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NATIONAL SOCCER NEWS: www.nationalsoccernetwork.com
BY LOUISVILLE CITY FC COMMUNICATIONS
TUSCON, Ariz. – Carlos Moguel Jr. netted a free kick and Niall McCabe rocketed in a shot from distance Sunday afternoon as Louisville City FC came back to draw Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC, 2-2.
It was a high-level preseason clash in Tucson, Arizona, between the defending USL Championship Players’ Shield holder LouCity and USL league winner Colorado Springs.
About a quarter hour after Moguel Jr. halved a two-goal Switchbacks lead, McCabe scored an 88th-minute goal of a lifetime to level the score. Colorado Springs attempted to clear a corner kick, and the ball bounded to McCabe outside the top of the penalty arc. The veteran midfielder zipped a rising shot through traffic and into corner netting.
LouCity mounted its rally after a frustrating first half that saw chances created but not finished. Manny Perez forced an early save from the Colorado Springs goalkeeper in a one-on-one situation, Sam Gleadle couldn't make the most of a turnover in the Switchbacks’ half, and newcomer Zach Duncan put another try on target from the top of the box.
That allowed Colorado Springs to shift momentum with a 42nd-minute counterattack leading to Yosuke Hanya's opening goal. A trialist scored for the Switchbacks on the other side of the halftime break.
“We’ve been pushing the group extremely hard over the course of this camp, and we’ve been on the road for quite a bit of time," said coach Danny Cruz. “But this afternoon's performance wasn't up to the standard we have for each other. The positive is we were able to come back from being down two goals to zero. At the same time, we did not meet our expectations from both a work ethic and mentality standpoint.”
LouCity saw each of its roster players log minutes Sunday, which also marked Brian Ownby’s return to the pitch. The veteran winger played the opening 15 minutes as he continues to ease back from a season-long injury in 2024.
Late in the going, a LouCity Academy standout also saw the field when St. Xavier High School’s Brandon Dayes came on in relief of Kyle Adams in defense.
City’s out-of-town preseason tour concludes this week as the boys in purple travel to play Major League Soccer’s Seattle Sounders on Wednesday. The squad will then return to Louisville for the run up to its March 8 regular season opener.
2025 LOUISVILLE CITY FC PRESEASON SCHEDULE:
February 1 at Austin FC (L, 3-1)
February 5 vs. New Mexico United (D, 0-0)
February 9 vs. Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC (D, 2-2)
February 12 at Seattle Sounders FC
February 22 vs. Lexington SC
March 1 vs. Knoxville SC
Courtesy Photo | Connor Cunningham, Louisville City FC
About Louisville City FC: Since its first season in 2015, LouCity is the most successful club in the United Soccer League, with four Eastern Conference titles and two USL Championship trophies. The club is regularly among the USL Championship’s leaders in attendance, averaging about 10,000 fans per game at Lynn Family Stadium, the world-class facility LouCity shares with sister club Racing Louisville FC. The two professional teams are owned by Soccer Holdings, LLC, which oversees the LouCity & Racing Academy, with more than 1,500 school-aged children across three counties, and the charitable LouCity & Racing Foundation. |
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(Have a story suggestion for the Premier Media Group and the National Soccer Network regarding club/youth soccer, high school varsity, amateur soccer, collegiate soccer or professional soccer involving teams, players or coaches with ties to a particular state or states, contact Web and Content Editor/Director of News Dan Stickradt via email at dstickradt@thepremiermediagrp.com, or call 248-525-2349. Dan Stickradt is a 32-year veteran of the Michigan and national media circles and recently joined the staff full time at PMG in March of 2024. Want to schedule a broadcast game or live show, contact PMG/NSN Director of Broadcasting Jonathan Turner for availability and pricing at jonathan@thepremiermediagrp.com.)
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