LouCity's newest player already has an eye on a USL Cup. Meet the fan favorite from France

Alexis Souahy remembers being greeted with condescension when he elected to leave France to pursue soccer in the United States.

"Why are you going there? There's no soccer there," people scoffed.

What Souahy found couldn't be further from the truth.

After becoming a "cult hero" at Bowling Green State University, the Louisville City FC rookie hopes to make his professional debut Saturday in the club's United Soccer League opener against Nashville SC.

Souahy, 23, has barely slept in his own bed since he was 13, when he left home to join the Le Havre Athletic Club academy two-and-a-half hours away from his childhood home in the eastern suburbs of Paris.

"When you're thousands of miles away, you have to figure things out on your own," he said. "If it was work or something I didn't have passion for, I don't think I could do it."

He nearly didn't get the chance.

When it became clear he was not going to be offered a pro contract from his French club, Souahy set his sights on America. A contact in France passed his film along to Bowling Green State, and former assistant coach Eric Reed said the defender "jumped off the page."

After six months of visas, permits and English language tests, Souahy arrived in Bowling Green, Ohio, ready for his college career to start. Then he received a letter: some of his international credits didn't transfer, and the NCAA ruled him ineligible to compete in Division I.

"You just see those six months being screwed because of one letter," Souahy said.

"To try to explain to a foreigner about the NCAA and the fact that in one afternoon he could be with the team and an hour later he no longer could sit on the bench, train, anything — for it to be so abrupt and in his second language, it was heartbreaking," Reed said.

Souahy spent a year playing at the Division II level for Notre Dame College in Ohio and learning English from British teammates before returning to Bowling Green much more seasoned and as spirited as ever.

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Bowling Green State coach Eric Nichols said international soccer players can sometimes have a difficult time adjusting to the American college athletics system, which has no European counterpart, and to the physicality of the college game. Factor in that American soccer is still regarded with disdain by many other countries, and it can be a recipe for attitude problems.

"Particularly with Alexis, I was fearful of it, and he was anything but," Nichols said. "He is probably the most coachable player that I’ve had. ... It would be easy for someone from France to say, 'Hey, we know soccer, we know football, I'll go show them how I do it.' He didn't do that. He brought his skill, intensity and knowledge but totally embraced everything we were throwing at him."

Souahy is independent and headstrong. At 10, he developed appendicitis and, not wanting to ask for help, stayed in bed refusing to eat until his mother finally took him to the hospital.

As stubborn as he can be, however, Reed said Souahy's personality strikes a necessary balance between confidence and humility. He became a fan favorite and cult hero in Bowling Green for being playful and upbeat.

"I have no fashion and he would wear nice stuff, so I would make fun of him while I sat around in sweatpants," Reed said. "I'm sure I insulted him over skinny jeans and fitted outfits that a chubby coach isn't used to."

Souahy's reputation as a charismatic, competitive "straight shooter" followed him onto the pitch. He played all but 29 seconds in his three seasons with Bowling Green State, scoring six goals and adding five assists.

"He has a great little self slogan: At the end of a game he'll look at one of us coaches and tell us, 'I never lose,'" Reed said. "He carried that into every match. Every week with him, he told us he was going to win – and he was."

Not long after Souahy's senior season ended, Reed got a call from an old teammate from former USL club Cleveland City Stars — Daniel Byrd, now a Louisville City FC assistant. Byrd wanted to know more about the French kid who had captained the Falcons with such impressive technical skill.

"When you think about life it's crazy how one contact changes things," Souahy said. "I didn't know if it was going to work out (in Bowling Green). When I look back, I'd say it was not a big challenge because other people have bigger challenges, but one that I had to go through."

Ultimately, despite the hurdles, the United States proved to be his second chance. Fast forward to January, when Souahy sat next to his mother in their home in France and signed his first professional contract.

"It was one of the best feelings in the world," he said. "This is everything I need. When I look back I don't regret anything."

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Souahy didn't play in any of Louisville City's preseason games while dealing with a hip flexor injury, but coach James O'Connor said he has high hopes for the young defender, one of five new signings this season.

"The thing about Alexis is that determination for growth, which fits the culture," O'Connor said. "I think that's the biggest thing for us, is he wants to get better."

Souahy didn't rule out a future in Major League Soccer but is determined to take his career step by step. Still, the rookie couldn't help but let slip one ambition. In his first week with Louisville City, Souahy caught a glimpse of the club's 2017 USL Cup.

"I looked at it and thought, 'I want to lift it up,'" he said.

Although Souahy wasn't a part of Louisville City's championship last season, he is eager to do his part in the club's title defense. Count it as just one more hurdle to get over.

Danielle Lerner: 502-582-4042; dlerner@courierjournal.com; Twitter: @Danielle_Lerner. Support strong local journalism by subscribing today: www.courier-journal.com/daniellel

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NASHVILLE SC AT LOUISVILLE CITY FC

3 p.m. Saturday, Louisville Slugger Field

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