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Louisville City FC and five local charity partners are teaming up on Aug. 27 to bring the first Cancer Awareness Night to Louisville Slugger Field. As LouCity hosts the Bethlehem Steel for the Saturday night match, a portion of each ticket purchased using the promo code “Cancer2016” will be donated back to the club’s partners.

“We are excited to partner with local charities to help raise awareness and funds to go toward cancer treatment, research and support groups” said Louisville City FC president Amanda Duffy. “As the club works hand in hand with local organizations, we hope these efforts can help those affected by cancer escape the day-to-day fight by enjoying the events leading up to Cancer Awareness Night and the match itself.”

Charity partners include Baptist Health Cancer Care, Kosair Children’s Hospital, Gilda’s Club of Louisville, The V Foundation for Cancer Research and Colon Cancer Prevention Project. Other charities will be in attendance as well.

Leading up to the game, charity partners will hold awareness events of their own attended by LouCity players or staff. See more information on each below.

Baptist Health Cancer Care

Cancer care at Baptist Health means meeting the needs of our patients, as well as staying at the forefront of cancer research and education. We provide total cancer care for patients and take a team approach from physicians, oncology nurses, nutritional therapists, radiation therapists, physical and occupational therapists, social workers, to chaplains plus many others. Having the latest information available not only helps physicians diagnose and treat cancer more effectively, it helps patients and families understand what they are about to face – together. For more information on Cancer Care at Baptist Health please visit www.baptisthealth.com/cancer.

In support of that mission, the Baptist Health Foundation Greater Louisville raises funds to help our physicians, staff and other care providers go beyond the medical needs of our patients by improving our care and enhancing our communities.

Kosair Children’s Hospital

As Kentucky and Southern Indiana’s only full-service, free-standing pediatric hospital, Kosair Children’s Hospital is proud to be a service to this community. Specialists offer comprehensive pediatric care, including a full range of services for congenital and acquired heart disease, cancer care, neurosciences, spine and orthopedic care, and neonatal care. Kosair Children’s Hospital offers three convenient locations for emergency services 365 days a year and more than 20 pediatric physician office locations. For more information, or to find a pediatrician near you, call (502) 629-KIDS.

Gilda’s Club Louisville

Living with cancer is not a choice. How you live with it is. The programming at Gilda’s Club Louisville is an essential complement to medical care, offering 100-plus free offerings that include monthly support and networking groups, lectures, workshops, education and social activities. Gilda’s Club Louisville is a place where men, women and children living with all types of cancer join with others to give and receive the benefits of love and laughter.

Please visit Gilda’s Club Louisville’s website, www.gildasclublouisville.org, or call (502) 583-0075 for more information.

The V Foundation for Cancer Research

Jim Valvano’s dream of finding a cure for cancer is one shared by millions. Although we have not yet achieved this goal, every day we get a little bit closer and will continue to honor his inspiring words: “Don’t Give Up…Don’t Ever Give Up!”

Event: International Market Place

What: Silent auction

When: Saturday, Oct. 15

Where: Tennis Club at Springhurst

Colon Cancer Prevention Project

The Colon Cancer Prevention Project is the only non-profit in Kentucky and Southern Indiana focused on ending colon cancer. This disease is the leading cancer killer among non-smoking men and women, but it’s incredibly preventable with screenings. The Project’s work includes education, advocacy, health systems improvement and survivor support.

Event: 11th Annual Kicking Butt 5K

What: 5K complete with music, refreshments, a Healthy Village, a kids area, and more

When: Saturday, Aug. 20

Where: Iroquois Park

For information about tickets, sponsorships and how to get involved with Louisville City’s Cancer Awareness Night contact Campbell Brewer at (502) 384-8799 ext. 108 or cbrewer@louisvillecityfc.com.

After burying Wilmington Hammerheads FC with a trio of second half goals on Sunday, Louisville City FC’s Chandler Hoffman and Aodhan Quinn were on Tuesday named to positions on the USL Team of the Week.

Hoffman made the 11-member first team at forward, while Quinn earned a spot on the bench for his efforts in a 4-1 road victory.

A two-goal performance by Hoffman, who scored on a 64th-minute penalty kick before converting another chance in the 80th, moved the striker into a tie for the USL lead in goals at 14 this season.

Quinn, the LouCity captain, delivered more free kick heroics after his boot at Orlando City B had him in the running for June’s USL Goal of the Month. His 69th-minute strike from just outside the box easily made its way past Wilmington keeper Eric Ati.

Hoffman has once before in 2016 been named USL Player of the Week and made three previous appearances on the Team of the Week. Quinn had one other bench team spot.

From the USL’s Western Conference, Rio Grande Valley FC forward Memo Rodriguez was named the Player of the Week after scoring twice in a 4-0 win over Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2.

USL Team of the Week

GK – Cody Laurendi, OKC Energy FC: Laurendi helped Energy FC claim two victories, including a seven-save shutout in its 2-0 victory against Swope Park last Tuesday.

D – Lee Nishanian, LA Galaxy II: Nishanian scored the opening goal and put in a strong all-around performance as the Galaxy II earned a 4-1 win in Portland.

D – J.J. Greer, Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC: Greer’s late goal lifted the Switchbacks to a 1-0 victory against Sacramento Republic FC on Saturday night.

D – Isaiah Schafer, Tulsa Roughnecks FC: Schafer was strong at the center of defense as the Roughnecks claimed a 2-0 victory against Saint Louis FC.

M – Sunny Jane, Richmond Kickers: Jane capped a strong individual performance with a standout goal to help the Kickers take a 2-0 win in Pittsburgh.

M – Derrick Jones, Bethlehem Steel FC: Jones was solid in the center of midfield and scored the second goal in the Steel’s 3-0 win against Wilmington last Thursday.

M – Timo Pitter, OKC Energy FC: Pitter provided a spark off the bench with a goal and assist in Energy FC’s 2-0 win against the Swope Park Rangers.

M – Jose Barril, Harrisburg City Islanders: Barril gave the City Islanders the upper hand in the battle for the Keystone Derby Cup with a goal and assist in a 2-0 win at Pittsburgh.

F – Memo Rodriguez, Rio Grande Valley FC: Rodriguez struck twice as the Toros romped to a 4-0 victory against Vancouver last Wednesday night.

F – Chandler Hoffman, Louisville City FC: Hoffman scored twice to move into a tie for the league lead in goals with 14 this season in his side’s victory at Wilmington on Sunday.

F – Darwin Jones, Seattle Sounders FC 2: Jones had a pair of goals, including the game-winner, as Seattle took a thrilling 3-2 victory on the road against Arizona.

Bench: Ryan Meara (NY), Kevin Garcia (RGV), Rafael Castillo (SA), Jordan Schweitzer (SEA), Aodhan Quinn (LOU), Gustavo Villalobos (TUL), Christian Volesky (ROC).

Entering arguably the biggest week so far of the United Soccer League season, Louisville City FC remains the team to beat.

With a 4-1 win Sunday over the Wilmington Hammerheads, “Louisville looked back to its normal self,” wrote the USL’s Nicholas Murray, who assembles the USL’s weekly power rankings.

LouCity came in at No. 2 on Murray’s list, one position better than a week ago and behind only the New York Red Bulls II.

The club sits atop the USL’s Eastern Conference standings, however, and will remain there regardless of Wednesday’s result between the Red Bulls and FC Cincinnati, the Nos. 2 and 3 teams on the table. Then Saturday, LouCity travels to play Cincinnati as well.

“City’s 17-game undefeated streak is getting close to some of the longest in USL history, but will be challenged this Saturday as the final regular-season edition of the River Cities Cup arrives at Cincinnati’s Nippert Stadium,” Murray wrote.

The 2013 Richmond Kickers opened their season by playing 22 straight matches unbeaten, marking a USL record.

Maintaining its own streak could be key to Louisville fending off the Red Bulls, who are four points back in the league standings but have a pair of games in hand. LouCity’s only defeat this year came by a 2-0 score to New York on April 2. The club gets a rematch Aug. 19 in New York.

In numerical-based Eastern Conference power rankings assembled by Indomitable City Soccer, an SB Nation blog, LouCity holds the top spot and “keeps on moving further up the ratings with each coming week.” An Elo Ratings system that takes into account factors such as margin of victory and home field advantage registered Louisville at 1,173 ahead of New York’s 1,158 and Cincinnati’s 1,139.

A Louisville City FC game will for the first time Saturday air on a local network affiliate, as official club partner WLKY Channel 32 has picked up the broadcast of LouCity at FC Cincinnati.

The final regular-season meeting between the new USL rivals starts at 4 p.m. inside Nippert Stadium, where earlier this year more than 20,000 fans — including a large traveling contingent from Louisville — watched the clubs’ opening clash.

“Working in partnership with WLKY to bring Louisville City and professional soccer into more homes is a tremendous opportunity to showcase our sport and club,” said Louisville City FC president Amanda Duffy. “For fans and viewers across the region to have television access to Louisville City home and away matches is significant to the growth of our organization and USL as a whole.”

WLKY, Louisville’s CBS affiliate, will deliver an HD broadcast to the Greater Louisville DMA. Its sister station, MeTV, earlier this season aired LouCity’s draw with the Pittsburgh Riverhounds as well as the FC Cincinnati matchup played in front of 10,062 fans at Louisville Slugger Field.

Saturday’s game will mark a homecoming for Louisville FC right back Kyle Smith, a Cincinnati native and Transylvania University graduate. On April 16, LouCity’s Chandler Hoffman registered a hat trick in a 3-2 win in the club’s other showdown at Nippert.

Now, Hoffman is tied for the scoring lead (14 goals) and Smith for assists (6) in the 29-team USL. The two LouCity stars were recently named USL Midseason MVP and Rookie of the Year, respectively. Cincinnati features Midseason Goalkeeper of the Year Mitch Hildebrandt.

“LouCity’s rivalry with Cincy has become one of the best rivalries in the USL,” said WLKY President and General Manager, Glenn Haygood, “and WLKY is proud to broadcast live coverage of this important road game for our passionate fans.”

LouCity will carry into Saturday first-place standing in the USL’s Eastern Conference at 12-1-6 (42 points) after knocking off Wilmington Hammerheads FC by a 4-1 score Sunday night. The club is unbeaten in 17 straight USL matches.

FC Cincinnati, third in the Eastern Conference, first hosts New York Red Bulls II on Wednesday.

WILMINGTON, N.C. — Up a goal at the half, Louisville City FC’s players walked to the locker room Sunday to a familiar message from coach James O’Connor.

“I thought as if we had to take our opportunities,” O’Connor said. “If you look at the chances we had, we needed to score a lot more goals.”

That’s what LouCity did, netting three shots in the final 45 minutes of a 4-1 win over the Wilmington Hammerheads. It marked the club’s 17th straight game unbeaten in United Soccer League play.

Louisville also remained undefeated in road games this season by playing to strengths. Striker Chandler Hoffman stepped up to score on a penalty kick in the 64th minute before captain Aodhan Quinn’s free kick heroics returned on a rocket in the just five minutes later.

“Chandler’s cool as can be, and he put it away, and that’s great,” said Quinn, a midfielder. “The free kick — that’s always nice to get a goal and help the team win.”

Hoffman rounded out the scoring in the 80th minute, set up by help from right back Kyle Smith. On the goal, Hoffman moved into a tie for the USL lead in goals (14) and Smith did the same in assists (6).

“I thought there were some big performances tonight,” O’Connor added. “I think we can be very pleased with our mentality and the way that we played.”

A victory came down to more than the club’s regular stat stuffers.

Following a deflected shot off a corner by George Davis IV in the first half, Smith passed to Tarek Morad, who played a pretty cross into the box. Midfielder Guy Abend headed in his third goal of the season in the 12th minute to move LouCity ahead.

Wilmington’s only answer to the late Louisville flurry was on a penalty kick of the Hammerheads’ own. Bruno Perone wiped out the clean sheet in the 88th minute, spoiling an otherwise spotless day by goalkeeper Greg Ranjitsingh, who recorded a pair of saves and thwarted a number of other Wilmington chances.

“We just knew we were up one-nil but needed to get another one, at least, to put the game away,” Quinn said of halftime. “Luckily, we came out strong and got three more goals. Unlucky for us to give away the (penalty kick) at the end. I think it’s a good attitude and result after that Charleston game.”

First-place LouCity ran its record to 12-6-1, good for 42 points, four better than New York Red Bulls II. The Red Bulls, who have a pair of games in hand, play third-place FC Cincinnati in a midweek game between Louisville travels to take on its nearby rival Saturday.

LouCity will look to build upon a performance in which it scored on four of seven recorded shots.

“We’re really confident every time we step on the pitch,” Quinn said. “We work really hard in training every week, so we know whenever we have a good week of training it translates to the game. So far it’s been that way this season.”

Summary

Match: Wilmington Hammerheads FC vs. Louisville City FC

Date: July 17, 2016

Venue: Legion Stadium

Kickoff: 6 p.m.

Weather: Partly cloudy, 85 degrees

Attendance: 2,927

Man of the Match: Chandler Hoffman

Scoring Summary

Wilmington Hammerheads FC (0 , 1, 1)

LouCity (1, 3, 4)

Lineups

Louisville City FC: 13-Greg Ranjitsinngh, 24-Kyle Smith, 18-Paco Craig, 6-Tarek Morad (28′ 5-Conor Shanosky), 2-Ben Newnam, 4-Aodhan Quinn, 8-Guy Abend, 11-Niall McCabe (36-Paolo DelPiccolo), 7-Kadeem Dacres, 17-Chandler Hoffman, 22-George Davis IV (57′ 12-Mark-Anthony Kaye).

Subs not used: 28-Tim Dobrowolski, 14-Ilija Ilic, 20-Enrique Montano.

Head coach: James O’Connor

Wilmington Hammerheads FC: 16-Eric Ati, 18-Stefan Defregger (54′ 25-Ferrety Sousa), 2-Tom Parratt (67′ 4-Michael Mechan), 23-Bruno Perone, 47-Ashani Fairclough, 20-Zev Taublieb, 14-Logan Miller, 10-Justin Moose, 7-Austin Martz (79′ 22-Kyle Parker), 12-Casey Townsend (54′ 9-Matthew Barnes Homer), 19 Jeff Michaud (62′ 11-Qudus Lawal).

Subs not used: 1-John Smits, 6-Liam Miller.

Head coach: Mark Briggs

Stats Summary: Wilmington / LouCity

Shots: 7 / 7

Saves: 4 / 2 

Corner Kicks: 6 / 6 

Fouls: 11 / 9

Offside: 0 / 2

Officials

Referee: Caleb Mendez

Assistant Referee 1: Patrick Schmidt

Assistant Referee 2: Jordan Davis

4th Official: Patrick Whitman