Wilson Harris and Brian Ownby — Louisville City FC’s top scorers from a year ago — continued delivering Thursday afternoon to help the boys in purple to a 2-2, preseason draw against New Mexico United.
A tie with the USL Championship Western Conference club kept LouCity unbeaten through four preseason games amid a trip out west. Harris netted in the game’s opening minute, and Ownby equalized in the 74th to cap a closed-door game in Tucson, Ariz.
LouCity continued to rotate heavily, starting the first and second halves with fully different lineups. Harris featured alongside of Cameron Lancaster to open proceedings in a 4-4-2 formation, while Ownby took a spot at the top over the final 45 minutes.
“We looked to change shape for the first time this preseason,” said LouCity’s head coach, Danny Cruz. “I thought we started the game really well — first 10 minutes — and then we started to fatigue a bit, which is normal in preseason. Overall, I was happy with the result and how the guys pushed themselves. It’s been a lot of games in a short amount of time, but that’s our way of continuing to build their fitness for the regular season.”
Harris converted seconds after kickoff on an assist from Lancaster, but City didn’t capitalize on that momentum, going on to concede goals to New Mexico in the 32nd (Sam Hamilton) and 51st (Chris Wehan) minutes. Ownby, however, later leveled the score by finishing a cross from Amadou Dia.
Harris enters his second year in purple off a 15-goal 2022 season for LouCity. Ownby, the veteran winger, numbered a career-high 10 goals last year. Both forwards finished the year with nagging injures but appear to be back in stride as LouCity prepares for a March 11 opener to its USL Championship campaign.
“Willy’s had a really good preseason to start already, and Brian’s gotten back to get minutes in the last two games,” Cruz said. “Both are healthy at the moment, and we’re happy with their progression.”
Earlier this preseason, LouCity played Major League Soccer’s Nashville SC and Sporting KC to draws. The boys in purple also defeated Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC from the USL Championship on Monday.
Before returning to Louisville, the squad will stop in Texas, playing Austin FC on Saturday afternoon at the MLS club’s training facility.
2023 LouCity preseason schedule
Monday, Jan. 30 at Nashville SC (D, 0-0)
Saturday, Feb. 4 vs. Sporting KC (D, 2-2)
Monday, Feb. 6 vs. Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC* (W, 3-0)
Thursday, Feb. 9 vs. New Mexico United* (D, 2-2)
Saturday, Feb. 11 at Austin FC
Saturday, Feb 18 at Seattle Sounders FC
Saturday, Feb. 25 vs. One Knoxville SC
Saturday, March 4 at Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC
* = game played as part of FC Tucson’s Desert Showcase
