News

When Enrique Montano speaks of his culture, “first and foremost,” the Louisville City FC defender says, comes family. Then there’s food, music and, of course, soccer.

LouCity will highlight them all Saturday when the club hosts its first Hispanic Heritage Night, a celebration coinciding with its 7:30 p.m. game against the Richmond Kickers at Louisville Slugger Field.

Montano hopes the evening increases LouCity’s outreach to the local Hispanic community, continuing what he tries to do daily.

“For me, one of the key reasons I play is to spread the word of where I come from and what my culture is,” said Montano, a native Californian and the son of Mexican immigrants.

• Buy tickets to Saturday’s game: English | Spanish

Now a second-year pro in Louisville, Montano spent his summers until high school in a town about an hour from Guadalajara, one of the Mexico’s largest cities. Saturday, he’s thinking, will feel like a return home.

Hispanic Heritage Night begins outside the West entrance to Slugger Field at 5:30 p.m., when free traditional food, dance groups, face painting and music will converge at the el Jimador Fiesta Latina.

“Hopefully when you have a team with a player like me, who’s a Spanish speaker, the Hispanic community feels more inclined to come check out what’s going on,” Montano said.

Once in the stadium, supporters will hear public address announcements in both English and Spanish, with traditional music mixed into the regular game day playlist.

On the field, Montano remains a contributor on a LouCity back line that hasn’t allowed more than two goals since July. The left back has appeared in eight games, last time out going the full 90 minutes in a 1-1 draw Aug. 13 with the Rochester Rhinos.

When Montano dines at some of his favorite local spots — among them Taco Luchador on Bardstown Road and Con Huevos on Frankfort Avenue — he strikes up conversations in his LouCity gear.

“And the people who work there overhear,” Montano said. “‘Oh, you play for Louisville City?’ I’ll tell them to check it out.

“…That’s one of the main roles when I started playing that I wanted to take on — be a public figure among my people, the Hispanic community.”

Eight teams, including the Louisville City FC front office and the club’s supporters group, the Louisville Coopers, will square off this week on the new 5-A-Side soccer field at ReSurfaced, a center for community activation and civic engagement at the corner of south Shelby and Liberty streets.

The latest ReSurfaced follows successful versions first on Main Steet and later at 10th Street. The Liberty Build, as it’s called, will be free to enter and open to the public during the games, with a selection of local food and drink available from 5-10 p.m. Thursday and Friday.

Ramsi’s Cafe on the World was selected as food and beverage operator for ReSurfaced’s fall season; additionally, new Brown-Forman bourbon brand Coopers’ Craft will have a presence for tastings and custom-built bar in one of many shipping containers used in The Liberty Build’s design.

Teams have signed up to play on the top of the hour from 6 p.m.-9 p.m. Thursday and Friday. A clock will run continuously for 25 minutes, after which the field will clear for members of the public to check out for the first time.

Following ReSurfaced’s eight-week run — it’s also open on Saturdays — the field will remain in the Phoenix Hill neighborhood for future soccer initiatives.

The three-quarter-acre lot occupied by ReSurfaced is owned by the Louisville Metro Housing Authority. The City Collaborative group worked recently to lay field turf for the 90 foot-by-60 foot pitch, which allows for shorter, engaging and accessible games in metro areas.

See a rundown of rules for 5-A-Side soccer by clicking here, and find this week’s schedule of games below. For more information, visit ReSurfaced.org.

THURSDAY

6 p.m. — Louisville City FC front office vs. Louisville Coopers

7 p.m. – Molly Malone’s Team 2 vs. KRM United

8 p.m. – Team Courier-Journal vs. Tip Drills

9 p.m. — Molly Malone’s Team 1 vs. Hacky Sackers FC

FRIDAY

6 p.m. — Football Club FC vs. Easy Like Sunday Morning

7 p.m. — RPFC vs. Balotelitubbies

8 p.m. — Shelby County vs. Footballerz

9 p.m. — Here for Beer vs. Casa FC

Louisville City FC midfielder Aodhan Quinn’s set piece goal, the game-winner in last weekend’s win over FC Montreal, on Tuesday helped secure him a spot on the United Soccer League’s Team of the Week.

LouCity’s captain, Quinn also “led a strong midfield display,” according to the league. The club dominated possession on the road and shut out a Montreal team that entered with 16 goals in its last five games.

Quinn, a lefty, looped multiple corner kicks from the right side in for LouCity chances early Saturday. When in the 49th minute the club lined up for one on the opposite side of the pitch, defender Ben Newnam stood over it and found Quinn at the back post.

A header past Montreal’s keeper made the difference in a 1-0 game. It marked Quinn’s third goal of the year; his other two both came on free kicks, furthering the San Diego native’s reputation as a set piece specialist.

A product of the University of Akron’s powerhouse soccer program, Quinn, also the son of former U.S. National Brian Quinn, signed with LouCity in 2015 after a stint with Orlando City SC. A free kick goal of his last August against the Tulsa Roughnecks went down as the USL Goal of the Year.

USL Team of the Week

GK – Tomas Gomez, Rochester Rhinos: Gomez recorded four saves to keep the Rhinos in the game, and helped them earn a 2-1 victory on the road in Charleston.

D – Tony Alfaro, Seattle Sounders FC 2: Alfaro played the full game in both of S2’s victories in Week 24, and provided the assist on Jordan Schweitzer’s game-winning goal against Portland.

D – Aaron Long, New York Red Bulls II: Named for a second consecutive week, Long was again impressive, and earned a penalty kick, in New York’s 2-0 win at Bethlehem Steel FC.

D – Elliott Hord, Sacramento Republic FC: Hord notched the assist on Republic FC’s game-winning goal in his first start for the club since joining from the PDL’s Fresno Fuego.

M – Aodhan Quinn, Louisville City FC: Quinn scored the winning goal and led a strong midfield display as City took a 1-0 win on the road in Montreal.

M – T.J. Casner, Rio Grande Valley FC: Casner scored the second goal as the Toros took a 2-0 victory on the road against Swope Park to extend their undefeated streak to 10 games.

M – Ayrton, Swope Park Rangers: Ayrton scored both goals, including a stoppage-time winner, as SPR defeated San Antonio FC 2-1 last Wednesday night.

M – Enzo Martinez, Charlotte Independence: Martinez scored twice as the Independence took a big 3-2 win against FC Cincinnati last Wednesday to clinch a place in the 2016 USL Playoffs.

F – Darwin Jones, Seattle Sounders FC 2: Jones scored with almost the final kick of the game as S2 took a vital 2-1 victory against Vancouver on Friday night.

F – Mike Seth, Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC: Seth scored the opening two goals as the Switchbacks defeated the LA Galaxy II 3-0 on Saturday night.

F – Villyan Bijev, Portland Timbers 2: Bijev scored twice to lead T2 to an impressive 4-0 victory against OKC Energy FC on Sunday night.

Bench: Callum Irving (RGV), Carlos Alvarez (SA), Irvin Parra (SEA), Gaoussou Bakayoko (ROC), Chevaughn Walsh (PGH), Luke Vercollone (COS), Ricardo Velazco (SLC).

Louisville City FC dipped to as low as No. 8 in the United Socccer League’s weekly power rankings when the club lost consecutive games for the only time this season. Back to form since then, LouCity’s on the ascent in the latest gauge of top USL teams.

Off a victory over FC Montreal, Louisville came in at No. 4 — behind only the New York Red Bulls II, Rio Grande Valley FC and the Sacramento Republic — in Monday’s power rankings.

“Two consecutive 1-0 victories have Louisville with a solid grasp on second place in the Eastern Conference after its win in Montreal, and now it’ll gear up for a big game against fellow contender Richmond this Saturday night at Slugger Field,” wrote the USL’s Nicholas Murray.

“A victory in what could be a playoff preview would cement City as the class of the Eastern field behind New York.”

• See the full Week 24 USL power rankings

LouCity dropped games to FC Cincinnati and Orlando City B to end July. But the club went 3-1-2 in August, with its only defeat to the first-place New York Red Bulls II.

Six straight wins have New York 18-3-5 on the season, now four points from clinching a regular-season title. LouCity’s in position to earn the No. 2 seed and host an opening-round playoff game, sitting seven points clear of third-place FC Cincinnati.

The Kickers, who come to Slugger Field on Saturday for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff, are No. 5 in this week’s power rankings. Other top Eastern Conference sides include the Charlotte Independence (No. 7) and Rochester Rhinos (No. 8).

Scott Goodwin returned to the sidelines Saturday wearing his neon yellow Louisville City FC goalkeeper jersey, something the recent soccer retiree called “one more great experience” with his teammates.

For Tim Dobrowolski, a 1-0 win at FC Montreal marked a memorable first experience. The Loyola-Chicago product went the full 90 minutes in goal during his professional debut, and LouCity ultimately didn’t need to turn to its backup for the afternoon, Goodwin, called in as an emergency keeper when Greg Ranjitsingh left for international duty.

“Tim’s worked really hard,” said Goodwin, who trained with Dobrowolski for a month before departing for Harvard Medical School in July. “He deserved that every step of the way. When you’re having a solid performance like that, he deserved to see it all the way through to the end. I was just happy to support him.”

Happy to be there, too.

Goodwin and his wife made the drive to Montreal from Boston on Friday to join LouCity. In the 24 hours Goodwin spent with the club, coach James O’Connor noticed a difference.

“Scott has great leadership, and obviously that’s something we knew we were going to miss when he left,” O’Connor said. “We fully understand his decision, but when you lose a guy who has that kind of leadership — that kind of mentality — it’s tough.

“So it’s been great to have him back with the lads, having him back around — and for him to help Tim is nice.”
 

Dobrowolski looked every bit of a two-time Missouri Valley Conference Goalkeeper of the Year. Aside from a first half FC Montreal cross that rolled dangerously — but harmlessly — through the six-yard box, he stopped everything that came the keeper’s way.

Goodwin, meanwhile, soaked in the opportunity. LouCity’s starting keeper during its inaugural season said he’d be open to doing it again should O’Connor ever need help.

Ranjitsingh, who in May took over between the posts for Louisville, earned LouCity’s first full international call up to play for his father’s native country, Trinidad and Tobago. He made the lineup card but did not appear in Friday’s victory over Guatemala. Ranjitsingh has one more game left with T&T, Tuesday’s showdown with the United States in Jacksonville.

Other chances could await Ranjitsingh. T&T, which leads its World Cup qualifying group, already has earned enough points to advance through to the next stage.

“If it’s feasible for me, I’m always going to be there to help the team whenever I can,” Goodwin said.

Dobrowolski’s performance left LouCity confident in the keeper even if Goodwin has a conflict.

“Tim did excellent,” said captain Aodhan Quinn, who headed in a 59th-minute game-winner Saturday. “He was super confident back there and gave us a lot of confidence moving forward. He made a huge save in the first half, so we’re really proud of Tim and happy he’s with us.”

Added O’Connor: “With Tim stepping in, like we’ve said before, we have tremendous belief in him.”

Perhaps it was Louisville City FC’s recent return to form that motivated supporters. The Cornbread Ultras more so blame libations at LouCity’s last home game for inspiring them to join the club on its longest road trip of the season.

“We kind of went, ‘Why not?'” said Liza Weeter.

And that’s how Weeter, Josh Gray, Peter Brown and Tyler Coultas made their Labor Day Weekend plans. The group finished the 16-hour drive to Montreal, Canada — 14 on the road and two more for stops along the way — in time for LouCity’s 1-0 win over FC Montreal.

“It was definitely worth it,” Gray said Sunday morning, already on the way back.

LouCity claimed all three points, and the Cornbread Ultras (they’re not sure how they came up with that name) made themselves heard at Complexe sportif Claude-Robillard — both on the live streaming broadcast and to Louisville players at the stadium.

“They noticed we were there,” Gray said. “We decided to be loud.”

Before the game, the Cornbread Ultras high-fived LouCity’s player. Afterward, Gray said, coach James O’Connor thanked the Ultras for being there.

The group expected to be back home by 9 or 10 p.m. Sunday. A stop at Niagara Falls was on the schedule. Then they’ll look forward to Saturday’s LouCity return to Slugger Field.

“They probably thought we’re a little bit crazy,” Gray said of players, then joked, “I think we think we’re a little bit crazy.”

Louisville City FC’s captain, Aodhan Quinn, looks back at the end of July and now considers it only “a little rough patch.” The club has since bounced back from consecutive losses for the only time this season to solidify its spot near the top of the USL’s Eastern Conference standings.

Saturday added to LouCity’s resurgence, as Quinn headed in a 49th-minute corner kick, and goalkeeper Tim Dobrowolski posted a clean sheet in his professional debut to lift Louisville City FC to a 1-0 win at FC Montreal.

The victory marked LouCity’s second in a row and improved the club to 3-1-2 in games since Aug. 1. Only three more remain before the playoffs.

“I think we’re back on track now and in good form, which is exactly what every team wants,” Quinn said.

On a sunny afternoon at Complexe sportif Claude-Robillard, LouCity managed to shut down an FC Montreal team that entered having won four of its last five games. The home squad combined to tally 16 goals in those contests before shut out Saturday.

Dobrowolski, a Loyola-Chicago product who signed with Louisville in June, played the full 90 minutes between the posts. Coach James O’Connor had also brought in recently retired keeper Scott Goodwin — he’s now enrolled at Harvard Medical School — as an option with regular starter Greg Ranjitsingh on international duty with Trinidad and Tobago.

Goodwin said he’d fill in again “in a heartbeat,” but on Saturday there was no need for the emergency backup. Dobrowolski came up with his biggest save in stoppage time near the end of the first half, thwarting an FC Montreal strike on goal. Out of the locker room, LouCity netted a go-ahead shot of its own when Ben Newnam found Quinn on the far post for the midfielder’s third goal of 2016.

“I was obviously pleased with the performance,” said coach James O’Connor. “I thought we dominated the game. We controlled it for long periods. I just thought our decision making in the final third needed to be better. I thought we got into some decent positions. We could have won the game by more if I’m being honest. I thought we deserved to win the game by more.”

Aside from the goal-scoring play, LouCity had other chances, namely a 23rd-minute cross from Quinn to defender Tarek Morad, who stepped in well to the central midfield on Saturday rather than along the back row. Morad’s try bounced off the right post.

In the 47th minute, Mark-Anthony Kaye also played a ball through to striker Chandler Hoffman. The forward nearly ended his recent scoring drought, but Montreal’s keeper came up big, deflecting the shot with his foot.

Ultimately, LouCity didn’t need a second goal to move nine points clear of the third-place Charleston Battery on the table. Wearing their gold and white road kits, LouCity players also remained unbeaten in the new alternate jerseys this season.

Goodwin, who last played in a July 4 win over FC Montreal at Slugger Field, took it in from the sidelines.

“If it’s feasible for me, I’m always going to be there to help the team whenever I can,” he said. “I’m very pleased that James thought of me to come be that extra guy.

“…I’d do anything for these guys.”

Game Summary

Match: FC Montreal vs. Louisville City FC

Date: Sept. 3, 2016

Venue: Complexe sportif Claude-Robillard 

Kickoff: 3 p.m.

Weather: Mostly sunny

Man of the Match: Aodhan Quinn

Scoring

Louisville City FC (0, 1, 1)

FC Montreal (0, 0, 0)

Lineups

Louisville City FC: 28-Tim Dobrowolski, 24-Kyle Smith, 15-Sean Reynolds, 18-Paco Craig, 2-Ben Newnam, 6-Tarek Morad, 4-Aodhan Quinn, 7-Kadeem Dacres (72′ 22-George Davis IV), 10-Magnus Rasmussen, 12-Mark-Anthony Kaye (78′ 77-Andrew Lubahn), 17-Chandler Hoffman (82′ 9-Cameron Lancaster).

Subs not used: 1-Scott Goodwin, 11-Niall McCabe, 14-Ilija Ilic, 20-Enrique Montano.

Head coach: James O’Connor

FC Montreal: 70-Davis Paulmin, 59-Aron Mkungilwa, 74-Mele Temguia (46′ 77-Brandon Onkony), 26-Kyle Fisher, 66-Janouk Charbonneau, 58-Louis Beland-Goyette, 28-Jeremy Gagnon-Lapare (70′ 46-Philippe Lincourt-Joseph), 49-Alessandro Riggi, 48-Heikel Jarras (82′ 87-Badreddine Boulajoul), 73-Zachary Sukunda (70′ 57-Yacine Ait-Slimane), 24-Anthony Jackson-Hamel.

Subs not used: 65-Luca Leone, 42-Nevele Yoseke, 69-Jems Geffrard.

Head coach: Simon Gatti (acting coach for Philippe Eullaffroy, sent off in FC Montreal’s last game)

Officials

Referee: Robert Schaap

Assistant Referee 1: Marie-Han Gagnon Chretien

Assistant Referee 2: Andre Pickler

4th Official: Pierre-Luc Lauziere