- There’s no beaches in Louisville, that’s why everyone goes to Destin
Absolutely everyone has an opinion on Beach Night. Personally, I’m of the opinion that we’ve had some worse losses than the one against Montreal II way back on August 5th of 2015, but for whatever reason those pale in comparison for most people. Maybe it was the leis and the grass skirts. When you first put them on they’re fun and festive. They match the pre-game atmosphere of joy and promise. You’re dressing for a party. But as the match gets started, and you watch repeated goals from a 4 win MLS reserve squad, they become itchy and cumbersome. The nervous sweat begins to bead up around your neck, and you start to feel the cheapness of the polyester. You wonder if it’s possible for fake flowers to wilt in the heat, much like your team just did.
Beach Night 1 only gained infamy as the years went by, becoming a fabled, almost mythical night in the history of the club and the fanbase. And with all this in mind, the team thought 2024 was the time for a legacy sequel. Hey, it worked for Blade Runner and Top Gun. And fittingly, when I first read about it, I had the same thought I had when reading about the upcoming Gladiator sequel: I don’t know why they’re doing it, but ya know what, I’m gonna watch it anyway.
Despite the trepidation that every single person I talked to was feeling, it seemed like most people embraced the idea of reclaiming Beach Night, hoping it could somehow right an ancient wrong with a convincing enough victory. Did a 4-1 win over a middling Seaside team that we have barely any history with accomplish that? My answer is a definitive maybe. Most people I talked to after the game were pretty happy with the results, but I don’t know if anyone is ready to make Beach Night an annual tradition. Even so, the next time someone mentions Beach Night, we at least now have the option of asking “Which Beach Night, the good one or the bad one?”
- “Hello, I’m Aiden McFadden and I’ll be your server this evening”
When Aiden McFadden arrived in Louisville he had primarily played as a right back throughout his career. Typically in a 4 player backline, right backs are tasked with advancing the ball into the midfield and pushing forward to create some width, while also juggling defensive responsibilities. But this year Louisville has played almost exclusively with 3 in the back. This has allowed Aiden to slot into the right side of the midfield, joining LouCity’s second line of players in the attacking areas of the field.
For many players a positional change can be difficult. But with McFadden unburdened by as many defensive obligations, he’s excelled at delivering the ball to our more central playmakers. This game alone he completed 78% of his passes, and connected on all 3 crosses he tried into the final third. The first cross “glanced” off the head of Ray Serrano (more on this later) before dropping to Jake Morris for our first goal 3 minutes into the game. Just 4 minutes later McFadden sent another cross into the box, this time finding Wilson Harris for an easy header. 2 goal set ups in 7 minutes is not a bad way to start a possibly cursed game.
Since solidifying his place with the midfield starters in May, McFadden has sent in 33 of his 40 total crosses, averaging 1.16 successful crosses a game. This puts him in the top 88th percentile in the league, and second on the team to Ray Serrano. All this while having only played in his current position for a little over 900 minutes of game time is pretty damn impressive. We can only hope his next 900 minutes are even more productive.
- Beware the bite of “Jake The Snake”
The way Jake Morris (who I will now be referring to as Jake “The Snake” Morris almost exclusively) trots on the way up to the ball in the 3rd minute is a real thing of beauty. From my vantage point in the Estopinal End, I knew he was going to smash it for our first goal. When a player can get their foot to it just right, completely unimpeded by any defender, you expect a shot like that, and Jake “The Snake” delivered. The run up was timed with absolute perfection, and he put his laces straight through that thing.
But it’s not just the tattoo, folks. Speaking to media after the match, Jake let us in on a little bit of his in-game mentality. “That’s what this team’s about. Getting scored on or getting under it, and then going back and, you know, hitting them in the teeth. I think that’s why this team is so special”…“We don’t go out on the field and just have a kickabout. We want to go win the game”. That’s all I really want from a player. The willingness to kick some teeth (figuratively, anyway) (okay, maybe literally too, it depends on the situation). It’s enough to make Jake Roberts smile.
- Sometimes the best touch is no touch at all
Ray Serrano is so good at making that one last pass to find a free player or free space. His field vision and one touch ability is unmatched, and he puts everyone around him in a better position to score. He was credited with an assist for deflecting the ball to an open Jake “The Snake” Morris for LouCity’s opening goal. But as you’ll see in this clip, courtesy of the capo cam via 24 Hour Purple People, sometimes the best touch is not making one at all.
Ray at the last moment ducks his head down and decides to let the ball pass through, falling right into the path of the trailing Morris. To be able to make such a timely decision and adjustment is out of this world to me. My reaction time is similar to the guy who gets steamrolled in the first Austin Powers movie, so I’m constantly in awe of athletes who can exert such well timed control over their bodies. Well done, Ray (also sorry if this makes its way to USL Headquarters and they rescind your assist, it isn’t my video, I’m not a real journalist, I’ll gladly sell out my sources)
- We don’t stop until we hear the whistle
Up 4-1, and in the waning minutes of a certain victory, I watched the team continue to make plays on goal. They were still jumping passes, winning balls, and probing for plays forward well into the second or third verse of the supporter section’s traditional 88th minute closing number “Ollie, Ollie”. It’s these little things that show us that the team has the right mindset, a winning mindset. There’s still a long way to go in the season, and it might very well be a battle for first place every single week. But if we can maintain this focus, I think we’re going to be in a good position come playoff time.
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