Hartford Athletic Wrap Up Regular Season with Trip to Louisville
The Latics are hoping to snag a home playoff game on the final day of the season
Hartford Athletic takes the field for its final regular-season game of 2025 on Saturday night, as it takes on Louisville City at Lunn Family Stadium. It’s the first time since 2020 that Hartford heads into the final regular-season game knowing that there will be playoff soccer awaiting the club the following weekend, as the Latics can finish no worse than fifth in the Eastern Conference.
Hartford confirmed its first playoff berth since 2020 two weeks ago, but is still targeting a home playoff game. It had a chance to sew that up last time out against Tampa Bay, but slipped up in Florida, falling 3-2 to lose for the first time on the road since May.
“We tried some things personnel wise, we tried some things in terms of timing, of preparation and we did things that we’re not good at,” head coach Brendan Burke said regarding the performance. “And when we do that, we lose games…all the guys know this. I mean, no one raised their voice after the game. We had an honest conversation about leaving the pattern of play that has got us a trophy, that has got us into the position that we’re in.”
Hartford needs three points to guarantee a home playoff game. A draw might be enough, while a loss would mean that Hartford would really need some help if there is to be meaningful soccer played at Trinity Health Stadium again in 2025.
And getting three points at Lynn Family Stadium is a tall order. Louisville is quite simply the best team in the league and are aiming to become just the fourth team in league history to make it through the regular season with a single loss, and a win on Saturday night would also elevate the club above Orlando City’s 2012 season for the best points-per-game mark in USL Championship history as well.
Part of what has made Louisville so good is a dynamic attack. Four players have at least ten goal contributions in the league for City, headlined by 12 goals from Philip Goodrum and four goals and nine assists from Taylor Davila, that has seen him emerge as one of the best players in the entire Championship.
While their attack has been excellent, it’s been the defense that has elevated them from good to great. City has conceded a mere 17 goals in the 2025 league season, seven fewer than the second-best scoring defense, Sacramento Republic. They have also been especially locked in lately, as they haven’t given up a single goal in their last four games, and have conceded just two in their last nine, keeping seven clean sheets along the way.
There is a hint of fortune here, as City are outperforming their xGF by an astonishing 17.38 goals (per American Soccer Analysis), by far the best margin in the league. Some of that is down to having some of the best goalkeeping in the league, with Damian Las and Daniel Faundez erasing mistakes on a regular basis. But some is also simply down to other teams not taking their chances and Hartford will have to make the most of opportunities on Saturday night if Connecticut’s club wants a home playoff game.