Early season update

Both of our Louisville professional soccer sides are 10 league games into their 2025 seasons, and that is enough time to discuss some “early season” observations. Louisville City so far is still unbeaten in the USL Championship, though they have suffered defeats in the U.S. Open Cup and most recently in the Jagermeister Cup. Racing Louisville are sitting in the last playoff spot off a run of good form after a so-so start to the year. Yet, this post is going to be about how I am disappointed and frustrated with LouCity, but genuinely intrigued and excited for Racing. None of this feels right.

Through 10 games, City are sitting second in the East and the last unbeaten USL Championship team. They have only conceded 5 goals all season in league play, three fewer than the next closest team. They have, once again, without a doubt one of the most talented rosters in the league. The problem: they aren’t playing like one of the most talented and deepest teams in the league.
This City team has played very disconnected and disjointed this year. There hasn’t been the same chemistry and fluidity, and too many misplaced passes and times where they seem to be on cruise control. The team lacks consistency, and a perfect example is their last two games: a dominant performance on the road at Monterey, then a sleepy, lethargic effort on the road at Loudoun. Overall I am not seeing a hunger from this side to address how last season ended. If anything, they still look like they are reeling a bit from how last season ended. I have not witnessed much leadership or cohesiveness, just brilliant individuals not combining
The biggest trouble area has been the lack of production from the attack, specifically our strikers. Philip Goodrum was handed the keys to the attack with Wilson Harris’ departure and has produced only two goals. That is a problem, and he should be questioned for it, but at the same time, we need to look at the attack as a whole. Louisville City is arguably the deepest and most talented in the league, and in this case I think it is actually a detriment. Coach Cruz has been rotating attackers between Adrian Perez, Ray Serrano, Jansen Wilson, and others, and there is no way for players to build form and consistency with different lineups every game. City’s front 3 has struggled because there is not a defined front 3 . Overall one thing I would like to see is Danny solidify his best XI and run it out consistently.
The team did bring Cam Lancaster back on loan to assist with our production woes, but I actually believe we need to be scouring the waiver wire for midfield help. Zach Duncan, the midfield starter next to Taylor Davila, went down early in the season and likely won’t be back this year. This has led to the emergence of Evan Davila as a serviceable option and the realization that Kevon Lambert is utterly useless. Lambert, on loan from MLS Real Salt Lake, has not fit into the side well and has yet to truly have a solid game. He is a yellow card waiting to happen. City need to find some depth in the midfield, and I love Niall McCabe, but right now he is great for cameo appearances only.
I know the first comment will be: what about our injuries??? BREAKING NEWS: Louisville City has multiple injuries once again! Did you see where I wrote “once again?” City deals with this every year, especially concerning our Lord and Savior, Brian Ownby. The squad has struggled to get Jake Morris healthy and, as mentioned above, Duncan is out for the year. This is nothing new for the franchise.
A major positive is the improvement and maturation of Damian Las. Sure, he has still had a few boneheaded and immature moments, but on the whole the young man has grown from a solid shotstopper to a very solid keeper. Taylor Davila has continued his upward trajectory as a facilitator and maestro of our midfield. Amadou Dia has been solid having to deputize a ton of minutes at left-back. There are positives to be had, but I am not seeing the hallmarks of previous City sides: toughness, confidence, and dominance.

This has been a weird Racing Louisville season. They started the year as the same old Racing that would provide glimpses of skill and strength for a half, then fold for the next 45 minutes, as they did in the season opener at Lynn. It looked to be another lost season after a 4-1 massacre by the San Diego Wave at Lynn, where Racing didn’t even appear to be in the same league as the Wave. Then Racing started playing professional soccer. Racing drew Portland on the road in very controversial circumstances, and then won 3 of their next 4 to jump back in to the playoff conversation.
I cannot point to a single tactical change or idea that promulgated this rise in form. It hasn’t even been just getting results and points, Racing is playing attractive attacking soccer with 9 goals scored over their last 5 games. Emma Sears has 5 goals on the season and by all appearances has taken the Sophomore step up. Kayla Fischer, thrust into the starting striker role with Balcer taking time away, and Savannah Demelo have both put in two apiece. Demelo had to be stretchered off early in the year with fatigue and her heart racing and thankfully news has come out that is a medical condition that her and medical professionals are working to get under control. Overall, Racing has been vicious and clinical on breaks and has shown some attacking flair that has been missing.
Katie Lund will miss the rest of the season, but if you listen closely, you can hear Jordyn Bloomer taking the starting keeper job and running with it. She has been vocal coordinating the backline in front of her and it will be interesting to see the decision made when Lund comes back healthy.
Speaking of health, this Racing Louisville side needs some depth. Coach Yanez was notoriously skimpy last season in using subs and that has carried over to this year. That could be tactical choices, or a lack of faith in her options off the bench, but either way something will have to change or our starting XI will get exhausted quickly. Our rookies: Ella Hase, Sarah Weber, and Katie O’Kane have produced quality minutes, but not much statistical production so far. Hopefully this group can get a bump if Bethany Balcer returns sometime this season.
Overall Racing has once again produced a bipolar, inconsistent season, but with the arrow trending upward right now. They need to prove they can play consistently, and play consistently well at that, because we have seen their numerous poor stretches. This is their longest stretch of positive results, but comes at the cost of Fischer sitting out 3 games for a straight red.