With the 2018 USL season mere weeks away, I felt it was time to preview Louisville City’s season not by analyzing potential lineups and formations, or by discussing tactics, or matchups against our opponents. Instead, I’d like to look at the schedule, since that is the only thing we know for certain at this point, and envision how the season might play out between March and October.

Going into the fourth season in USL, LouCity fans know to expect the unexpected. It’s almost a given that LC will drop some points against teams they should beat handily, and that they will also dispatch quality teams with ease at any given point in the season. One thing we can be certain of is that James O’Connor will put an extremely competitive squad on the pitch. We should expect a top four finish in the Eastern Conference, at the very least.

The March Homestand:

Saturday, March 17 vs. Nashville SC

vs. Nashville SC Saturday, March 24 vs. North Carolina FC

vs. North Carolina FC Saturday, March 31 vs. Tampa Bay Rowdies

Likely due to conflicts in the Bats schedule later in the season, Los Morados start their 2018 campaign with three consecutive Saturday home games in March, and difficult ones at that.

The season opener at home against Nashville on St. Patrick’s Day ought to be a barrel of fun, as the Sour Mash Soccer bash kicks off for the first, and possibly last, season. We can anticipate a respectable contingent of newly-minted NSC supporters making the drive up I-65, so let’s show them some hospitality and good will prior to sending them home with the first defeat in their club’s history.

The following weekends see NASL refugees North Carolina FC and Tampa Bay Rowdies paying visits, and both figure to be difficult contests. Tampa Bay in particular presents a big challenge, as they appear ready to battle for top of the table in the East.

The (first) Big One in Cinci:

Saturday April 7 at FC Cincinnati

The City/Cinci rivalry has quickly developed into not just the best in USL, but one of the best in all of North American soccer. Almost from the moment FC Cincinnati was announced in 2016, the path was paved for a contentious relationship between the two fan bases, and nothing has happened since to quell the animosity.

For the time being, FCC calls Nippert Stadium home, and it is a fantastic place to watch soccer. Away supporters are in Section 101, in the northeast corner of the stadium, a mere 50 feet away from The Bailey, where the highly obnoxious FCC supporters are located.

This proximity makes for some interesting interactions. During a visit to Nippert last season, a large portion of the Bailey spent the majority of the game chanting and gesturing at the Louisville City supporters, to the point where it was obvious they weren’t even watching the game. They were extremely determined that the away supporters take notice the very mildly amusing “Great Clips” banner they had made for the occasion.

This time around, however, we can expect they will bring out the big guns, in the form of paper streamers. Streamer-gate has irked the Cincy crowd to no end, and in a completely predictable turn, there are already rumblings of a streamer war. LOOK OUT!

There have been some reports that the Cincinnati fans have been, how shall we say this, “lacking in hospitality” towards Morados fans during previous trips to Nippert. While I did field a couple remarks from some of the more juvenile, self-styled ‘ultras’ within their ranks, the vast majority were innocuous, many even courteous, in their interactions with the traveling support.

April 7th is the home-opener for FCC, and there will be a massive turnout for this game, perhaps even a sell-out. As a Louisville City supporter, there may never be another opportunity to walk into the lion’s den of 25,000+ opposing fans representing your club and city.

One hour and 45 minutes. That is all it takes to get from Louisville to Nippert Stadium. Pack the car, pack the family, and hit the road. This is the most important away trip you can make this year as a Louisville City supporter.

These Games Matter at The End of The Season:

Saturday, April 14 vs. Richmond Kickers

vs. Richmond Kickers Saturday, April 21 at Atlanta United 2

at Atlanta United 2 Saturday , April 28 vs. Bethlehem Steel

City fell six points shy of claiming the Supporters Shield (best regular season record in USL) last season, primarily due to several games in which the team dropped points when they shouldn’t have.

These three April fixtures appear to be ones that LouCity should win. However, as we saw last year in an April home draw against Toronto FC II and a surprise road defeat against Harrisburg, failing to pick up points against teams you should beat can cost you come October.

Double Derby Day in Indy:

Saturday, May 5 at Indy 11

With the unfortunate collapse of NASL, Indy 11 has made the prudent, some would say ‘overdue’, move to USL. Fortunately for both Indy and LC fans, the cities are less than 2 hours drive away from each other, which should make for some fantastic road trips in the years to come.

Louisville City has faced Indy 11 twice away in US Open Cup play, splitting the contests. Indy 11 has been fairly mediocre on the field in NASL, with the exception of the 2016 season, in which they claimed the Spring Championship, and finished runners-up in the Fall.

Although in the past Indy ownership has harbored MLS ambitions, their prospects for absconding seem pretty low for the foreseeable future. In all likelihood, Indy will be LC’s closest rival for years to come once FCC ascends to the MLS heavens. With that in mind, I’d encourage everyone to make the short drive up I-65 to welcome our newest victims into the league.

USL has made the unwise decision to schedule the Louisville City game at Indy on the first Saturday in May. Perhaps those in the scheduling department at USL aren’t aware that most Louisvillians are generally preoccupied on that day. If you can’t attend due to Derby obligations, it is completely understandable, but if you are willing to forego one year of Derby festivities, I can’t think of a better place to be than Indianapolis.

This Oughta Be Fun:

Sunday, May 13 at Nashville SC

Everyone loves Nashville, it seems. Be it the music, the hot chicken, the woo-girls on party bikes on Broadway, Nashville is a fun place that people want to be. That includes MLS, who sold Nashville it’s latest over-priced franchise in December. Nevermind that the extent of Nashville’s soccer pedigree is a few reasonably attended US National team games at Nissan Stadium. MLS wants to be in Music City, and Music City is a boom-town with money to burn, and so it goes.

In the meantime, Nashville SC will spend a couple seasons playing in a nice downtown AAA baseball stadium in the USL, which is something we can appreciate. First Tennessee Park is on the northern edge of downtown, within walking distance of all the honky-tonkin debauchery that Nashville has to offer.

It remains unclear whether Nashville SC will make the move to MLS in 2019 or 2020, which means that this years fixture represents potentially the only chance for Louisville City fans to have an away day in Nashville. I expect the traveling support to be strong for this one.

Gotta Win This One:

Saturday, May 19 vs. Atlanta United 2

Atlanta United took MLS by storm in their inaugural season, playing an exciting, attacking style in front of massive home crowds. They bucked the MLS trend of signing aging-stars at the tail end of their careers, and instead built a roster around young, exciting South American prospects brought in by legendary coach Tata Martino.

Will this style and success transfer over to their new reserve team, Atlanta Twonited? Nobody knows for sure, but based on the general performance of most other “2” teams, we shouldn’t expect to drop many points in any of our three contests against them.

Nippert, Part II:

Saturday, May 26 at FC Cincinnati

Regardless of the result in the first match, this one will be massive. FC Cincinnati fans apparently expect to go undefeated this season after splashing massive amounts of cash in the off-season on complete roster overhaul. Let’s kindly remind them of what it looks like to “ball on a budget”.

Follow The Star to Bethlehem:

Saturday, June 9 at Bethlehem Steel

The Steel made some decent off-season moves, but as with most MLS reserve sides, you truly never know what to expect. However, based on the 3-1 thumping City delivered in this game last season, it’s realistic to expect all three points.

Gotta Win This One, Part II:

Saturday, June 16 vs. Penn FC

Don’t let the rebrand fool you. This is still the Harrisburg City Islanders, and this is still a game Louisville City should win, and score quite a few goals to boot.

A Tough Summer Stretch:

Saturday, June 23 @ North Carolina FC

@ North Carolina FC Wednesday, June 27 vs. Pittsburgh

vs. Pittsburgh Saturday, June 30 vs. NYRBII

vs. NYRBII Saturday, July 7 @ Tampa Bay Rowdies

@ Tampa Bay Rowdies Saturday, July 14 @ Charleston Battery

We don’t know much about USL newcomers North Carolina FC at this point, but the other four teams LC faces in this stretch are always competitive foes. The remnants of the ill-fated Rochester Rhinos have essentially morphed into Pittsburgh, so we know to expect some brutally ugly soccer in that fixture.

NYRBII was a team that had Louisville City’s number until last season, when Morados turned the tables and won all three contests, including the now legendary penalty shootout in the Eastern Conference finals.

Tampa Bay is a trendy pick to supplant LouCity at the top of the East this year, but, then again, they were last year as well. The Rowdies dominated in this fixture last year, winning 2-0 in one of the poorest City performances of the season.

Louisville City played twice last year in Charleston, drawing both times. Particularly memorable was the 4-4 draw in which City twice fell behind by two goals before equalizing late.

Suffice it to say, by the end of this stretch we’ll know a lot about this edition of Louisville City. If the team in in the top four in the Eastern Conference table come mid-July, then they are in good shape.

4 Days, 6 Points?:

Wednesday, July 18 vs. Toronto FC II

vs. Toronto FC II Saturday, July 21 , vs. Charlotte Independence

This could and should be a six point week at home, but as we’ve seen in the past, it’s possible to drop points to almost anyone in the USL. That being said, it would be disappointing not to beat both perennial doormat TFCII, and an Enzo Martinez-less Charlotte.

Otta-draw, At Least:

Saturday, July 28 at Ottawa Fury FC

LC drew with Ottawa in this fixture last season, 1-1. That is the least they should be aiming for this go-round.

A Tough Summer Stretch, Part II:

Sunday, August 5 vs. Indy 11

vs. Indy 11 Friday , August 10 @ NYRBII

, @ NYRBII Saturday, August 18 vs. Nashville SC

vs. Nashville SC Wednesday, August 22 @ Charlotte Independence

@ Charlotte Independence Saturday August, 25 @ Richmond Kickers

August, 25 @ Richmond Kickers Friday, August 31 vs. Charleston Battery

August shapes up as a difficult month, with three tough home fixtures, as well as some quick turnaround times between games. Late season games in the dog days of summer will test Morados’ fitness, but this is what JOC’s brutal preseason training regimen is preparing the boys for. If the team can grab 10 points from these six August fixtures, we can call it a success.

Oh, Boy, Here We Go!:

Saturday, September 8 vs. FC Cincinnati

Last August, Louisville City hosted FC Cincinnati before a then record crowd at Slugger Field. If you don’t remember the atmosphere, let me sum it up for you: It was amazing. Capped by the brutal 5-0 beatdown that LC delivered on the pitch, August 12, 2017 was a day to remember. Apart from the USL Cup Final, there has never been a better day in Slugger Field.

While I can’t be confident that another 5-0 scoreline is in the cards, I can assure you that the atmosphere will be as good as it gets. If there was ever a perfect game day experience for the uninitiated, this is it. This game will sell out, get your tickets now.

Critical (And Winnable) Away Games During the Playoff Push:

Saturday, September 15 @ Pittsburgh Riverhounds

@ Pittsburgh Riverhounds Wednesday, September 19 @ Penn FC

@ Penn FC Saturday, September 22 vs. Ottawa Fury

vs. Ottawa Fury Saturday, September 29 @ Atlanta United 2

@ Atlanta United 2 Friday , October 5 @ Toronto FC II

This late-season stretch of games finds LouCity playing four road games out of five during the push for playoff seeding. The good news is that all four of the away trips are realistically winnable. If City can take care of business at home against Ottawa, and grab seven points from the four road games, this stretch can be considered a massive success.

Finish Strong against the 11:

Saturday, October 13 vs. Indy 11

The final home game of the regular season promises to be a good one. Despite an almost complete roster overhaul from last season, Indy has put together a nice roster, on paper at least, and I wouldn’t be surprised in the least to see LC in a dogfight to the finish line with our neighbors to the north. I would expect a very competitive game in front of a big crowd, not to mention a rambunctious Fall tailgating experience with our traveling Hoosier frenemies.

Final Prediction : Louisville City with 62 points after 34 games. Wins the Eastern Conference by 1 point.

C’MON CITY!!