Amid the high of the club’s Eastern Conference Semifinal victory against Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC, Louisville City FC midfielder Elijah Wynder got some timely words of advice.

“[LouCity Academy Director] Luke Spencer actually told me after that game, the hardest thing to do is to follow it up with another good performance,” said Wynder.

The 19-year-old Academy product paid heed to the two-time Championship title-winner.

Wynder’s goal early in the second period of extra time – the game-winner in a 1-0 victory against the Tampa Bay Rowdies at Lynn Family Stadium – in Saturday night’s Eastern Conference Final of the 2022 USL Championship Playoffs presented by Hisense might have come out of chaos, but it provided the latest big moment from one of the club’s youngsters so far this postseason.

“We got a corner, the ball comes in, it actually hit my shoulder, glanced on my shoulder,” said Wynder. “Then it bounced around and I turned around, I was like, ‘Oh, there's the ball right there’. So, I just threw my foot at it, went through a couple of people, finds the net. Then we go off and celebrate.”

It also capped another solid display from Wynder, who after being introduced as one of LouCity’s first two substitutes just past the hour-mark alongside veteran Brian Ownby helped pull the hosts over the finish line against perennial nemesis Tampa Bay. The victory, and a fourth Eastern Conference title in eight seasons for LouCity, came despite the side finishing with 10 players after Corben Bone’s red card late with eight minutes to go in regulation.

“I mean I love that kid,” said LouCity captain Paolo DelPiccolo, whom Wynder credits as a mentor within the squad. “I remember when he was 15 and he came in for his first training and, and he was quiet and shy and scared. To see him grow up and to see him develop as a footballer but also as a person, [it’s great].

“I mean, as I’ve gotten older in my career, something that I really take pride in is seeing these younger kids develop especially [in a] leadership role and seeing them develop that as humans and as footballers. I'm so proud of what the Wynder brothers and even Ray [Serrano] and Carlos [Moguel Jr.], what they're doing.”

“He has been tremendous,” added Cruz. “He has worked his ass off to get to where he is right now. He’s shown how effective he can be in these games that he’s earned opportunities in. For him to get that goal, for it to be a local Academy product, for it to be the goal that clinches the Eastern Conference Final, it speaks volumes for what this club is doing.”

As Spencer told him earlier this week, though, the aim now for Wynder will be to produce again after the high of his first silverware at the club.

“We celebrate this for 30 minutes and then it's you know, switch into the final,” said DelPiccolo, who will hope to lead his side to a third star.

On Saturday night, though, Wynder’s display as part of a short-handed side embodied the culture within the club to find a way to advance.

“This is a fight, and at the end of the day we fought harder than them,” said Wynder. “Belief is a big thing. Like, no matter what position we’re in, Danny’s always going to believe in us, we’re always going to believe in each other to do whatever we can to get the result that we need.

“It’s a great feeling to come out here and get the win.”