LOUISVILLE, Ky. – It wasn’t quite a vintage Louisville City FC performance on Saturday night.

In the end, though, two of its vintage players – who’ve been key parts of the club’s longstanding success – ensured the night would end on a high note.

Brian Ownby’s first goal in almost two years off an assist by Cameron Lancaster delivered a 1-0 victory for LouCity against Miami FC on Saturday night before 10,237 fans at Lynn Family Stadium as the club sealed its second consecutive USL Championship Players’ Shield in style.

The victory was LouCity’s seventh in a row – its longest winning streak since the abbreviated 2020 season – as it moved clear of the Charleston Battery with two games to play in the regular season.

Ownby – who’s goal was his first since October 29, 2023 – became the 15th different player to find the net for the side in the league this season, while Lancaster the 16th player to notch an assist, highlighting the depth that made Louisville the first team to win consecutive Players’ Shields since Orlando City SC in 2011-12.

“It’s an incredible group of people,” said LouCity Head Coach Danny Cruz. “Certainly grateful that I get to come to work every day with these guys. We’ve spoken plenty about the importance of the fact that it means that the playoffs run through [Lynn Family Stadium]. I think that’s obviously critical, so really, really proud of the group. Proud of my staff. Proud of the players. But this is just the first step – we have a lot more to do.”

Ownby’s finish came on a night in which chances for the hosts were sparse. In fact, his 88th-minute tally was only the second shot LouCity recorded in the second half, but epitomized the side’s opportunistic nature. After Ray Serrano turned possession over near the halfway line, he quickly found Ownby, who passed to Lancaster and began to peel away to the right side of the penalty area. Lancaster’s return pass found Ownby in stride, allowing him to slide a first-time finish past the advancing goalkeeper.

“I love Brian,” said LouCity captain Kyle Adams. “For all the stuff he’s done for the team over the last 8, 9, 10 years, he deserves that. He deserves hopefully a couple more trophies there at the end to finish his career, which would be a great thing if we’re able to do that for him.”

Louisville City can still add to its entries in the USL Championship record book over the final two days of the regular season. One more victory would see the side record the highest points-per-game mark in a regular season ahead of the side’s pursuit of its third league title.

That, of course, remains the primary goal for the two-time title-winners as the calendar turns to the postseason in November.

“When we start day one of preseason, our goal is to be the last team standing come November,” said Ownby. “Obviously, this [the Players’ Shield] is one objective [because] it’s a long season, it’s hard to do this. We’re proud, but we’ll enjoy it for tonight.

“We know that’s not the standard that we performed out there, but it is a huge achievement, especially for this club. The consistency that we’ve been able to do, now we’ve got to see it out.”