LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- The Davila brothers grew up in a very athletic family in southern California.

Their dad played soccer, mom played soccer and tennis. Their uncle coaches a college soccer team. Their grandfather played professional baseball.

They both played some different sports growing up but from a pretty early stage, it was going to be soccer for them.

"There's a story of me going to a soccer camp when I was still in diapers," Evan Davila said. "Since I can remember, it's always been soccer."

And they played together whenever possible. 

"All the time, all the time," Taylor Davila said. "Whenever he had a game, I'd be out there kicking a ball around. Whenever I'd have a game, he'd be out there kicking a ball around. Whenever there was a ball we would pass back and forth or play one-on-one. It was just always."

But despite being just 18 months apart in age, they had never played together on the same team, until last year with Louisville City. 

Taylor, the older of the two, said that was mostly on him. He was always playing up with older age groups making the gap wider. And when it looked like they would play together at UC Berkeley (University of California, Berkeley), COVID hit, that season didn't happen and Taylor turned pro early.

"He's always been a role model for me in terms of work ethic, discipline and what's needed to play at the level he's at," Evan said. "It's great to be at a professional club and to have him here and just to learn from him. We push each other for sure."

"It's a dream come true," Taylor said. "Something you always wish is possible. For a lot of people it's not. So the fact that we can do this together and be in the same city and play professional soccer together is a dream come true."

Taylor dictates games from midfield. He was already an established pro when he was signed by Louisville City before last season. He is very likely to be named first team all-league for a third consecutive season. Evan's role has increased in his second season as a pro, including several starts alongside his big brother. 

"They're great," Louisville City coach Danny Cruz said. "First and foremost, they're great people, an unbelievable fit for the culture. From a soccer perspective, they bring us so much quality and we're really proud to be able to have them here."  

LouCity claimed a second consecutive Players' Shield as the overall number one seed in the USL playoffs. The postseason begins Saturday when they host Detroit City FC at 7 p.m. at Lynn Family Stadium.

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