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Louisville Maintains Focus in Attacking Surge

By NICHOLAS MURRAY - nicholas.murray@uslsoccer.com, 08/24/17, 1:43PM EDT

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Second five-goal victory of August sends team top of Eastern Conference


Photo courtesy Em-Dash Photography / Louisville City FC

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Going into a contest against a Harrisburg City Islanders side that hadn’t scored in five consecutive games, and had suffered three consecutive defeats, there was the potential for some complacency in Louisville City FC’s performance on Wednesday night.

When he saw how his team was building up to kickoff, though, City Head Coach James O’Connor knew he didn’t have much to be worried about.

“There was a steely determination from the onset for us to get out there,” said O’Connor “I’m looking at us in the warmup — we were really sharp, really crisp. My hope was that was how we would start the game, and we did. We started really well—moved the ball very, very good.”

Louisville’s second 5-0 home victory in August saw the side move to the top of the Eastern Conference, as three goals in the opening half-hour paved the way to victory. With recent goal-scoring standout Luke Spencer given the night off as O’Connor rotated his lineup once again as the side goes through a busy week, five different players found the net against Harrisburg, with Ilija Ilic and Niall McCabe both chipping in a goal and assist.


Photo courtesy Em-Dash Photography / Louisville City FC

After the team’s 20 goal-burst over six games since its 4-1 win against Saint Louis FC on July 22, Louisville is now fourth in the USL with 44 goals this season. After topping the 50-goal mark in each of its first two seasons, the club remains on course to do so again despite this season not yet featuring an individual in the top 10 in the league’s race for the Golden Boot.

“We have some players that can score goals for sure, like you can see throughout the team, Ilija scoring tonight,” said McCabe. “Luke’s scoring. Cam [Lancaster’s] scoring. Mark [Kaye’s] scoring. Everyone’s chipping in — all kind of chipping in good bunches too. When you have players like that, and the team we have, you’re always capable of scoring goals.”

Those goals have helped propel Louisville to the top of the Eastern Conference, with its 13th win of the season giving it the edge over the Charlotte Independence for first as the teams prepare for action on Saturday.

Not that the players are admitting to paying too much attention to the standings, lest they draw O’Connor’s wrath.

“Yeah, I think the guys probably sneak a peek,” said captain Paolo DelPiccolo. “I don’t sneak any. Make sure James hears that. It’s not me.

“More [Niall McCabe],” DelPiccolo added, jokingly, “he’s always got his phone out.”

After reaching the Eastern Conference Final of the USL Cup Playoffs each of the past two seasons, O’Connor’s focus remains inward, and a clash with his former teammate and Orlando City B Head Coach Anthony Pulis on Saturday.

“My focus now is Orlando – massive game against Orlando,” said O’Connor. “Very good coach in Anthony, very good players, so I’m already dialed into that.”

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