LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) – Often, an event like the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup affords teams a change of competitive scenery, a chance to face a non-league opponent or even one from a different level of American soccer.

And then there's the 2025 Open Cup opener for LouCity FC, which will feature a visit from USL East leader Loudoun United FC to Lynn Family Stadium Tuesday night at 7 in a third-round matchup.

The pairing brings together two of the USL Championship’s top clubs. LouCity earned a bye into the third round by winning last season’s Players’ Shield, while Loudoun advanced by defeating NPSL's Virginia Dream, 4-2, in the second round.

The teams are already familiar. LouCity blanked Loudoun 2-0 in their home opener at Lynn Family on March 22, and Tuesday’s game is the second of four scheduled meetings this year. City will also visit Loudoun on May 31 in the USL's Jäegermeister Cup and again on June 25 in regular-season play.

While LouCity (3-0-2) remains unbeaten in league play, Loudoun (5-1-0) enters as one of the surprise stories of the young season. Winners of five of its first six games, Loudoun currently sits atop the USL Championship Eastern Division standings after a 2-1 win over the Tampa Bay Rowdies on Saturday.

“They’re a group that a lot of them were together last year,” said LouCity coach Danny Cruz. “They understand what Ryan (Martin) wants, from a tactical standpoint, from a cultural standpoint, and I think that plays a big role. You're seeing the growth of a team that's continuing to come together.”

Despite severe flooding that disrupted training last week, Cruz said his squad is prepared.

“We’re really grateful to our partners at U of L for giving us a place to be able to train,” Cruz said. “We obviously had to dress out at different places and travel, but for our group, again, it's always going back to our values and the non-negotiables and no excuses.”

LouCity defender Kyle Adams echoed the anticipation of playing this tournament opener at home. The Boys in Purple have been off since April 5 and haven't played at home since March 29.

“We're excited,” Adams said. “Any team that we play is an opportunity for us to go out there and win and put on a good show, and especially at home. Just can't wait to be out there in front of our fans. . . . Hopefully we know at home that, like, we're hard to beat here.”

LouCity has historically treated the Open Cup as a priority and enters Tuesday with a perfect 8-0 record in its Open Cup opening-round matches. The club’s best run came in 2018, when it reached the quarterfinals and upset MLS side New England Revolution.

“We're going to go for it like we do every competition that we're in,” Cruz said. “. . . We're going to play a really difficult opponent, a team that's first in the East. You have to play Loudoun, and then the draws can be anything. Obviously, we're going to do everything we can to win this game.

"And if you do win the game, you could end up anywhere. You know, last year we ended up in Seattle in the middle of a week, so the draw seemed to never really favor us here in this tournament. But it is what it is. We've got to deal with it. It's out of our control and and I do know that the guys really, really do enjoy the tournament, and so we're excited about that.”

The winner advances to the Round of 32 on May 6-7, when Major League Soccer clubs enter the competition. The tournament concludes with an Oct. 1 final and a $600,000 prize for the champion — along with a berth in the 2026 Concacaf Champions League. The furthest advancing team in each lower division receives $50,000.

NOTES: LouCity recently added midfielder Cameron Duke on a 25-day contract. The 24-year-old is expected to be available for selection Tuesday. . . . Tickets for Tuesday’s match remain available at LouCity.com/OpenCup. Gates open at 5:30 p.m., with a $2 happy hour at concourse bars. . . . The match will be broadcast by CBS Sports Network and streaming on Paramount+.

More from Bozich and Crawford:

Stephanie Norman, longtime Louisville women's basketball assistant, leaves for Arizona State

'The best is yet to come': Louisville's Kelsey breaks down his Year 2 roster

BOZICH | U of L, UK, IU men, U of L women ranked Top 10 most valuable basketball programs

BOZICH | U of L makes major jump in basketball attendance rankings as UK tops the list

Copyright 2025 WDRB Media. All Rights Reserved.