# 2021 Louisville City FC season

The 2021 Louisville City FC season was the club's seventh season of competition. City competed in the USL Championship, the second tier of soccer in the United States.

## Background

The previous season was significantly altered due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Louisville City played one match to start the USL Championship season on March 7, 2020, before the season was suspended on March 12, 2020. Louisville City resumed the season on July 12, 2020, under an abbreviated 16-game season instead of 32. Stadium capacity was capped at 4,900; or about 31% of stadium capacity, to enforce social distancing measures.
Louisville City FC finished the truncated 2020 season with a record of 11–2–3, which was good enough to finish in first in Group E, first in the eastern conference, and second overall in the league. City reached the Eastern Conference Final, or semifinals of the USL Championship Playoffs before losing to the Tampa Bay Rowdies.
Cameron Lancaster led Louisville in scoring with 10 goals across all competitions, good enough for the fifth highest goal scoring tally in the league. Lancaster, along with league Goalkeeper of the Year Ben Lundt, defender Sean Totsch, and midfielder Speedy Williams, were named to the All-League First Team.

## Current squad

As of June 3, 2021
| No. | Position | Player | Nation |
| 1 | GK | Chris Hubbard | United States |
| 3 | DF | Alexis Souahy | France |
| 4 | DF | Sean Totsch | United States |
| 6 | DF | Wesley Charpie | United States |
| 7 | MF | Napo Matsoso | Lesotho |
| 8 | DF | Akil Watts | United States |
| 9 | FW | Jorge Gonzalez (on loan from Portland Timbers) | Spain |
| 10 | MF | Brian Ownby | United States |
| 11 | MF | Niall McCabe | Republic of Ireland |
| 12 | MF | Tyler Gibson | United States |
| 13 | MF | Corben Bone | United States |
| 14 | FW | Abdou Mbacke Thiam | Senegal |
| 15 | DF | Pat McMahon | United States |
| 16 | GK | Simon Lefebvre | France |
| 17 | FW | Cameron Lancaster | England |
| 19 | MF | Oscar Jimenez | United States |
| 20 | FW | Jimmy McLaughlin | United States |
| 21 | FW | Kyle Greig | United States |
| 22 | MF | George Davis IV | United States |
| 23 | MF | Elijah Wynder | United States |
| 24 | GK | Parker Siegfried | United States |
| 29 | MF | Antoine Hoppenot | France |
| 36 | MF | Paolo DelPiccolo | United States |
| 42 | DF | Jonathan Gómez | United States |
| 66 | DF | Joshua Wynder | United States |

## Competitions
### USL Championship

Louisville City entered the season coached by John Hackworth, who had been at the helm since August 2018. On April 27, 2021, it was announced that Hackworth and Louisville City had mutually terminated Hackworth's contract; Danny Cruz was named the interim head coach. On October 11, 2021, Cruz was named the permanent head coach.

#### Standings — Central Division

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Louisville City FC | 32 | 18 | 7 | 7 | 61 | 37 | +24 | 61 | Advance to USL Championship Playoffs |
| 2 | Birmingham Legion FC | 32 | 18 | 8 | 6 | 51 | 31 | +20 | 60 | Advance to USL Championship Playoffs |
| 3 | Memphis 901 FC | 32 | 14 | 10 | 8 | 47 | 42 | +5 | 50 | Advance to USL Championship Playoffs |
| 4 | FC Tulsa | 32 | 14 | 13 | 5 | 49 | 48 | +1 | 47 | Advance to USL Championship Playoffs |
| 5 | OKC Energy FC | 32 | 8 | 11 | 13 | 30 | 38 | −8 | 37 | |
| 6 | Indy Eleven | 32 | 9 | 15 | 8 | 32 | 47 | −15 | 35 | |
| 7 | Atlanta United 2 | 32 | 8 | 14 | 10 | 47 | 56 | −9 | 34 | |
| 8 | Sporting Kansas City II | 32 | 4 | 20 | 8 | 33 | 64 | −31 | 20 | |
* 1 2 The USL awarded a 3–0 win to Atlanta United 2 after Sporting Kansas City II fielded Jake Davis who was an ineligible player. The original score was 1–0 for Sporting Kansas City II.

#### Results summary

| Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away |
Last updated: October 30, 2021. Source: Match reports
| Round | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 |
| Stadium | H | H | H | H | A | H | H | A | H | A | A | H | H | A | A | H | H | H | A | A | H | A | A | A | A | A | H | H | A | A | H | A |
| Result | W | D | W | L | L | W | W | W | D | W | L | W | W | D | W | W | W | W | D | L | L | W | D | W | D | D | W | W | L | L | W | W |

#### Match results

For the 2021 USL Championship season, Louisville City was placed in the Central Division. The club played four matches against each divisional opponent (two home, two away), and four other matches against teams outside the division. Louisville City faced San Diego Loyal SC, Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC, and New Mexico United for the first time in their history. For the first time in their history, Louisville City completed a full-length regular season without a player being sent off, and without a multi-goal loss, accomplishments the team would sustain through the playoff run.

#### USL Cup Playoffs

The top four teams in each of the four USL Championship divisions advanced to the 2021 USL Championship Playoffs. Louisville City entered the playoffs as the top seed out of the Central Division, and second overall seed in the Eastern Conference.
| Conference Quarterfinals November 5–7 | Conference Quarterfinals November 5–7 | Conference Quarterfinals November 5–7 | | | Conference Semifinals November 13 | Conference Semifinals November 13 | Conference Semifinals November 13 | Conference Finals November 20 | Conference Finals November 20 | Conference Finals November 20 | | USL Championship Final November 28 | USL Championship Final November 28 | USL Championship Final November 28 |
| A1 | Tampa Bay Rowdies | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| C4 | FC Tulsa | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| C4 | FC Tulsa | 2 | | | A1 | Tampa Bay Rowdies | 1 | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | C2 | Birmingham Legion FC | 0 | | | | | | | |
| C2 | Birmingham Legion FC | w/o | | | C2 | Birmingham Legion FC | 0 | | | | | | | |
| A3 | Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| A3 | Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC | | | | | | | A1 | Tampa Bay Rowdies (a.e.t.) | 3 | | | | |
| Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference | A1 | Tampa Bay Rowdies (a.e.t.) | 3 | | | | |
| Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference | C1 | Louisville City FC | 2 | | | | |
| A2 | Charlotte Independence | 3 | | | | | | | | | C1 | Louisville City FC | 2 | | | | |
| C3 | Memphis 901 FC | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| C3 | Memphis 901 FC | 1 | | | A2 | Charlotte Independence | 0 | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | C1 | Louisville City FC | 1 | | | | | | | |
| C1 | Louisville City FC | 1 | | | C1 | Louisville City FC | 1 | | | | | | | |
| A4 | Miami FC | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| A4 | Miami FC | 0 | | | | | | | | | | A1 | Tampa Bay Rowdies | 1 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | P2 | Orange County SC | 3 |
| M1 | El Paso Locomotive FC | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | P2 | Orange County SC | 3 |
| P4 | Oakland Roots SC | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| P4 | Oakland Roots SC | 1 | | | P4 | Oakland Roots SC | 0 (5) | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | P2 | Orange County SC (p) | 0 (6) | | | | | | | |
| P2 | Orange County SC | 1 | | | P2 | Orange County SC (p) | 0 (6) | | | | | | | |
| M3 | Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| M3 | Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC | 0 | | | | | | P2 | Orange County SC (p) | 1 (5) | | | | |
| Western Conference | Western Conference | Western Conference | Western Conference | Western Conference | Western Conference | Western Conference | Western Conference | P2 | Orange County SC (p) | 1 (5) | | | | |
| Western Conference | Western Conference | Western Conference | Western Conference | Western Conference | Western Conference | Western Conference | Western Conference | M2 | San Antonio FC | 1 (3) | | | | |
| M2 | San Antonio FC | 2 | | | | | | | | | M2 | San Antonio FC | 1 (3) | | | | |
| P3 | San Diego Loyal SC | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| P3 | San Diego Loyal SC | 0 | | | M2 | San Antonio FC | 3 | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | M4 | Rio Grande Valley FC Toros | 1 | | | | | | | |
| P1 | Phoenix Rising FC | 3 (3) | | | M4 | Rio Grande Valley FC Toros | 1 | | | | | | | |
| M4 | Rio Grande Valley FC Toros (p) | 3 (4) | | | | | | | | | | | | |

### U.S. Open Cup

On March 29, 2021, the U.S. Soccer Federation announced a truncated format for the 2021 U.S. Open Cup. 16 clubs would participate, each entering at the same time in a Round of 16: 8 from MLS to be determined by league table position after three weeks of play; 4 from the USL Championship, specifically each conference finalist from the 2020 USL Championship Playoffs, including Louisville City; Greenville Triumph SC of USL League One; Detroit City FC of the NISA, and Open Division sides FC Golden State Force and Newtown Pride FC. All non-MLS sides would be drawn against an MLS side for the Round of 16. The competition would begin in May and conclude by the end of June.
On April 16, 2021, the U.S. Soccer Federation announced that the competition would not go forward in the spring as planned, and that it would evaluate holding the competition later in the year.
On July 20, 2021, in conjunction with announcing a tentative schedule for the 2022 U.S. Open Cup, the U.S. Soccer Federation also declared that the 2021 edition of the competition was officially cancelled.

## Player statistics
### Top scorers

| Place | Pos. | No. | Name | USL | USL Playoffs | Total |
| 1 | FW | 17 | Cameron Lancaster | 20 | 1 | 21 |
| 2 | MF | 36 | Paolo DelPiccolo | 9 | 0 | 9 |
| 3 | FW | 21 | Kyle Greig | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| 3 | MF | 10 | Brian Ownby | 4 | 1 | 5 |
| 5 | MF | 29 | Antoine Hoppenot | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| 5 | FW | 9 | Jorge Gonzalez | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| 7 | MF | 13 | Corben Bone | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| 7 | MF | 20 | Jimmy McLaughlin | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| 9 | DF | 42 | Jonathan Gomez | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 9 | DF | 6 | Wes Charpie | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 9 | MF | 7 | Napo Matsoso | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 12 | DF | 15 | Pat McMahon | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 12 | DF | 3 | Alexis Souahy | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 12 | MF | 19 | Oscar Jimenez | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| - | - | - | Opponent Own Goals | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Total | Total | Total | Total | 61 | 4 | 65 |

### Assist leaders

| Place | Pos. | No. | Name | USL | USL Playoffs | Total |
| 1 | MF | 10 | Brian Ownby | 10 | 0 | 10 |
| 2 | DF | 42 | Jonathan Gomez | 8 | 0 | 8 |
| 3 | MF | 13 | Corben Bone | 6 | 1 | 7 |
| 4 | MF | 29 | Antoine Hoppenot | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| 4 | MF | 19 | Oscar Jimenez | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| 6 | FW | 21 | Kyle Greig | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 6 | MF | 11 | Niall McCabe | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 6 | DF | 3 | Alexis Souahy | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 6 | DF | 15 | Pat McMahon | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 10 | MF | 22 | George Davis IV | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 10 | MF | 36 | Paolo DelPiccolo | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 10 | DF | 6 | Wes Charpie | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 10 | DF | 8 | Akil Watts | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 10 | FW | 14 | Abdou Mbacke Thiam | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Total | Total | Total | Total | 42 | 2 | 44 |

### Clean sheets

| Place | Pos. | No. | Name | USL | USL Playoffs | Total |
| 1 | GK | 1 | Chris Hubbard | 6 | 2 | 8 |
| 2 | GK | 24 | Parker Siegfried | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Total | Total | Total | Total | 7 | 2 | 9 |

### Disciplinary

The 2021 season was Louisville City's first full-length campaign without having a player sent off. However, the club accumulated more yellow cards than any previous season.
| No. | Pos. | Name | USL | USL Playoffs | Total |
| 36 | MF | Paolo DelPiccolo | 9 | 1 | 10 |
| 42 | MF | Jonathan Gómez | 8 | 1 | 9 |
| 10 | MF | Brian Ownby | 7 | 2 | 9 |
| 11 | MF | Niall McCabe | 7 | 1 | 8 |
| 15 | DF | Pat McMahon | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| 29 | MF | Antoine Hoppenot | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| 21 | FW | Kyle Greig | 4 | 1 | 5 |
| 3 | DF | Alexis Souahy | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| 7 | MF | Napo Matsoso | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| 22 | MF | George Davis IV | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| 4 | DF | Sean Totsch | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| 66 | DF | Joshua Wynder | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| 19 | MF | Oscar Jimenez | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| 1 | GK | Chris Hubbard | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 8 | DF | Akil Watts | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 6 | DF | Wes Charpie | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 9 | FW | Jorge Gonzalez | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 17 | FW | Cameron Lancaster | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 13 | MF | Corben Bone | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 12 | MF | Tyler Gibson | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 20 | MF | Jimmy McLaughlin | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Total | Total | Total | 77 | 8 | 85 |