United looks to end skid against USLC-leading Louisville City FC

Saturday, 6 p.m., Radio: 101.7 FM; TV: KASY (English), Estrella (Spanish); Streaming: KRQE.com, ESPN+

Riding a seven-game winless streak that has seen New Mexico plummet from among the leaders of the USL Championship Western Conference to sixth, United looks to get right against the league’s best at Louisville City FC Saturday night.

Sitting at 8-8-2, New Mexico does have at least one game in hand on all the teams snapping at its heels. Still, with 12 games remaining, United has a chance to regain equilibrium and surge back up the standings.

United, however, will be doing so with a bit of a revamped lineup as Kris Shakes takes over in net for struggling Alex Tambakis.

In addition, there will be a shake up in the attack as forward Luiz Fernando — who shared the team lead with four goals despite being a healthy scratch the last two games — is off to the Hanoi Football Club in the top Vietnamese league. He was quickly replaced by Luther Archimède, who comes over from fellow-USL Championship club Monterey Bay, where he had just four game appearances this season.

The club also announced Friday afternoon that NMU picked up well-traveled defender Kipp Keller on loan from Minnesota of Major League Soccer. He is scheduled to remain with the team for the rest of the season.

Keller, the No. 5 overall pick in the 2022 MLS SuperDraft, has played in 29 MLS games, seeing time with Austin and Cincinnati. He has also played for Saint Louis of the USL Championship, and two MLS Next Pro squads. The 25-year-old center back joins United for the remainder of the 2025 USL Championship season and should help reinforce a backline that has allowed 18 goals over its winless streak.

But that also means more inconsistency in what has already been a rather unsettled lineup of late.

“If you look at our last two, three lineups, they've all been the first time that we've put that exact lineup in at this point of the season, which is kind of, in a way, a unique thing to say with only, what 10-plus games left,” coach Dennis Sanchez said. “But, at the same time, I think it's more of just finding a rhythm, building our relationships, both on and off the field.”

Still, he said, there is no concern about the level of the starting 11 for any given match.

“As we've said throughout the season, we take a lot of time and pride in making sure that we bring in the right people first,” Sanchez said. “So I think for me, that's the hardest part ... making sure that they transition into an already really great locker room. And I think that we've identified some really good individuals (who) are going to do that. ... Now it's just a matter of getting repetitions together on the field and allowing the relationships to flourish.”

United needs those relationships to flourish in a hurry as New Mexico has not won a league game since a June 21 victory over San Antonio.

But none of that matters now, Shakes said. The team is just looking to get back in the wins column.

“Every team in this league is capable of getting three points, right? So we just look at it as another opportunity to get three point,” he said. “Obviously, we haven't been getting that very often recently. So we're hungry for it. ... So we're going into this game similar to the other games, but a little bit hungrier.”

Even though New Mexico is playing the team with the most points, the focus will not be so much on what the opponent can do, but what United can do to the opponent, Shakes said.

“Louisville is a good team, but it's always about us, right? We're trying to get better,” he said. “Ultimately, it's up to us to compete, outwork the other team, and hopefully we'll find a good result from the hard work that we show.”

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Louisville City (14-1-5, 47 points): It’s easy to see why LouCity is successful as prolific forward Phillip Goodrum — whose 12 goals tops the league — leads a dynamic attack.

Playmaker Taylor Davila, with eight assists, is tied for the league lead and he’s added three goals for good measure.

They are hardly the only dangerous opponents, however, as both Jansen Wilson and Ray Serrano have six goals.

Additionally, goalkeeper Damian Las has been rock steady in net, allowing just 17 goals with a sparkling goals-against average of 0.85.

Louisville does have an Albuquerque connection in former University of New Mexico player Sam Gleadle, who also played a season with the Albuquerque Sol.

New Mexico (8-8-2, 26 points): United has had a couple of games to get used to playing without forward Luiz Fernando, but now that’s he’s gone, NMU has to establish an offensive presence.

Newcomer Luther Archimède has been plagued by injuries and has not yet lived up to his billing after being the No. 13 overall pick of the 2021 MLS Super Draft. He’s healthy now and United coach Dennis Sanchez said Archimède could see the field.

“He came in a couple of weeks ago on trial and just showed his desire and hunger to be a part of what we're building here,” the coach said. “What we can see right now is a player (who) fits our style; not only the style on the field, but the character, the work ethic, the desire ... chip on the shoulder.”

United will be without stout center back Talen Maples, who is missing the game due to suspension after being sent off in New Mexico's 2-2 draw with Las Vegas last weekend.

Backup goalkeeper Kris Shakes will be getting the nod in net, but he said Alex Tambakis has been quite helpful.

“Obviously, Tambakis is a great goalkeeper,” Shakes said. “He's a great mentor, as well. So nothing has changed between us two. We're both pushing each other every day in training. But I'm just grateful to have a staff that ultimately believes in me and my development.”

GOAL KICKS: Louisville has been dominant at home with a sterling 8-0-2 record, New Mexico struggles away from Isotopes Park with a 4-6-0 mark. Not surprisingly, LouCity with the most points in the USL Championship season thus far, also has the best goal-differential at +25, while United has dropped to -2.