LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Saturday night is ‘Salute to Heroes’ night for Louisville City FC as it plays host to the Charleston Battery in a meeting of two of the top three teams in the USL Eastern Conference.

For Louisville forward Luke Spencer, the tribute touches close to home.

“I was born on a military base in Augsburg, Germany,” said Spencer. “My dad was in the Army and his dad had served in the Army, so that means a lot to me. It built and provided security for my family for a long time, and I’m able to reap the rewards from that. It’s definitely very important to me and my family.”

In terms of heroics for City of late, Spencer has been at the forefront for the Eastern Conference’s leaders. Nominated for the USL Player of the Month award for August after recording four goals and three assists for Louisville, the powerful forward has come into his own in his second professional season.

Spencer’s aerial ability has caught the eye, but his all-around play also proved key as Louisville put together a three-game winning streak to move into first in the conference ahead of the Charlotte Independence and Battery.

“He’s someone that is very coachable, listens, has a lot of hunger, a lot of desire to get better,” said Louisville Head Coach James O’Connor of Spencer. “Someone that not just myself and the coaching staff, but everybody — all the players — have such tremendous respect for him because of the way he handles himself.”

Spencer’s prowess in the air will be well met by the Battery’s defense on Saturday, with the regular combination of center backs Taylor Mueller and Forrest Lasso one of the best at dealing with crossed deliveries in the USL. Both Mueller (64) and Lasso (55) sit in the top five in the league in headed clearances, and form the base of a strong spine that runs through the Battery’s lineup.

“Charleston have been renowned for being very tough opponents,” said O’Connor. “I think when you look at the job [Battery Head Coach] Mike’s [Anhaeuser] done, it’s a fantastic job. They’ve got really good players. Again, they’re not in the position they are in the league by being a bad team. They’re a really good team.”

Neither side will be at full strength for Saturday’s game, with Charleston’s leading scorer Romario Williams and Louisville’s midfielder duo of Mark-Anthony Kaye and Speedy Williams all on international duty as Canada hosts Jamaica in Toronto on Saturday night. With the chance Kaye (Canada) and Speedy Williams (Jamaica) could square off at some point in the contest, some Louisville fans might have half-an-eye on BMO Field as well as the action at Slugger Field.

For Louisville, though, a pair of factors could tilt things in their favor: City has taken victory both times the teams have met in the USL Cup Playoffs over the past two seasons, and have rebounded to take victory after each of its prior four defeats in the league this season. The Battery figure to test both of those narratives after the teams played to a pair of draws at MUSC Health Stadium earlier this season.

“Big game,” said midfielder George Davis IV. “Approach it just like every other game, trying to get three points. Charleston, they’ve been around the top of the table — well-respected team, good group of guys, very experienced, so hopefully we can have another good rebound performance and get three points from it.”

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After last weekend’s loss to Orlando City B, only the second for Louisville on home turf this season, Spencer and his teammates are aiming for another strong response.

“Every season has its ups and downs,” said Spencer. “You’re going to go through some times when you’re hurt, injured, and it’s just being mentally tough and battling through it. Taking the wins and the losses is part of it. Just trying to stay in the middle – not get too high or too low.”