Support for Louisville City FC is trending upward — and sharply — early in the 2017 season.

Saturday’s crowd of 8,282 at Louisville Slugger Field pushed the club’s average through three games above the 8,000 mark and ranked as the largest outside of the weekend outside of Major League Soccer in North America.

Comparatively, at this point in its inaugural season, LouCity was averaging 5,242 fans at home games. In 2016, the figure was 6,190.

LouCity returns home on Wednesday, June 7, for a 7:30 p.m. matchup with the Charlotte Independence. Call ahead at (502) 384-8799 to reserve tickets and save on online fees.

Spencer, Jimenez honored

Following their performances in a scoreless draw with Toronto FC II, forward Luke Spencer and defender Oscar Jimenez were both recognized.

Spencer, also voted Modelo Man of the Match by fans, made his first USL Team of the Week on the bench after placing five of his six shots on goal Saturday.

Jimenez, who led LouCity with 76 touches, also put each of his three shots on frame. For that, USL blog Indomitable City Soccer named him to its Eastern Conference Best XI.

Power Rankings

LouCity stuck at No. 2 in this week’s USL Power Rankings, with the league’s only other unbeaten team, San Antonio FC, atop the listing.

San Antonio has looked much the best in the Western Conference, starting 6-0-1 with a plus-14 goal differential. LouCity, the lone unbeaten side left on the Eastern Conference side, is 3-0-3 and just a point away from the top of the table.

“Louisville had one of those games where at the end all you can do is tip your hat to the opposing goalkeeper,” wrote the USL’s Nicholas Murray. “A 10-save performance by Toronto FC II’s Angelo Cavalluzzo left Louisville still undefeated, but also without the three points it had been hoping for.”

Ranks of the unbeaten

Just five teams in American professional soccer are without a loss in 2017.

MLS: FC Dallas

USL: LouCity, San Antonio FC

NASL: Jacksonville Armada FC, Indy Eleven