Sports stats



USL Louisville City FC

LouCity Signs Former U of L Star Jimmy Ockford

December 5, 2019 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Louisville City FC News Release


Defender Jimmy Ockford with Nashville City FC
Defender Jimmy Ockford with Nashville City FC
(Louisville City FC)

LOUISVILLE, KY - Louisville City Football Club signed defender Jimmy Ockford for the 2020 season.

"We are excited to add a player of Jimmy's quality to our roster," LouCity assistant coach Danny Cruz said. "We believe his strong presence and winning mentality will be a great addition to our back line. We are looking forward to getting him integrated into the group to help us push toward our goal of winning another USL Championship Title."

Ockford, who played at Nashville SC last season on loan from the San Jose Earthquakes, is a powerful center back who helped lead Nashville's stout defense during the 2019 season.

The strong 6-foot-1, 185-pound back will join a LouCity squad that returns center backs Alexis Souahy and Sean Totsch and defenders Oscar Jimenez, Pat McMahon and Akil Watts. Ockford excels at man-marking and shutting down the opposition's top scoring threat.

"When I first heard Louisville City was interested in me, I knew right away it would be one of my top options," Ockford said. "They've been in the USL Championship Final the past three seasons and have won two championships. I want to be a part of winning a championship with them. I'm hoping I can bring some extra enforcement to the defense and solidify the back line. The goal is a championship in 2020."

The 27-year-old Yardley, Pennsylvania, native was the 21st overall pick by the Seattle Sounders in the 2014 MLS SuperDraft after playing for the University of Louisville in 2013. On contract with Seattle from 2014-2016, Ockford played on loan with the New York Cosmos in 2014, the Sounders FC 2 in 2015 and the Cosmos again in 2016.

Ockford was a standout for Reno 1868 in 2017, appearing 31 times and scoring four goals. He was signed by the Earthquakes in the MLS in 2018 and played on loan at Reno in 2018 and Nashville in 2019, joining the club in July on a short-term loan that was extended.

With Ockford's help, Nashville led the league in goals allowed (28) and was second in clean sheets (16). Ockford started all 16 matches he was available to play and totaled 66 clearances, five blocks, and 30 interceptions. He won 64 percent of his aerial duels and scored the game-winner in stoppage time vs. LouCity. That goal was named Nashville's 2019 Goal of the Year in a vote by Nashville fans.

LouCity won the USL Championship Eastern Conference Title in 2019, notching the club's fifth trophy in the last three seasons. LouCity won the 2017 and 2018 USL Championship titles after winning the Eastern Conference playoffs crowns.

LouCity's current roster, listed alphabetically by position:

Goalkeepers (1): Chris Hubbard

Defenders (6): Oscar Jimenez, Pat McMahon, Jimmy Ockford, Alexis Souahy, Sean Totsch, Akil Watts

Midfielders (6): Corben Bone, Paolo DelPiccolo, Napo Matsoso, Niall McCabe, Magnus Rasmussen, Speedy Williams

Forwards (5): George Davis IV, Antoine Hoppenot, Brian Ownby, Luke Spencer, Abdou Thiam

YouTube highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LzVNpdLJRZo

Check out the Louisville City FC Statistics




Images from this story

Defender Jimmy Ockford with Nashville City FC
Defender Jimmy Ockford with Nashville City FC
   

• Discuss this story on the United Soccer League Championship message board...

United Soccer League Championship Stories from December 5, 2019


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central