It’s ‘A Step Back’ for LouCity in Preseason Draw with Lexington SC

February 18, 2024 – United Soccer League Championship (USL) – Louisville City FC News Release

Louisville City FC vs. Lexington SC in preseason action
(Louisville City FC, Credit: EM Dash Photography)

Louisville City FC continued an unbeaten preseason Sunday, but it was a below-standards performance in the eyes of coach Danny Cruz.

LouCity played local USL League One rival Lexington SC to a scoreless draw at its Thurman Hutchins Park training ground three days after defeating Major League Soccer’s St. Louis CITY SC away.

“My biggest frustration is that it’s easy to get up for games in a beautiful stadium on a perfect field,” Cruz said. “Today, I didn’t feel we had the same intensity that we’ve had up to this point. We were poor with the ball on the day and didn’t finish our chances – three to four yards out that should be easy finishes.”

Cruz played different sets of 11 players in both halves, with the first group controlling the game but lacking a breakthrough goal. Jorge Gonzalez saw a point-blank shot saved at the back in post in the 18th minute before Brian Ownby was likewise turned away by the keeper in the 25th minute.

The second group played a more even game with Lexington. Chances were limited on both sides, though LouCity newcomer Jake Morris hit a shot off the post in the 49th minute, and Kyle Adams thwarted a Lexington look with a diving block in the box in the 58th.

Along with the St. Louis victory, LouCity had also drawn MLS’ Austin FC as well as defeated USL Championship foes El Paso Locomotive FC and Sacramento Republic FC heading into Sunday. But, Cruz said, the Lexington matchup was more “what USL games are like, where the field isn’t perfect and you have to be able to deal with that.

“You have to be able to continue pushing the way we’ve pushed to this point,” Cruz added. “For me, it was a step back today, not a step forward. Credit to Lexington, by the way. It’s going to be a good team this year for sure, so I’m not taking anything away from them. I’m more talking about our group and the things we need to do better.

“All in all, I’m not happy about it, and we’ll have to make sure we respond the right way.”

This marked the second-ever meeting between LouCity, which opens its 10th season in March, and Lexington, a second-year club. City prevailed in the 2023 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup when the sides clashed for the first time.

2024 Louisville City FC Preseason Schedule

Feb. 3 at Austin FC (D, 2-2)

Feb. 7 vs. El Paso Locomotive FC (W, 2-0)

Feb….