When the referee blew the final whistle Tuesday night at Slugger Field, Louisville City FC forward Cameron Lancaster pulled his jersey over his mouth, put his hands on his hips and glanced down at the pitch.

Three years ago, he was sidelined as his teammate, Matt Fondy, set the United Soccer League record for goals in a season. But now, after scoring both goals in a 2-1 win over North Carolina FC, he has the USL and team record to himself with 24.

"I was just thinking back to my first season (with Louisville City in 2015). I had just torn my ACL," the 25-year-old London native said. "Four years on, after I was just sitting in the stands watching that happen, I've just done it myself. It was a lot of pride and it was quite an emotional moment for me."

He's no longer the teenaged prospect in England's top soccer league. But he's also not the castaway that was told by his agent that his tryout with Louisville City was his last shot.

"I've always had beliefs in myself that I could do great things playing football," Lancaster said. "I've always had that self-confidence even coming here, with this being my sort of last chance to get something going. ... It's a bit of a surprise to an extent but I'm not too shocked that I'm having the season that I've had."

A fast-rising star

Lancaster started his career in the Tottenham Hotspur academy. He made his Premier League debut in 2012 at age 19, even before one of his academy teammates, Harry Kane, who is now captain of the England national team.

But that short appearance as a substitute against Wigan Athletic turned out to be his last. He was on the bench for one more game but then suffered a groin injury that sidelined him for months. He eventually was released by Tottenham in 2014.

"Injuries were a part of it. But in hindsight, I probably could have worked a little bit harder here and there," Lancaster said of what he felt went wrong with Tottenham.

After that, he scored two goals in 11 games with lower-tier English clubs, Stevenage and St Albans City. Then, Lancaster's agent arranged for him to try out for Louisville City for its inaugural season in 2015.

"My agent said that if this didn't work out, then I probably wouldn't be playing football at the moment," Lancaster said Thursday.

Lancaster made the club and scored the game-winner in the club's first ever match — a preseason game against the Indiana Hoosiers. But then he tore his ACL in practice, ending his season in April.

It was during his rehab in 2015 that he watched as Fondy set the previous USL single-single season record with 22 goals.

Lancaster returned and battled more injuries. But he was able to score the biggest goal in Louisville City's history — a game-winning, last-minute score in last year's USL Cup.

That success carried over to this year, and Lancaster attributed it to just being able to stay on the field.

"Things have sort of aligned for me this season," he said. "I always knew if I played games consistently ... that this sort of season would be able to happen. And thankfully it has."

A 'phenomenal' 'wonder strike'

After tying the record with goal No. 22 on Oct. 5 against Toronto FC II, Lancaster admitted that adding No. 23 was in the back of his head heading into Tuesday night.

The record-setting strike was, in his coach's words, "phenomenal." After he missed a pair of short-range chances in the first half, Lancaster opted to test his luck with a long drive several steps beyond the 18-yard box to open the second half.

The 47th-minute shot rocketed off Lancaster's right foot and curled over the outstretched arm of North Carolina goalie Alex Tambakis. It ripped the top-left corner of the net, tying the game at one.

"Those sort of goals, as soon as you hit one you sort of know it's going to be a decent attempt," Lancaster said. "I shot it and it felt good. I looked up and by the time I looked up it was in the back of the net."

Louisville City defender Paco Craig, who earned the assist, called it a "wonder strike."

"I saw Cam free. I was thinking, ‘Let me get it to him. Let me just run in from behind and pass on the front foot,’ basically," Craig said. "I was just trying to be aggressive on the attack and luckily it paid off."

Thirty-seven minutes of game-time later, Lancaster added the game-winner for Louisville City — a tap-in at the far post on a cross from midfielder Ilija Illic. When the whistle blew a few minutes later, the single-season record had been set at 24 goals.

After a moment to himself, he was swarmed for hugs by his teammates. But then he exited the field, high-fived the fans, and went back to the locker room.

Known for being quiet — he said "I'm not going to change the way I am" — Lancaster opted to address his accomplishments with his teammates and not in interviews.

"I just kept it short and sweet," he said when asked about his speech. "If it wasn't down to everyone pushing me, especially them, I probably wouldn't be having the season that I'm having at the moment. It's a reflection of everyone on the team that I'm having this sort of success at the moment."

Planning for the future

Louisville City has one regular season game left on Saturday against Indy Eleven. Then it opens the playoffs at home as the Eastern Conference's No. 2 seed on Oct. 20.

Lancaster acknowledged the team will have a target on its back as the defending champions.

"We're not too sure who we've got in the first game of the playoffs, but at the same it doesn't really matter," he said. "We'll just focus on ourselves and do what we need to do to prepare and put all our efforts into that first game in the playoffs."

In terms of his career, he said he's hoping "there will be more successful paths in my future." He thinks things are working out for him because he learned from his past.

When asked whether he plans to stay in the USL, make a run for a spot in Major League Soccer, or potentially return to a European club, Lancaster said he wasn't ready to address that yet.

"I'm going to sort of wait until the end of the season and sort of assess my options and take it from there, I think," Lancaster said.

He called his career a "tough journey." But he's happy with where it's taken him.

"It was a struggle coming over at first because leaving to a different country, moving away from my family, they really wanted it to work out for me. And thankfully it has four years later," Lancaster said.

Justin Sayers: 502-582-4252; jsayers@courierjournal.com; Twitter: @_JustinSayers. Support strong local journalism by subscribing today: courier-journal.com/justins.

Up next for Louisville City FC

What: Louisville City FC vs. Indy Eleven

When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Slugger Field

TV/Live Stream: WBKI/ESPN+

Radio: 840 WHAS