, everything is clicking.”
LouCity has out-scored opponents 52-27 and, impressively, let them take just 92 shots on goal all season. The Kickers are especially stingy as well defensively. For that reason, O’Connor’s squad could use some support at Slugger.
“Bring the dog Sunday night,” the coach joked. “I want everyone there. Bring everyone you can out Sunday, so we can have a big crowd and cheer the guys on. Our players certainly deserve it.”
Know the foe: Richmond Kickers
Since the Richmond Kickers held Louisville City FC without a goal May 21 in Virginia, the club has proven that defensive effort was no fluke. The Kickers have run up the United Soccer League’s Eastern Conference table recently thanks to a 10-game unbeaten streak they’ll carry into Saturday’s game at Louisville Slugger Field.
Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. Here’s what to know about the Kickers.
Record: 12-6-8 (44 points) in 26 matches
Conference: Eastern
Standings: 5th
Coach: Leigh Cowlishaw
History: Among the oldest continuously operating soccer franchises in the United States, the Kickers have a storied past since playing their first season in 1993, including a 1995 U.S. Open Cup championship (pre-Major League Soccer) and more recently the 2013 USL Pro regular-season title. The club calls 22,611-seat City Stadium home.
Series with LouCity: The Kickers have yet to beat LouCity in any of the clubs’ three meetings. Two were draws, including a May 21 contest in Richmond that finished scoreless. Last year, the Kickers also fell 3-0 on July 4 at Slugger Field.
Current form: Richmond is peaking at the right time having not lost since July 2. The first six in a row were victories before stingy defense yielded a trio of 1-1 draws and a 1-0 win Aug. 27 over Orlando City B. The Kickers’ 20 goals allowed are second-lowest in the 29-team USL.
What to know: LouCity last week released Conor Shanosky, opening the chance for Richmond to sign the defender who played parts of the 2013 and 2014 seasons for the Kickers. While Shanosky should bolster an already strong back line, LouCity and Richmond have a “gentlemen’s agreement,” coach James O’Connor said, that he won’t see the field Saturday. Should the clubs meet in the playoffs, Shanosky would be eligible.
Player to watch: Yudai Imura scored the bulk of his Kickers-high 9 goals during a hot stretch in July, when he found the back of the net six times in five games. Scoreless in four games since then, it would appear he’s due to strike again. Imura, 25, is a Japan native finishing up his first year playing in the United States.
Another to know: Tsotleho “Sunny” Jane, who visited Slugger Field last year as a member of Wilmington Hammerheads FC, will return as the Kickers’ second-leading scorer. Jane graduated from Trinity High School before starring at the University of Maryland. The 25-year-old forward — also a member of Lesotho’s National Team — has totaled 4 goals and 2 assists in 2016.
Video: LouCity coach O'Connor's playoff preview
Video: Reynolds says in playoffs, 'You'll see who wants it more'
Video: Dacres says 'we've been working all season for this point'
USL Cup Playoffs: Look at LouCity and the Eastern Conference Field
The 2016 USL Cup Playoffs kick off this Friday through Sunday with the conference quarterfinal stage. Sixteen teams begin their trek to reach the 2016 USL Cup Final on Sunday, Oct. 23 (8 p.m. ET, ESPNU).
As a prelude to the quarterfinals, the USL took a look at the teams in the field and the keys to their postseason. Here is a glance at the Eastern Conference field:
No. 1 New York Red Bulls II: The second-year New York Red Bulls II flexed their scoring muscle throughout the season and stepped it up another level come August to maintain an Eastern Conference lead they would never relinquish. NYRBII earned its first regular-season title and has advanced to the 2016 USL Cup Playoffs for a second consecutive season. The club certainly enters as the team to beat in the East, thanks to a variety of attacking weapons, including target forward Brandon Allen and playmaker Derrick Etienne Jr. They also set a number of single-season records, eclipsing the 2014 Orlando City SC side to establish new marks in points (69), wins (21) and goals scored (61) in regular-season play. Defensively, NYRBII had a remarkable year as well with 16 shutouts, one shy of the USL record of 17 set by the defending champion Rochester Rhinos in 2015. That is some impressive balance heading into a postseason.
No. 2 Louisville City FC: For Louisville City FC, 2016 has marked a second season, a second runner-up finish in the Eastern Conference and now a second opportunity to make a deep run in the USL Cup Playoffs. With some new pieces in the mix for its sophomore campaign, Louisville didn’t miss a beat and has performed admirably throughout the year, highlighted by an incredible 17-game unbeaten streak. The club’s form on the road also was solid to the tune of an 11-2-2 record. LouCity has been far steadier this year than in 2015, when the club lost four of its final five regular-season games, and the expectations among the roster and its supporters is for this team to once again be a viable threat to hoist the USL Cup when all is said and done.
No. 3 FC Cincinnati: FC Cincinnati made the loudest entrance the USL has seen with continual record-breaking attendances that have drawn global recognition, and the fans have been treated to a veteran-savvy club led by a National Soccer Hall of Fame coach. The first task was accomplished, reaching the 2016 USL Cup Playoffs. Now John Harkes’ side looks to keep this buzz going, and the club gets to do so on its home grounds of Nippert Stadium to open the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals. From the front line of attack in Sean Okoli to fan favorite goalkeeper Mitch Hildebrandt as the anchor, The Bailey will be bumping for this expansion franchise’s new chapter.
No. 4 Rochester Rhinos: The defending USL champion Rochester Rhinos are back in the postseason to attempt to reclaim their crown, and they enter the 2016 USL Cup Playoffs in good form with a nine-game unbeaten streak (5-0-4) and the opportunity to host an Eastern Conference Quarterfinal. Living up to the standards that the 2015 team set certainly haven’t been easy, and probably were not realistic anyway. A USL-record 17 shutouts in a 28-game slate a year ago is a nearly impossible ask within a league that gains more and more parity. Coach Bob Lilley’s side fought hard once again to put itself in a good position among the top of the Eastern Conference standings, and the Rhinos hope to rekindle their postseason magic a second time around.
No. 5 Charlotte Independence: The Charlotte Independence were a bit unfortunate to miss out on the postseason in their first season last year. The 2016 squad, however, left little doubt about its USL Cup Playoffs credentials. Coach Mike Jeffries’ side has shown some balance and depth among the roster, improving its road record by leaps and bounds while producing at a higher clip offensively. Charlotte opens the postseason on the road, and while a home quarterfinal match would have been ideal, the Independence could pose to be one of the more dangerous low-seeded teams in the playoffs.
No. 6 Charleston Battery: The regular-season stretch run for the Charleston Battery took a couple small hits as they ended up below a top-four finish in the Eastern Conference table. A stronghold member of the USL and a fixture in the USL Cup Playoffs having made the postseason every year of the league’s history, Charleston will need to do its damage on the road in the postseason. The Battery dropped two of their final three home matches to wrap up the regular season, but this veteran club caused some damage away from MUSC Health Stadium this season. In Charleston’s past 11 road matches, the club has posted a stellar 6-1-4 record. The Battery will hope that trend carries over when they head into enemy territory in Cincinnati.
No. 7 Richmond Kickers: The Richmond Kickers have been a staple to advance to the USL Cup Playoffs. They have done so now for six consecutive USL seasons. Richmond’s 2016 campaign has had some swings to it, though. On the positive side, the Kickers made a significant move up the table thanks to a six-game winning streak from July through early August. On the flip side, Richmond has hobbled a tad since clinching a postseason berth and will need to regain the form it demonstrated during the dog days of summer.
No. 8 Orlando City B: Orlando City B made things far more difficult on itself with a winless streak that never seemed to end. For weeks, it appeared to be a forgone conclusion that Orlando would attain a spot in the 2016 USL Cup Playoffs. An eight-game winless streak (0-7-1) and five-game losing streak later, the season was in the balance, but OCB stepped up with a 2-0 win against Bethlehem Steel FC in the regular-season finale to gain the necessary points for a No. 8 seed in the Eastern Conference. Orlando certainly has some individual talent, and now that the postseason is here, it will need to coalesce into a united group if it is to overcome a massive test in the conference quarterfinals.
2016 USL Cup Playoffs schedule
Friday, Sept. 30:
No. 4 Swope Park Rangers vs. No. 5 LA Galaxy II – 8:30 p.m. ET, Children’s Mercy Victory Field at Swope Soccer Village (Western Conf.) – USLSoccer.com Preview
No. 3 Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC vs. No. 6 Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 – 9 p.m. ET, Switchbacks Stadium (Western Conf.) – USLSoccer.com Preview
Saturday, Oct. 1:
No. 4 Rochester Rhinos vs. No. 5 Charlotte Independence – 6:05 p.m. ET, Rhinos Stadium (Eastern Conf.) – USLSoccer.com Preview
No. 2 Rio Grande Valley FC vs. No. 7 OKC Energy FC – 8:30 p.m. ET, Toro Stadium (Western Conf.) – USLSoccer.com Preview
No. 1 Sacramento Republic FC vs. No. 8 Orange County Blues FC – 10:30 p.m. ET, Bonney Field (Western Conf.) – USLSoccer.com Preview
Sunday, Oct. 2:
No. 1 New York Red Bulls II vs. No. 8 Orlando City B – 4 p.m. ET, Red Bull Arena (Eastern Conf.) – USLSoccer.com Preview
No. 3 FC Cincinnati vs. No. 6 Charleston Battery – 4 p.m. ET, Nippert Stadium (Eastern Conf.) – USLSoccer.com Preview
No. 2 Louisville City FC vs. No. 7 Richmond Kickers – 7 p.m. ET, Slugger Field (Eastern Conf.) – USLSoccer.com Preview
League, LouCity post attendance increases this season
The United Soccer League closed out its 2016 regular-season schedule over the weekend and reported a total season attendance of almost 1.5 million for its 29 teams, a 33 percent increase from 2015.
The USL drew 1,496,493 fans compared to 1,132,218 last year. The average attendance for the league’s top 10 drawing teams was 6,724, a 25 percent increase versus 2015.
“It has been another record-breaking season for the USL and its 29 teams as the attendance numbers reflect the growth and momentum we continue to experience,” said Jake Edwards, USL president. “A 30-plus percent jump in league attendance is unprecedented in professional sports and illustrates the exceptional quality of USL and unique soccer environment our passionate fans are creating across North America.”
By the Numbers – 2016 USL Attendance:
- In its second season, Louisville City FC totaled 108,269 in attendance for an average of 7,218 and recorded its first crowd of 10,000-plus at Slugger Field on June 25. Average per-game attendance was up 6.6 percent from the club’s inaugural season.
- Expansion side FC Cincinnati totaled a league-record 259,437 fans for the season and averaged a league-record 17,296 per game at Nippert Stadium. The team surpassed 20,000 in attendance on four occasions. This began with 20,497 on April 16, a USL attendance record for regular season and playoffs with 23,375 on May 14, 20,151 on July 23, and then broke its own league record with 24,376 on September 17.
- Sacramento Republic FC continued its impressive attendance run totaling 172,711 fans, selling out 14 of 15 games and averaging 11,514 per game at Bonney Field. Since joining the USL in 2014, the Republic have sold out 45 of 47 regular season and post-season games.
- In its first season in the USL, San Antonio FC averaged 6,170 per game and surpassed the previous single-game attendance record for soccer with 8,466 on April 9 at Toyota Field.
- Nine different clubs – the Charleston Battery, Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC, FC Cincinnati, Rio Grande Valley FC, Sacramento Republic FC, Saint Louis FC, San Antonio FC, Toronto FC II and Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2– recorded at least one sellout during the season.
- Three teams – FC Cincinnati, Louisville City FC and Sacramento Republic FC – surpassed at least 100,000 in attendance, marking the first time in USL history that multiple teams reached the milestone in a single season. Before 2016, only three times had a team reached the mark in League history.
The Top 10 USL regular season team attendances in 2016:
Team | Total Attendance | Average Attendance
1. FC Cincinnati | 259,437 | 17,296
2. Sacramento Republic FC | 172,711 | 11,514
3. Louisville City FC | 108,269 | 7,218
4. San Antonio FC | 92,546 | 6,170
5. Oklahoma City Energy FC | 74,249 | 4,950
6. Saint Louis FC | 73,841 | 4,923
7. Richmond Kickers | 59,941 | 3,996
8. Tulsa Roughnecks FC | 59,247 | 3,950
9. Rochester Rhinos | 54,819 | 3,655
10. Charleston Battery | 53,563| 3,570
Overall, the USL averaged 3,439 per game and recorded 58 sellouts during the 2016 season.
The 2016 USL Cup Playoffs kick off this weekend with the divisional quarterfinal round, featuring the top eight finishers in both the Eastern and Western Conferences. The playoffs conclude on October 23 with the 2016 USL Cup Final live on ESPNU and the WatchESPN app beginning at 8 p.m. ET.
LouCity opens fan survey with season coming to a close
Now through the end of October, Louisville City FC is seeking fan input through a survey aimed at improving many of the club’s facets.
Supporters have the chance to answer questions and offer opinions on general topics, as well as ticketing, sponsorship and LouCity’s communications.
“As we near the end of another successful season, we look to you to help us evaluate our performance off the field and determine how we can best plan for 2017 with you, our fans, in mind,” said LouCity’s president, Amanda Duffy. “We value your feedback and appreciate your time completing this survey.”
Find the questionnaire below.
LouCity unveils 2016 USL Cup Playoffs poster
Kickoff Sunday against the Richmond Kickers is set for 7 p.m. at Slugger Field. To purchase tickets, visit www.loucity.com/playoffs.
