Professional soccer has returned to Louisville with the launch of the Louisville Lightning into the Professional Arena Soccer League (PASL-Pro). With games scheduled to start in November 2009, Louisville soccer fans will have an opportunity to be part of a very exciting sports entertainment event.

The expansion franchise is owned and chaired by local businessmen Wayne Estopinal and Ted Nichols. Estopinal and Nichols are also the owners of Mockingbird Valley Soccer Club, which will serve as the team’s venue for the 2009-10 season. “We are very pleased to bring the Louisville Lightning to reality this year. Continuing to build upon our area’s soccer history and enthusiasm is our goal,” said Estopinal.

The PASL has 10 teams in the United States and has partnerships with the professional indoor leagues in Canada and Mexico. The Louisville Lightning will play a 16 game schedule as members of the Eastern Division along with St. Louis, Cincinnati, Detroit, and the Ohio Vortex.

The Lightning will host 8 home games beginning in November and culminating in the PASL North American Championship Tournament in March.

“The opportunity for our locally produced talent to continue their careers at the professional level is a major step toward putting Louisville soccer on the national scene,” said Nichols.

Saint Xavier product and former Centre College assistant coach David Horne will be the Lightning’s general manager and head coach. An Academic All-American and Centre College Male Athlete of the Year, Horne went on to play professionally for the Cincinnati Kings of the United Soccer Leagues Second Division (USL 2). Horne played in the 2008-09 PASL season for 1790 Cincinnati scoring 8 goals and tallying 6 assists en route to an Eastern Division Championship and second place finish in the North American Championship. “David combines a solid professional background with his love for Louisville in this exciting venue,” said Estopinal.

The Louisville Thunder played from 1984 to 1987 and won the 1986-87 AISA championship. Many of those players and officials became the core of coaches, managers, etc. which have led the Louisville area’s soccer interest for the last 20 years. The name of the Louisville Lightning was selected to acknowledge the history and dedication of the original professional franchise.

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