Lightning Fall to Sockers in US Open Final

By Ben Wilson

LOUISVILLE, KY - April 10, 2010 - The San Diego Sockers ended their impressive season by winning the US Open Arena Soccer Championship at Mockingbird Valley Arena. The Louisville Lightning put forth a valiant effort, but eventually fell to the Sockers by an 11-7 margin.

San Diego’s first-quarter play showed Louisville what a champion looks like. Coming in as the winners of the PASL-Pro North American Championship, the Sockers scored five goals in the first quarter of play. Each of the five goals was scored by a different player, showing the depth and talent of the San Diego roster. Louisville, who had looked quite impressive all throughout the US Open Cup, had not faced a high-quality team such as San Diego.

Sockers goalkeeper Riley Swift made 23 saves in the first half, allowing only three goals. His incredible first-half performance gave endorsement to why he was named PASL’s 2009-10 All League First Team goalkeeper. Still, Swift felt that Louisville gave him trouble in goal. “They came in (Louisville) and had a flurry of attacks—that kept me on my toes,” said Swift.

The second quarter proved to be difficult for the Lightning. In 15 minutes of play Louisville gave up 3 goals, were outshot 11-5, and were continually tested by the San Diego’s smothering defense. Louisville’s only surge came late in the second quarter with 2 minutes to go, as Safet Kovacevic scored off a Lightning free kick.  Both teams wearily walked into their locker rooms with San Diego nursing an 8-3 lead at the half. 

Whatever Lightning head coach Scott Budnick said to his team at halftime must have worked. In less than minute—at the 12:06 and 11:33 mark—Louisville’s scored two abrupt goals, which cut San Diego’s lead to 3. But the Sockers kicked their experience into overdrive, as midfielder Eric Wunderle answered back with a screaming kick that sailed quickly past Lightning goalie Frank Peabody. Kovacevic, Louisville’s star midfielder and primary offensive weapon, gave the Sockers a punch in the mouth with two third-quarter goals.  San Diego still went into the fourth quarter with 9-6 lead.

San Diego’s athleticism was too much for Louisville, outscoring the Lightning 2-1 in the fourth quarter. It was a bold effort by Louisville, but San Diego showed Lightning fans why they are the number one indoor team in the country by defeating the Lightning 11-7.  “They were a savvy, experienced, veteran squad, and they certainly showed it tonight,” said Budnick.

The US Open ends the season for both the San Diego Sockers and the Louisville Lightning.

Still in the Hunt

LOUISVILLE, KY - February 19, 2010 - Louisville mayor Jerry Abramson was in attendance to watch the Louisville Lightning take down the Cincinnati 1790 Express, who are the Professional Arena Soccer League’s top team in the Eastern Division, 8-5.

Mockingbird Valley Soccer Arena packed the house with a record breaking 1,547 screaming Lightning fans. The Lightning, who have not won a game against Cincinnati all season, are fighting for the top spot in the Eastern Division in order to make the PASL playoffs.

Offense was a nonfactor in the first two quarters of play.  Louisville’s goalie Frank Peabody continued to do what he has done all season: using every inch of his body to make crucial saves for his team. In the first two quarters alone, Peabody had total of 12 saves, which was four more than Cincinnati’s Zac Van Frank.

Louisville and Cincinnati combined for a total of three first-half goals. Scoring for Louisville in the first quarter was defender Adam Boyer. Cincinnati answered back when midfielder Shawn Rockey scored an unassisted goal.  The Lightning would go on to be the only team to score in the second quarter, as midfielder Tony Jouaux ignited Louisville’s crowd by scoring a monster goal that gave them the lead 2-1.  

The third quarter was all Lightning. Louisville’s unselfish offense allowed for four different players to score. David Horne, Lighting general manager and forward, scored a devastating blow to the Express when he scored a goal, assisted by Boyer, that rocketed past Van Frank to give the Lighting a 6-2 lead.

The Lighting did not want a repeat of their first loss to Cincinnati. In their first game of the season, Louisville went into the fourth quarter with a 5-2 lead, but the 1790 Express mounted a desperate comeback, which gave them 6-5 win over Louisville.  Peabody and his team were going to make sure that didn’t happen.  Even with the 1790 Express scoring three goals in the fourth quarter, it still wasn’t enough to crack the Lightning’s star goalie. “We knew that it was going to be a 60 minute battle,” said Peabody. “They [Cincinnati] always snuck up on us in the end, but we felt liked we owed them one this time.”  Louisville was only able to eek out two more goals, but that was just enough to ward off a Cincinnati comeback—by taking the 1790 Express 8-5 at home.

Lightning on the Move

By Ben Wilson

LOUISVILLE, KY - February 5, 2010 - The Louisville Lighting showed the Ohio Vortex that penalties and physical game play couldn’t stop them from climbing up the Professional Arena Soccer League’s Eastern Division by winning 14-8.

Louisville’s two first quarter goals came off an offense that looked disheveled and lost, as their passing game fell apart from the opening clicks of the clock. Taking advantage of Louisville’s sluggish execution, the Ohio Vortex’s Matt Tutich scored three goals. The Vortex went ahead 3-2 going into the second-quarter.

The opening stages of the second quarter were a repeat of the Lightning’s first-quarter debacle. At the 12:04 mark, Vortex midfielder Milko Cecez scored an unassisted goal, giving Ohio a two-goal cushion. Things took a 180-degree turn for Louisville as they scored two consecutive goals—at 11:49 Ryan McDonald shot a screaming liner of an assist from Glen Volk, and David Horne scored at 10:13 off an assist from Safet Kovacevic. Louisville ended the second quarter on a positive note by scoring a last-second goal to put them ahead 5-4.  

Louisville was down to four players three different times in the third quarter after multiple blue cards were issued for excessive fouls. Having limited players on the field didn’t stop Louisville from scoring five goals to Ohio’s three—blasting the lead to 9-6 as both entered the fourth-quarter of play.  The Lightning’s McDonald felt that his team’s third quarter run was the shift his team needed. “We were trying to push the momentum a little bit,” said McDonald. “Hopefully that would allow us to go up one or two goals.”

There was no lack of action in the final quarter. 43 seconds in, Ohio’s John Ball, whose rough style of play received less than stellar reviews from the Louisville fans, elbowed Louisville defender Lee Weyland in the right eye—causing an eye laceration. Ball was ejected from the match—prompting a loud cheer from the crowd.  Louisville focused all their aggression on finishing the game with the win. Louisville scored five goals to Ohio’s one and Volk and McDonald each finished the game with a hat-trick.

Lightning a Step Closer to Playoffs

By Ben Wilson

LOUISVILLE, KY - January 29, 2010 - Riding a three game win streak, the Louisville Lightning rolls through the Detroit Waza 15-6 at Mockingbird Valley Soccer Arena.

Louisville, who has already defeated Detroit three times this season, has on overall record of 7-4, putting them one game behind the 1790 Cincinnati Express for top spot in the Professional Arena Soccer League Eastern Division.

Both teams had three different players score in the first quarter, but the Lightning’s Glenn Volk had a pair of goals that put the Lightning up 4-3 going into the second quarter.

The defensive pressure of Louisville was too much to handle for Detroit. Louisville outscored Detroit 4-1 in the second quarter, as Volk added a third goal to his already impressive game and Louisville head coach Scott Budnick’s game plan was being executed by his team.

“We tried to keep things simple,” said Budnick. “We tried to apply as much defensive pressure as we could.  Our fitness and unity is what helped us play as a team.”

It was all Louisville in the last two quarters. Outscoring the Waza 7-2, Volk added two more goals, - giving him 5 - Louisville forward Nick Judah followed his teammate’s 5-goal romp of the Waza with 4 of his own and goalie Frank Peabody held off the Waza offense with 9 second half saves.

The Louisville Lightning’s impressive season is giving the organization all the confidence it needs as they travel into the last seven games of the season.

“I think everyone feels from the players, on to the staff, on to the organization, that everyone feels a little bit more familiar and comfortable with the indoor game,” said Budnick. 

Hayden Signs with the PASL's Lightning

By Benjamin Wilson

LOUISVILLE, KY - January 4, 2010 - Former Houston Dynamo midfielder and Louisville native John Michael Hayden signs a one year contract with the Louisville Lightning.

Yesterday Hayden, who played for Major League Soccer’s Houston Dynamo, joined the already 4-2 Louisville Lightning to give them more firepower in the midfield position. This signing gives the Lightning more confidence in winning as they come up on the second half of their season.

“John Michael’s talent and experience will be critical as we enter into the final stretch of the season, were we will play [the remaining] thirteen of our nineteen games,” said David Horne, the Lightning’s general manager and forward.

Part owner and Assistant Coach Ted Nichols has been keeping up with Hayden for years. Nichols followed Hayden as a young athlete while playing for Trinity High School’s men’s soccer team and Indiana University, were Hayden won back-to-back  national championships with the Hoosiers in 2003 and 2004.

After Hayden graduated in 2006 from IU, he went on to play for such teams as the Cleveland City Stars (a United Soccer League First Division team) the Houston Dynamo Reserves and the Houston Dynamo.  It was Hayden’s days as an MLS player where Nichols paid extra attention to the midfielder’s skills. And, according to Nichols, it was the Lightning’s goal to sign a high caliber player such as Hayden.

“When the ownership group and management group started this club over 90 [to] 120 days ago, it’s this type of day that we had in mind. It’s a dream come true,” said Nichols at Hayden’s press conference.

Returning home for Hayden is a very important step for he and his wife, Hollie Hayden. Not only will Hayden be playing midfielder for the Lightning, he will also act as Mockingbird Valley’s Director of Coaching. The move back to Louisville looks to be a permanent one.

“I fully intend to stay in Louisville. I am ready to move here and have a family. I’ve moved around a lot in my career, and it has taken its toll on me,” said the Lightning’s newly acquired midfielder.

Hayden did not start or play any minutes for the Houston Dynamo. But his time spent in the Dynamo Reserves saw him as one of only two players to play all 1080 minutes of league play in 2008. That same year, the Dynamo Reserves would go on to win the leagues championship, adding another title to Hayden’s résumé. At only 25-years-old, Hayden is bringing a wealth of knowledge and ability to the Lightning.

“I am a good passer of the ball, good dribbler of the ball. I think that I am pretty technical. I grew up playing indoor, actually in this facility (Mockingbird Valley Soccer Club), a lot; and the skill I might bring to the game is something I hope the fans will enjoy,” said Hayden.

Home Sweet Home

By Ben Wilson

LOUISVILLE, KY - November 20, 2009 - It was another packed house at Mockingbird Valley Soccer Club as the Louisville Lightning dominated in their first home win against the Detroit Waza 8-3.

In the beginning stages of the first half the Waza looked to be setting up a slow-paced tempo. The Waza’s strategy didn’t seem to work well against the Lightning. In the 12th  minute of play Louisville’s Gabe Mericer scored an unassisted goal — sailing past Detroit’s goalkeeper.  Mericer’s goal gives him his first on the season.

With their aggressive offense, the Lightning smashed the Waza with seven shots on goal to Detroit’s two. Louisville’s control over the first quarter made the Waza scramble to find answers against their squirrelly opponent. 

The Lightning’s pestering paid off. Forward Sefet Kovacevic shot a screaming liner 10-feet from the Waza goal to make it past Yao Kra.

Louisville’s defense proved to be on-point as well. Their first half stats comprised of 10 Frank Peabody saves to Yao’s eight. Though Detroit had 11 shots on goal in the first half, their efforts were squandered by Louisville’s pressing defense.

Exploring new territories in defending, the Waza switched their second quarter action plans by picking up their defensive speed. But, unlike like Louisville, Detroit’s overaggressive attacking and flashy ball handling led them to zero first-half goals and nine minutes of penalty time.

It seemed as if the second quarter’s play was a stalemate, but Peabody continued his onslaught of saved balls. Extra padding was added to Louisville’s second quarter lead, as Kovacevic’s offensive mindset scored in the third minute with a screeching 15-footer past Waza’s field defenders and goalie.  Kovacevic leads the team in goals, and his constant berating of Detroit’s defense allowed Louisville’s multiple goal opportunities.

“We stepped it up,” said Kovacevic. “First me, then the whole team. I really have to give them credit.” With Kovacevic’s leadership and Louisville beginning to settle into their new perspective role as a new member of the PASL, the Lightning showed their fans and Detroit what they are cable of by taking 3-0 lead into the locker room.

“We switched some things defensively,” said Head Coach Scott Budnick. “We put a lot of pressure on the team, which gave them less time with the ball.”

Louisville showed that they meant business in the opening stages of the third quarter. Kovacevic’s scored an 18-foot free kick, which piloted Louisville to 4-0 advantage over Detroit.

With a sense of urgency and strong teamwork, Louisville is beginning to look like a well-oiled team.
“After the way we opened last week we knew we could play,” said Peabody. “We had to finish, and that was our mentality during the week.”

Detroit had a superior advantage in footwork skills. And it finally paid off for them  in the third quarter’s sixth minute when Dominic Scicluna scored on Peabody with a 20-foot upper left kick.  Detroit would score again off a Scicluna corner kick assist to Doug Rice.

A scary moment took place mid third quarter as Peabody jumped up to deflect a Detroit goal. As Peabody came down, the defender fell on his knee causing it to pop.  “I went up to clear the ball out and he fell on top of me,” said the Lightning’s goalie. Peabody would shake off his injury and continue to play. Louisville answered Waza’s attack on Peabody with an Adam Boyer goal in the sixth minute.

There was no competition against the Lightning’s defense as they out saved Detroit 17 to 21. Peabody continued to be a devastating force in the box, and all of Louisville’s field defenders sacrificed their bodies, only allowing the Waza to score a single fourth quarter goal.

The Lightning would score three goals in the fourth quarter, which is a difference from last week when they squandered a fourth quarter lead to the Cincinnati Express. But this week was different. The Lightning claimed an 8-3 victory over the Waza.

The Lightning’s next home game is a 7:30 start on December 11th at Mockingbird Valley in US Open play.

Arena Soccer Returns to Louisville

By Ben Wilson

LOUISVILLE, KY - November 13, 2009 - Poised and ready to play, the Louisville Lightning drop their inaugural home opener to the 1790 Cincinnati Express 6-5.

It was a sold-out crowd of 903 at the Mockingbird Valley Soccer Club, and, as the first half whistle blew, Louisville’s electrifying offense put pressure on Cincinnati. Safet Kovacevic, Louisville’s midfielder, worked Cincinnati’s goalie, Craig Salvati, with four first quarter shots, but his offensive effort was squandered as Salvati worked the Express goal line with four saves.

Cincinnati’s goalie wasn’t the only goalkeeper being tested for his agility between the posts. Frank Peabody, Louisville’s goalie out of Butler University, dived, blocked and caught his way to five Louisville first quarter saves. Both teams’ defensive efforts equalized in the first quarter with a 0-0 score going into the second.

Louisville fans were thirsting for a Lightning first goal, and, in the ninth minute of the second quarter, fans got what they were craving with a close range Louisville goal by defender Lee Wayland.

It didn’t take Cincinnati long to have an answer to Louisville’s goal.  Jeff Hughes scored at the top of the box from a Shawn Rocky assist.

Cincinnati’s goal must have made the Lightning furious. In the second quarter Louisville had four times as many fouls as Cincinnati at 4-1, but their aggression paid off in the last three minutes of the second quarter when Louisville forward, Aziz Behanovic, lined a shot into Mariano Gonzalez who, in return, made a header to score Louisville’s second goal.

Louisville headed into the locker with a boost of confidence, but head coach Scott Budnick told his guys that the game was far from over. “He said keep going,” said Kovacevic. “It’s just half-time. We’ve played well, but we have made some small mistakes.”

Kovacevic took his coaches’ advice going into the third quarter by scoring an unassisted goal in the 13th minute. Sticking to his offensive plan, Kovacevic added on to Louisville’s score by scoring another lone goal.
The Express would score their next goal off a Lightning mishap: The Express’s Matt Breines made a long pass downfield, which bounced over the top of Peabody’s head, catching the back of the net for Cincinnati’s second goal.

With 31 seconds to play in the third quarter Louisville scored their fifth and final goal of the match.  Wayland’s short pass to Gonzalez connected for a quick blast in the Express’s goal, giving the Lightning a 5-2 lead.
A mixture of great defensive plays and constant offensive attacking gave Louisville too much comfort going into the fourth quarter, and their lack of professional experience was beginning to show. “We are still a pretty young team,” said Coach Budnick. “There are certain things we need to learn about at the pro level and that is certainly one of them (closing out a game).”

The Lightning gave up four goals in the fourth quarter, though they were only out shot by the Express 10-8, and were able to make six saves to Cincinnati’s eight. There was no domination in stats by either team, but Cincinnati was able to get past Louisville by taking a 6-5 victory home with them.

“Games like these make it tough for losing teams to evaluate, due to domination of the first three quarters. It’s a four quarter game,” said Peabody. “And we were all pretty high after the first three quarters. Performing the way we did in the fourth quarter makes it a little disappointing.”

The Lightning will look for their first win on Nov. 20 at 7:30 p.m. at Mockingbird Valley against the Detroit Waza.

LOUISVILLE, KY - November 11, 2009 - Friday the 13th will be remembered as a lucky day for the Louisville Lightning, as the Professional Arena Soccer League team kicks off its inaugural game at 7:30 pm. at Mockingbird Valley Indoor Soccer Arena. The recently formed Professional Arena Soccer League (PASL) team will play host to the 1790 Cincinnati Express with doors opening at 6 P.M. and kickoff at 7:30 P.M.

The Lightning are comprised of a mix of players from across the country and around the globe including nine local players: Frank Peabody, Nick Staggs, David Horne, and John Payne (all graduates of St.Xavier); Lindsay Smith (Collegiate); Lee Weyland (Trinity); Nick Judah (Ballard); Adam Boyer (Manual); Pat Pittenger (South Oldham); and Ryan Macdonald (a recent member of the University of Louisville Men’s Soccer Team). Representatives of the team have experience playing in the United Soccer League and other professional leagues in Canada, Puerto Rico, Bosnia, England, and Germany.

Mockingbird Valley Soccer Arena is completing renovations early in the week, including elevated VIP rooms, retractable bleachers, new sound system and lights, and newly designed viewing areas. Along with physical additions to the arena, each game will feature a kid’s zone with inflatables and games, a beer garden with $2 domestics, promotional giveaways, and post-game parties with the official bar of the Lightning, Molly Malone’s.

The Lightning offers two different types of season tickets; general admission and premium seating tickets that guarantee seats on the bleachers in front of the main pitch. Family packages exist for groups of four or more and mini-game packages (any four games) can also be created online. For more information please visit http://www.louisvillelightning.com.

The Lightning Strike Home