The 2019 USL Championship season starts this weekend, and for the first time since 2015, FC Cincinnati will not play in the league.
FCC does have players in the USL, though.
Ahead of their first MLS season, the Orange and Blue sent four players to the USL Championship on loans for experience and playing time ahead of their rookie seasons as professionals.
Here’s the list of Cincinnati players currently loaned to USL Championship teams:
Rashawn Dally, forward (Memphis 901 FC)
Logan Gdula, defender (Phoenix Rising FC)
Ben Lundt, goalkeeper (Louisville City FC)
Tommy McCabe, midfielder (North Carolina FC)
“Each situation is different,” Technical Director Luke Sassano said. “Where’s the most competitive environment for that player? And where will they get an opportunity to play because the guys need to play.
“I think they have all shown they have something about them, but it’s putting them now in this environment to see if they can continue to produce. Hopefully we can bring them back.”
Sassano said he’ll make weekly updates with the player or sporting director to make sure the loan deal is going well.
“It’s not as much of a day-by-day as much as a weekly thing because you do want them to immerse themselves in that environment and make sure they’re not only an MLS player going on loan, but a player that’s fighting for a spot,” Sassano said. “I think that’s part of the development, too.”
All four players loaned in the USL Championship are rookies and signed with Cincinnati following the 2019 MLS SuperDraft. Sassano said each drew strong interest and have different rationales their respective loans.
For example, Sassano said Goalkeeper Coach Jack Stern regularly works with Lundt to make sure his loan is going well. Beyond minutes on the field, that includes growth in training and with the team.
“For Ben it’s about being in a competitive environment and he can push to be the No. 1,” Sassano said. “If he gets game minutes, that’s what we want, but he also has to be competitive enough to prove to the coach.”
