May 25, 2024 – United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Louisville City FC News Release
Louisville City FC with possession against Rhode Island FC
(Louisville City FC, Credit: Jacob Rhodes)
Louisville City FC failed to score in a game this year for the first time Saturday. But a stout defensive effort in a 0-0 draw at Rhode Island FC – a USL Championship newcomer for 2024 – left LouCity’s unbeaten streak in tact.
City didn’t concede a single shot on target at Beirne Stadium in Smithfield, Rhode Island, where the boys in purple scratched out another result. They’ve gone a season-long five games now without a loss dating back to early April.
LouCity improved to 7-1-2 with its 23 points four off the Eastern Conference-leading Charleston Battery. City also holds a pair of games in hand on Charleston.
“We knew this game, here at this this place against this team was going to be a fight,” said coach Danny Cruz. “When you look at all their games they’ve played up to this point at home, I think three of five have been 0-0 games. The field makes it difficult to play the way we want to play. But zero shots on target – I thought the players definitely put in a shift and left it all on the field.
“We needed to be better in the final third for sure in our decision making and quality technically, but again, you could tell that was the case for both teams.”
LouCity played its way into Saturday’s game after a few frantic moments to open, including a 23rd-minute sequence when the boys in purple lost possession in their own half. Noah Fuson went on to hammer a shot off the post, and City cleared the chance – Rhode Island’s best look of the day.
RIFC became the second LouCity opponent of the season not to generate a shot on frame following City’s dominant, 6-0 win over Hartford Athletic back on April 27.
“We were definitely, after last week, focused on the defensive side of things,” midfielder Taylor Davila said going back to a 2-2 draw at Las Vegas Lights FC. “We all felt we were pretty solid today. They’re a tough team. Those forwards up top present tough challenges, and we dealt with them well. We felt we were tough to break down today and solid defensively.”
However, LouCity’s normally explosive attack didn’t click at the other end. Ray Serrano (seventh minute) and Adrien Perez (28th) both scuffed shots on goal in the first half. And while Wilson Harris hit the back of the net in the second half as Rhode Island failed to clear a corner kick, there was nothing to celebrate….