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The United Soccer League on Tuesday awarded Brian Ownby a spot on its Team of the Week after the Louisville City FC midfielder jump-started a comeback against the Eastern Conference-leading Charleston Battery.

The USL also placed left back Oscar Jimenez on the Team of the Week Bench for his contributions to last Saturday’s 4-4 draw in Charleston, namely a stoppage time goal in the first half that opened scoring for LouCity.

Ownby, inserted as a substitute in the second half, made a massive impact with his side two goals down. He went on a run near the box, stepped over the ball and fired a left-footed shot past the Battery’s goalkeeper that’s also up for USL Goal of the Week.

“Obviously, fantastic and great finish,” coach James O’Connor said of the goal. “We were joking with him — I think he’s mistaken. He keeps telling us he’s right footed. I think he’s left.”

O’Connor referred to Ownby as a Major League Soccer-caliber player. The veteran midfielder, a graduate of the University of Virginia, also won Goal of the Week after LouCity’s 1-1 draw April 22 at FC Cincinnati. He shot from outside the box there, hammering a left-footed rocket off the post and in.

Three minutes after Ownby’s goal in Charleston, LouCity equalized on an own goal when winger Richard Ballard fired a well-placed cross into the box. It completed the club’s comeback from deficits of 2-0, 3-1 and 4-2, earning LouCity a point on the road.

This marks Ownby’s second Team of the Week nod in 2017.

LouCity, fourth in the Eastern Conference standings but with games in hand on the teams ahead, faces a short turnaround to its next fixture. The club hosts the Charlotte Independence at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at Louisville Slugger Field, marking the first LouCity home game since April.

USL Team of the Week

GK – Connor Sparrow, Real Monarchs SLC: Sparrow recorded a six-save shutout, including a penalty save, as the Monarchs defeated Orange County SC 1-0 for their seventh straight win.

D – Dennis Castillo, Charlotte Independence: Castillo scored both goals for the Independence, and also completed 80 percent of his passes, in a 2-2 draw against the Tampa Bay Rowdies.

D – Erick Cabalceta, Saint Louis FC: Cabalceta helped Saint Louis record its first home shutout this season with 10 clearances, four interceptions and three tackles in a 2-0 win against Toronto FC II.

D – Oumar Ballo, Swope Park Rangers: Ballo recorded eight interceptions and three tackles and clearances as the Rangers earned a 0-0 draw against San Antonio FC.

D – Zach Ellis-Hayden, Orlando City B: Ellis-Hayden scored the tying goal, and also recorded three interceptions and two clearances as OCB rallied to defeat the Pittsburgh Riverhounds.

M – Brian Ownby, Louisville City FC: Ownby came off the bench to spark Louisville’s comeback in a 4-4 draw with the Charleston Battery, scoring a spectacular finish and providing energy to the attack.

M – Rony Argueta, Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC: Argueta’s stunning strike earned the Switchbacks a 1-0 victory against OKC Energy FC to break a three-game winless streak.

M – Vincent Bezecourt, New York Red Bulls II: Bezecourt notched his league-leading sixth assist of the season to lift the Red Bulls II to a 1-0 victory against the Richmond Kickers.

M – Bradley Kamdem, Rochester Rhinos: Coming on as a first-half substitute, Kamdem’s first professional goal earned the Rhinos a 1-0 win against FC Cincinnati.

F – Romario Williams, Charleston Battery: Williams scored two goals, including an outstanding strike from outside the penalty area, as the Battery played to a 4-4 draw with Louisville City FC.

F – Irvin Parra, Seattle Sounders FC 2: Parra notched two goals and an assist as S2 continued their pursuit of a playoff berth with a convincing 3-0 win against the LA Galaxy II.

Bench: Spencer Richey (VAN), Stephen McCarthy (SA), Oscar Jimenez (LOU), Ray Saari (SEA), Keith Savage (TBR), Seku Conneh (BST), Jose Angulo (STL)

Louisville City FC’s players thrive on friendly competition, and a Monday afternoon spent at front-of-jersey partner GE Appliances’ headquarters proved no exception.

Sporting their purple and black third kits, the boys appeared at Appliance Park to snap photos, sign autographs, and even take shots on a different sort of goal — a pair of GE Appliances washing machines.

Sure, it was another chance to bond off the pitch. But it also allowed players to get familiar with one of their biggest sponsors.

“Show our support for this company that clearly supports us” is how team captain Paolo DelPiccolo put it. “It’s good for us to be able to come out here and do that for them.”

The partnership between Louisville City FC and GE Appliances, a Haier company, was announced before the club’s season opener in March. The iconic GE Appliances logo features on the front of all kits.

“It’s a big name. That’s what I thought,” said midfielder Richard Ballard, a Louisville native. “I’ve always known about the company growing up my whole life, so it was pretty cool hearing that we would have that on the front of our jerseys. It was big time.”

Oscar Jimenez noticed something about his Louisville City FC teammates toward the end of a wacky, 4-4 draw Saturday against the Charleston Battery.

With every opportunity, LouCity players sprinted at the ball. They thrived on 50-50 opportunities. The Battery appeared “gassed.”

“So I was like, ‘Let’s go,’” Jimenez said. “We were ready for it.”

LouCity trailed by two goals at three junctures in the game but came away with a point on the road against a Charleston team that’s atop the USL Eastern Conference table. The club will carry that momentum into a return home as, after a month on the road, LouCity hosts the Charlotte Independence at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday inside Slugger Field.

Players have their fitness to thank.

“Yes, obviously the guys work exceptionally hard,” said coach James O’Connor. “There’s a fight that we showed — a willingness to not accept the way the game was going. It was brilliant. It really was. The drive that we showed to keep going — we really could’ve nicked one in at the end.”

Jimenez started the scoring in stoppage time before the halftime whistle. LouCity then poured in three goals in the second half, including a pair just three minutes apart to equalize.

The performance goes back to a two-week preseason spent at IMG Academy in Florida. Whereas other clubs play games, LouCity focused on conditioning. It carries over to training sessions, when O’Connor continues to push his players.

“We’ve been working so hard that our fitness is never going to be an issue,” said George Davis IV, who served as captain Saturday. “It’s good in games like this, because it really pays off.”

LouCity played the Battery on just three days’ rest. They’ll have four going into the home matchup with Charlotte, which sits on the bottom half of the table. But the Independence, who play Sunday against the Tampa Bay Rowdies, have won three of their last four after a slow start to 2017.

“Yeah, I mean preseason is part of it, but it’s also the way our attitude is during the training sessions,” Jimenez said. “Anytime we train we’re going all out like it’s a game. It’s credit to everyone. “

The Battery went into Saturday with seven wins in 11 games, but LouCity dominated the stat sheet, claiming 59.3 percent of possession. Charleston was limited to six shots. The boys in white and gold tried 19 of them.

And, yes, shots finally went in after a run of games against professional competition that saw LouCity bag just one goal in more than 270 minutes.

“We’ve got tremendous belief in the players,” O’Connor said. “I think people will look and say, ‘Oh, you haven’t scored goals,’ and all the rest of it. I think we’ve got players who are very capable of scoring. The most pleasing aspect tonight was just the character of the guys — having that never say die attitude.”

Louisville City FC on Saturday night proved its offense is up to the task of competing with the best of the United Soccer League.

The club broke out of its scoring drought via a shootout with first-place Eastern Conference side Charleston Battery, playing to a 4-4 draw at MUSC Health Stadium in South Carolina.

LouCity trailed at points by 2-0, 3-1 and 4-2 scores but rallied in each instance. A 79th-minute strike from distance by midfielder Brian Ownby pulled the boys to within one before Richard Ballard’s cross resulted in an equalizing own goal in the 82nd minute.

“I’m so proud of the character of the team,” said coach James O’Connor. “Tough draw to keep fighting like that and to keep going, keep driving, and keep pushing. It really was exceptional character for the team.”

The result came on the heels of a 1-0 U.S. Open Cup loss Wednesday at FC Cincinnati. And dating back to April, LouCity had tallied just one goal against professional competition in three games.

Offense didn’t lack Saturday against a Battery side that entered with the Eastern Conference’s highest number of wins (seven) and points (23).

“It was a tough game mentally and physically, but we grinded and showed some true heart,” said left back Oscar Jimenez. “We got punched in the face when we were a goal down. Got two goals down and came back on the scoreboard. We get punched in the face again.

“Then there’s just the willingness and the drive that all the boys had. It’s just, “Go for it and try to get back in this game.” And we did.”

Charleston forward Romario Williams, a former first-round Major League Soccer draft pick, set the tone with a first half brace pushing his season tally to 10 goals in 11 appearances. When LouCity’s hopes looked bleak, Jimenez deflected in the club’s first goal in stoppage time before the half.

Momentum was halted again when Maikel Chang doubled the lead in the locker room, but George Davis IV pulled LouCity back — also on a deflected shot — with his team-leading fourth goal of the year in the 60th minute.

A draw also seemed unlikely after the hour mark of the game. Ricky Garbanzo slotted home host Charleston’s fourth goal on a nice ball in by O’Brian Woodbine. But then LouCity rallied with two goals in three minutes.

“We went down how many times? Four times?” asked Davis IV. “And we we’re able to come back every time. There was plenty of fight in the guys, and they never gave up.”

LouCity had scored eight goals in eight USL games going into Saturday. The club has only one other time conceded four goals in a game, in an Aug. 5, 2015, loss to FC Montreal.

Despite high tallies on both sides, the stat sheet leaned heavily toward the boys in white and gold. LouCity controlled 59 percent of the possession, out-shot Charleston by a 19-6 margin and nearly came away with a game-winner late.

Ownby tried again from distance in the 89th minute, and midfielder Niall McCabe, on as a substitute, put one over the bar in stoppage time.

Slow from the gate, LouCity’s adjusted lineup paid off Saturday. Forward Ilija Ilic and defender Sean Reynolds made their first starts, Cameron Lancaster switched to the attacking midfield, and Devon “Speedy” Williams played alongside Guy Abend in the holding midfield. Davis IV wore the captain’s armband with Paolo DelPiccolo out on red card suspension.

Away from Louisville Slugger Field since April 29, LouCity returns Wednesday for a 7:30 p.m. matchup with the Charlotte Independence.

Game Summary

Match: Charleston Battery vs. Louisville City FC

Date: June 3, 2017

Venue: MUSC Health Stadium

Kickoff: 7:05 p.m.

Weather: 80 degrees, sunny

Man of the Match: George Davis IV

Scoring

Charleston Battery (2,2,4)

Louisville City FC (1,3,4)

Goals

Charleston Battery:

11’ Romario Williams threads one in from the left side of the box with a LouCity defender just short of keeping it from going over the line; assist to Kotaro Higashi.

32’ Williams fires one back for his second of the night.

48’ Maikel Chang strikes it back from the top of the box; assist to Higashi.

73’ Ricky Garbazno lets one fly into the center of the goal; assist O’Brian Woodbine

Louisville City FC:

46’ Oscar Jiminez strikes one in off a deflection from a free kick at the top of the box.

60’ George Davis IV, also thanks to a deflection, knocks one over the keeper’s head; assist to Ilija Illic

79’ Brian Ownby strikes one in the top left corner of the goal from distance.

82’ Forrest Lasso scores on own goal on a cross from Richard Ballard.

Lineups

Charleston Battery: 23- Odisnel Cooper, 6- Skylar Thomas (72’ 11- Quinton Griffth), 4- Taylor Mueller, 3- Forrest Lasso, 7- O’Brian Woodbine, 21- Maikel Chang (86’ 19- Dante Marini), 20- Justin Portillo, 22- Tah Brian Anunga, 25- Kotaro Higashi, 16- Heviel Cordoves (63’ 17- Ricky Garbanzo), 9- Romario Williams

Subs not used: 0- Joe Kuzminsky, 8- Neveal Hacksaw, 24- Nico Rittemeyer, 14- Jeffrey Otoo

Head coach: Michael Anhaeuser

Louisville City FC: 1- Greg Ranjitsingh 24- Kyle Smith, 4- Sean Totsch, 15- Sean Reynolds, 19- Oscar Jimenez, 8- Guy Abend, 80- Devon “Speedy” Williams (10- Brian Ownby), 22- George Davis IV, 9- Cameron Lancaster (83’ 11- Niall McCabe), 7- Mark-Anthony Kaye ( 69’ 23- Richard Ballard), 14- Ilija Ilic

Subs not used: 28- Tim Dobrowolski, 13- Micah Blesoe,18- Paco Craig ,6- Tarek Morad.

Head coach: James O’Connor

Discipline

Charleston Battery: ’23 Forrest Lasso – Yellow Card
53’ Tah Brian Anunga – Yellow Card

88’ Dante Marini — Yellow Card

Louisville City FC: 60’ Kyle Smith – Yellow Card
90’ Richard Ballard — Yellow Card

Officials

Referee: Jon Freemon

Assistant Referee 1: Caleb Nobles

Assistant Referee 2:  James Boswell

4th Official: David Erbacher

Despite allowing four goals for just the second time in franchise history, Louisville City FC on Saturday answered questions on offense in a meeting with the USL Eastern Conference’s No. 1 team, the Charleston Battery.

The club matched what it tallied in its previous five league games combined, and they were just enough to draw the Battery, 4-4. Charleston had already numbered five clean sheets through its first 11 games, a sign of forward momentum as LouCity returns home.

Next comes a 7:30 p.m. Wednesday game at Louisville Slugger Field, the first game there since April 29.

Until Saturday, LouCity’s attack had come under fire. Twice the boys in purple have played to scoreless draws this year. They had just two multi-goal games. And they entered off a 1-0 U.S. Open Cup defeat at rival FC Cincinnati.

But a draw at Charleston changed plenty, especially with a series of home games up next.

Here’s more of what we took away from Saturday’s game:

• LouCity saw a number of lineup changes in its first USL match since May 20. With Paolo DelPiccolo serving a one game suspension for a red card against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds, George Davis IV took his role as team captain against the Battery. Other notable changes include Ilija Ilic getting the nod at forward as well as Mark-Anthony Kaye starting at right wing.

• Goalkeeper Greg Ranjitsingh made his second straight start against professional competition after his return from a Week 1 hip flexor strain. Ranjitsingh, who played in 27 games for LouCity in 2016, made four saves Wednesday against FC Cincinnati and saw significant more action against the Battery’s attack.

• LouCity midfielder Mark-Anthony Kaye made his third start of the 2017 campaign Saturday. Kaye, having already earned a short stint with Canada’s U-23 National Team, received his first full call up to the Canadian National Soccer Team and will depart Sunday for a training camp in Montreal.

• Despite being down two goals at half, LouCity had a quick turnaround in the second 45. The boys tallied six shots on target, doubling the Battery’s tries on frame. Though LouCity also dominated the possession in the first half (60.8%), it wasn’t until the second that the side saw three goals hit the back of the net. LouCity finished the match with a whopping 59.3% possession.

Aside from a 9-0 rout of an amateur side to open U.S. Open Cup play, goals have been difficult to come by lately for Louisville City FC.

The boys in purple hit the back of the net once in their last four games against professional competition, and a matchup looms Saturday against the Eastern Conference-leading Charleston Battery, whose goal differential of plus-10 also tops the table.

Struggles to score, players and coach James O’Connor say, don’t have to do with personnel, but rather mindset.

“I think the first thing is, you’ve got to believe,” said Oscar Jimenez, LouCity’s starting left back. “Right now when things aren’t going well, you kind of start doubting yourself when you’re shooting or when you’re serving a ball in or something. We just need to get away from that and start believing we can do that, because everybody has the quality on this team to do that.

“If we just start believing in ourselves, it’ll come together.”

To turn things around in Charleston — the end of a monthlong road swing for LouCity — would have implications in the league standings.

Though LouCity bowed out of Open Cup play Wednesday with a 1-0 loss at FC Cincinnati, only the Battery (23 points in 11 games) and Tampa Bay Rowdies (21 points in 12 games) sit ahead of the club in the standings. LouCity has played just eight games and earned 15 points from them.

But just a quarter of the season is down. In the short term, it’s about getting back on the scoreboard.

“We need to have that little bit of quality. I think that’s the piece that was missing for us tonight,” O’Connor said after the Cincinnati game. “We’ll have periods when we’re camped in and possessing the ball, but we need to get that finishing piece, too.”

The coach saw some nerves at Nippert Stadium in the latest battle between the River Cities Cup rivals. He felt attacks were hesitant as well when players were presented a chance to score.

“Obviously we need to keep working,” said midfielder Guy Abend. “We need to get better in the final third (of the field). Coach talked to us about it…We just need to make better decisions on the ball. Every small pass can be crucial if you make the good one.”

Perhaps there wouldn’t be such pressure to score were it not for LouCity’s potent offense during its first two seasons. USL Most Valuable Player Matt Fondy racked up 22 goals in 28 games in 2015, and Chandler Hoffman scored the bulk of his 14 goals in the first half of 2016.

This year, LouCity has leaned on a defense that has conceded only five goals in eight USL games. That figure will be tested against the Battery, who are led by forward Romario Williams’ eight goals. Two other players, Ataulla Guerra and Forrest Lasso, have scored four apiece.

In an evenly played game at FC Cincinnati, LouCity surrendered its only goal on a corner kick to open the second half. The club ended out-possessing the winning side, however.

“We had some long passages of play when we were in their half, but that little quality needed to come to form,” O’Connor said.

Now, it’s back to USL play against a Charleston side that’s also entering off a loss, a 2-1 defeat to defending champion New York Red Bulls II.

“It’s just that final third — we can’t get a good ball in or get a shot off,” Jimenez said. “Myself included. It’s just disappointing.”

“We’re going to work on it in training,” Abend added. “We’ll keep working on it, and hopefully it’ll get better soon.”

CINCINNATI — A rare set piece error cost Louisville City FC on Wednesday night in its latest run at the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.

Former LouCity midfielder Aodhan Quinn played a corner kick into the box in the 49th minute, and striker Djiby Fall finished from close range after a deflection to lift FC Cincinnati to a 1-0 win in the latest chapter of the River Cities Cup rivalry.

LouCity had its share of chances in front of 6,519 at Nippert Stadium but failed to convert an equalizer with much a stake: the right to host Major League Soccer’s Columbus Crew in the Open Cup’s Fourth Round.

“It was a fantastic opportunity to maybe go and play an MLS team,” said LouCity coach James O’Connor, “so I’m obviously bitterly disappointed to especially give up a goal like that from a set piece early in the second half. From our standpoint, it was a poor goal to give away.

“I was disappointed with the way it finished. Our passing let us down tonight at key times. We got into some good areas and some good positions, but then that final pass? It sort of went to begging for us, which is disappointing in such an important game.”

The teams tallied 22 fouls — 15 of them committed by FC Cincinnati — in another chippy meeting.

This contest followed a 1-1 draw between the two on April 22 when, in the final minutes, Fall was issued a red card and subsequently suspended by the United Soccer League for violent misconduct. Fall remained eligible in this competition, an annual knockout tournament that includes American soccer clubs at all levels, and was involved until substituted at in the 71st minute.

Where FC Cincinnati saw an addition to its offense, LouCity’s attack lost a threat in 16th minute when striker Luke Spencer left with what O’Connor called an apparent hamstring tweak. Ilija Ilic stepped on for his first extended minutes of the season in relief.

“I think it’s very frustrating,” said midfielder Guy Abend. “We played well, I think. For a lot of parts of the game we had complete control, especially in the second half. I would say there was a 20, 25-minute spell when we were all over them in the second half. We didn’t get the finishes today, and we lost a bit of focus on the corner kick when we conceded.”

LouCity appeared lively in response to the FC Cincinnati goal, though one of its own didn’t materialize. Three shots landed on frame in the first half but none in the second. Still, what appeared the best opportunity of the game flew in the 80th minute when Abend’s volleyed boot looped just high over the bar.

“I felt like we had more chances than they did,” said defender Oscar Jimenez. “It’s just the final third (of the field) again. Hesitation — not a good final pass or a final pass — that just cost us today. I wouldn’t say our effort wasn’t there. You watch the game and everybody was working hard. It was just that final third again.”

LouCity will look to regain scoring touch in its return to United Soccer League play. There’s a quick turnaround to Saturday’s road game against first-place Eastern Conference club Charleston Battery. Then it’s a return home June 7 against the Charlotte Independence at Slugger Field.

Game Summary

Match: FC Cincinnati vs. Louisville City FC

Date: May 31, 2017

Venue: Nippert Stadium

Kickoff: 7:05 p.m.

Weather: 81 degrees, partly cloudy

Men of the Match: Guy Abend and Paco Craig

Scoring

FC Cincinnati (1,0,0)

Louisville City FC (0,0,0)

Goals

FC Cincinnati: 48’ Djiby Fall struck in a rebound off the corner kick.

Lineups

FC Cincinnati: 1- Mitch Hildebrant, 2- Matt Bahner, 22- Austin Berry, 4- Harrison Delbridge, 32- Justin Hoyte (76’ 3- Tyler Polak), 5- Aodhan Quinn, 19- Corbin Bone, 23- Andrew Wiedeman (87’ 6- Kenney Walker), 7- Kadeem Dacres, 9- Djiby Fall (71’ 11- Danni König), 20- Jimmy McLaughlin

Subs not used: 30- Dallas Jaye, 21- Marco Dominguez, 80- Victor Mansaray, 8- Paul Nicholson

Head coach: Alan Koch

Louisville City FC:, 1- Greg Ranjitsingh 24- Kyle Smith, 18- Paco Craig, 6- Tarek Morad, 19- Oscar Jimenez, 8- Guy Abend, 36- Paolo DelPiccolo, 22- George Davis IV, 10- Brian Ownby (63’ 7- Mark-Anthony Kaye), 11- Niall McCabe (’63 23- Richard Ballard), 12- Luke Spencer (14’ 14- Ilija Ilic)

Subs not used: 28- Tim Dobrowolski, 13- Micah Blesoe, 15- Sean Reynolds, 4- Sean Totsch

Head coach: James O’Connor

Discipline

FC Cincinnati: 27’ Harrison Delbridge – Yellow Card
38’ Djiby Fall – Yellow Card
90’ Tyler Polak – Yellow Card

Louisville City FC: 42’ Kyle Smith – Yellow Card
60’ – Guy Abend – Yellow Card
91’ – Paco Craig – Yellow Card

Official

Head referee: Brandon Artis