A season ago, Louisville City FC was prepared to blow you away in attack, almost come what may. The side’s 86 goals in the regular season were the second-highest total in a USL Championship regular season as the side averaged 2.53 goals-per-game.

That mark also served as double the total it conceded in the regular season, and while the 43 goals the side allowed wasn’t the highest total LouCity had conceded in a season, it was still well above the standard the side set when it claimed the Championship title twice in 2017 and 2018 or when it last reached the Championship Final in 2022.

Ten games into this season, the side has done something about that. It’s been key to Louisville equaling its longest undefeated run to start a season.

• SHUT UP SHOP: Through its first 10 games of the regular season, LouCity has allowed only five goals, the fewest of any side in the Championship. It’s posted five shutouts as well, leaving it yet to concede multiple goals in a league contest.

• FINDING THE BALANCE: What’s notable is for the most part, the side is playing similarly to the way we’ve known. The club’s possession average is steady at 46.5 percent as it looks to dictate where games are played rather than out-possess its rivals, and while its pressing numbers have reduced a little going from winning possession in the attacking third 5.3 times per game in 2024 to 4.3 times this season, the aggression from the side to win possession in advantageous positions remains.

• SEALING THE GAPS: What’s changed is LouCity has greatly reduced the number of high-quality chances it’s having to defend this season. While opponents are still averaging 10.4 shots per game, the number of shots on target LouCity is facing has dropped to 2.7 per game from 3.6 in 2024. Louisville is also averaging only 0.73 Expected Goals Against per game and allowing 0.07xG/shot. Compare that to an average of 1.20xGA/game and 0.12xG/shot a season ago, and it’s making a huge difference.

Louisville’s defensive strength, then, has been key to its success this season. Following the offseason transfer of Wilson Harris, and injuries that have led to ins and outs in the forward line, the side has scored 15 times in the league this season. That’s still tied for sixth in the league, but the fluidity of the situation resulted in LouCity bringing back club legend Cam Lancaster on loan from Lexington SC this week with others sidelined.

But should LouCity keep its current standard – with the center back trio of Kyle Adams, Arturo Ordóñez and Sean Totsch leading the way and Damian Las impressing in net, the odds are good it can – it would amount to one of the top defensive seasons in the Championship.

Consider that through their first 10 games of the 2015 season, the Rochester Rhinos side that Totsch was also part of had allowed only four goals on the way to the fewest goals conceded in a season (15) outside of the shortened 2020 campaign.

Head Coach Bob Lilley’s side won both the Players’ Shield and the league title at the end of the campaign – defense wins silverware, you know.

After last year’s pyrotechnics in the attacking third of the field, LouCity’s return to a strong defensive foundation could provide the platform for a long-sought third title.