Louisville City FC’s Elijah Wynder might not be the first name of the team-sheet for Head Coach Danny Cruz each week – that spot is likely reserved for Kyle Adams, the only player who’s played every minute of the season so far for the club – but the 21-year-old LouCity Academy product is certainly among them this season.

There’s a reason for that. The tenacity Wynder is showing as a two-way performer in the center of midfield is becoming indispensable to his squad.

On Saturday night, he bagged his second goal of the season with a fabulous first-time finish from the edge of the penalty area while delivering another sterling all-around display as LouCity romped past Hartford Athletic. Coming in just the fifth minute, it was the earliest Louisville has scored so far this season and set the tone for the rest of the night.

“We always talk about coming out on the front foot, pinning them back in and getting early shots off,” said Wynder. “An early goal always helps the momentum. If you get scored on in six, seven minutes in, you know it’s going to be a long night. Six different goal scorers – everybody was a part of it.”

Wynder has been in the spotlight here already in what is looking like a breakout campaign. Sitting fourth on the team with 556 minutes played through seven games – one-third of his overall minutes a season ago – the local standout also ranks first in the team in tackles won (10 at a 76.9 percent success rate), second in contested duels (70) and tied for third in recoveries (32).

It’s part of the collective mentality that Wynder attributes his success this season to, knowing the quality within the rest of the squad makes earning a position in the starting lineup something that has to be earned each matchweek.

“The staff hammers it in,” said Wynder. “If you don’t come out, if you don’t get in the right spots, if you don’t get the second balls, somebody else is going to play. That’s a huge part of it, and the rest comes from there.”

With LouCity having taken four wins from four at home to start the season and six wins from seven overall – incidentally, the six games Wynder has started – the maturing midfielder’s play is having the desired effect for the collective squad.

Here are some of the other young players who stood out in this past weekend’s action…

- Luisinho, Miami FC: The 21-year-old Brazilian had to depart after 33 minutes but by then he’d found the net to level for Miami against San Antonio FC, completed 3 of 3 passes and had two shots on target overall.

- Ray Serrano, Louisville City FC: The 21-year-old continued his stellar campaign with his third goal of the season. He also had five shots overall while putting three on target and won 5 of 8 ground duels.

- Cameron Dunbar, Orange County SC: The 21-year-old set up Ethan Zubak for his first goal in OCSC colors to seal victory against Monterey Bay F.C. and won 4 of 5 duels while taking three shots overall.

- Guilio Doratiotto, Phoenix Rising FC: The Italian youth international was smooth in possession, completing 3 of 4 dribbles and 35 of 41 passes. He also won 7 of 10 ground duels and made six recoveries in helping Phoenix earn victory in Rhode Island.

- Cristian Ortiz, Tampa Bay Rowdies: The 17-year-old USL Academy signing completed 7 of 7 passes after coming on as a second-half substitute and almost bagged his first goal, being denied by New Mexico veteran Alex Tambakis.