Daniel Karell

The Courier-Journal

Louisville City FC is turning up the heat on the rivalry between it and FC Cincinnati.

The club announced Thursday morning it has signed Cincinnati native and former FC Cincinnati forward Luke Spencer for the upcoming season. The 26-year-old forward served as the backup to United Soccer League MVP Sean Okoli.

“Luke gives us another option,” Louisville City coach James O’Connor said in a statement. “He’s different from Cameron (Lancaster) and Ilija (Ilic), which I think is important. He’s probably more of an attacking forward. This gives us three strikers with different strengths.”

Spencer, a former draft pick of the New England Revolution, starred for Xavier University but suffered a torn ACL in preseason camp with the Revolution in 2013 and needed successive knee surgeries before recovering by 2015. He spent a season as a volunteer assistant coach with the Musketeers before signing with FC Cincinnati ahead of the 2016 season.

“You might have to move around a little bit, but it’s worth it when you find the right place,” Spencer said. “James is an intense coach. He’s going to get the most out of you and everyone else on the field.”

MORE: Midfielder Andrew Lubahn leaving Louisville City FC

Spencer becomes the first player to swap Cincinnati for Louisville after former Louisville City originals Kadeem Dacres and Aodhan Quinn signed with FC Cincinnati during the offseason. Spencer also joins Louisville City right back Kyle Smith as Cincinnati natives on the roster.

“I have a lot of friends on the other team, so we’re already talking back and forth,” Spencer said of his former club. “Getting a chance to play them three times should be fun.”

The latest signing takes Louisville City's roster to 19 players ahead of the team's departure on Saturday for two weeks of preseason training at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla.