Loucity recap and racing preview

Louisville City began its 2025 campaign in one of the hardest ways possible in my book: taking on a conference rival at their place. While it is LouCity, and there is a standard to expect, it is also the first game of a new season and that comes with it shaking off the rust and ironing out the kinks. There is a reason college football teams normally schedule lower level opponents early on in the year, and it is so they can ease into their season with minimal stress and get into a groove sooner. What the hell am I talking about? LouCity walked into Charleston’s stadium and made them play to City’s gameplan. This was a Danny Cruz and Louisville city masterclass.
The starting XI was Las, Adams, Ordonez, Totsch, Dia, Manny Perez, Davila, Zach Duncan, Jansen, Serrano, and Goodrum. The only questions/comments I had on the starting lineup was a little surprise that Dia started over Jake Morris and that Adrien Perez didn’t start in the attack. I also think who is paired with Taylor Davila in the midfield will be a game by game discussion. When the game requires a more physical presence, we will see Kevon Lambert paired with him. When the game requires a bit more finesse, you will see the combo of Zach Duncan/Carlos Moguel in the discussion next to Davila.
The conditions in Charleston were less than ideal with the pitch being very slick, even though temperatures were in the high 60’s. The first half saw both sides fire off warning shots that forced their respective keepers into action, but neither team could break the deadlock.
The 53rd minute saw Ray Serrano latch on to loose ball in the box and put home a left-footed shot to open the scoring and cap off a sustained push by City. Amadou Dia placed a key header back into the box as part of the buildup and Serrano slotted his shot across the face of goal and into the far corner.
Charleston answered back roughly ten minutes later as Adams committed a yellow-card infringement outside the box that gave the Battery a free kick. The ensuing free kick found the back of the net after a City player, who I believe was Manny Perez whiffed on a header and the ball bounced past a diving Damien Las. Las was left in no man’s land to prevent the goal as it bounced near the penalty spot and went in far post.
The game would change again in the 69th as Charleston’s Rodriguez would be shown a straight red for an elbow on Aiden McFadden. It was a bit of a harsh straight red, but there was contact to the head with McFadden, and Aiden provided a solid performance to sell it. After numerous reffing decisions not benefitting City in the past, I’ll take any we can get!
Adrien Perez entered the game soon after and proceeded to do Adrien Perez things. He was slipped a pass by Totsch in the 76th, took a couple dribbles, and then unleashed a shot from well outside the box that skipped right before the keeper and went in near side. If we have a healthy season from Adrien, you can expect more classy finishes just like that!
City would see the 2-1 win out and post a statement victory in week 1. Sure City has some things to work on, like playing out of the back, but overall it was a great performance. They made Charleston play their game. City gave up 64% of the possession, but only 20% of that was spent in LouCity’s defensive third. Both of Charleston’s shots on goal came in the first half, and even with only 36% possession, City had 3 more shots on goal with 5 total. This was a declaration by this side that they are back for vengeance after the way last season ended.
City will now travel to Birmingham, who got demolished 3-1 by Loudoun in week 1, but with less than ideal weather on the way, as the game has already been pushed from Saturday night to Sunday afternoon.

Racing Louisville opens their season Saturday at 5pm at Lynn hosting the North Carolina Courage and newly acquired Jaedyn Shaw. If the game proceeds at the current schedule, it will likely be a soggy soccer Saturday night as rain is forecasted to begin Friday night and continue thru Saturday night. My singular question for Saturday is how will Racing line up?
My best guess is Lund, Milliet, Wright, Ellie Jean, Petersen, Flint, Borges, DeMelo, Sonis (Beckie), Sears, and Balcer. The “for sure’s”/written in sharpie in this lineup are Lund, Milliet, Wright (named Captain), Flint, DeMelo, Sears, Sonis (Asst. Captain), and Balcer. That is the core of this squad. Bev did favor Marissa DiGrande next to Flint last year, but that was also with Ary once again injured and on the mend. If Borges is healthy, and let’s hope that is finally the case for a whole season, then maybe we can see sustained impact from her.
I’m also assuming Elli Pikkujamsa is still recovering from her season-ending injury last year, so that means a likely pairing of Arin Wright and Ellie Jean at the back.
Courtney Petersen was the consistent starter at Left Back after being acquired late last season, so I assume the position is hers to start the year, but I am intrigued by rookie Ella Hase on the left side who recorded 13 assists last year for Duke.
Bethany Balcer will have the job up top after being acquired at the trade deadline last year, but I became a big Kayla Fischer believer once she started getting some minutes up top last year. Fischer went from a yellow card waiting to happen to an impactful super sub that showed dynamism and toughness. I am not at all advocating Kayla start over Balcer, but Fischer shouldn’t be relegated to just a bench role.
Overall I am approaching this Racing season with hope, but assuming after a lackluster offseason, that not much will change. This roster is built on a lot of hope: Hope Ary plays a full year, hope DeMelo rediscovers her USWNT ways, hope one of our rookies has an Emma Sears-like campaign. This team has quality. Taylor Flint was one of the league’s best midfielders last year. Emma Sears has speed you cannot teach. Balcer historically is one of the best at finishing. This franchise has never been able to put it all together though, and I still have questions about Bev and her tactics. Is this the year they finally break out of 9th place? Or is this the year that 9th would have looked amazing? We will soon find out!