Captain Arin Wright and midfielder Taylor Flint will return to the Racing Louisville FC starting XI for an 8 p.m. Friday night bout with Bay FC at Lynn Family Stadium.
The two Louisville veterans account for two of the three changes head coach Bev Yanez has opted for following the club’s loss last weekend at Portland Thorns FC. The final alteration sees Ella Hase, who hasn’t started since May 17, take the place of Makenna Morris along the Racing attacking line.
The match marks Racing’s first home game following the NWSL’s summer break. It’ll be streamed on the free NWSL+ app, with the local radio broadcast available via Sports Talk 790AM.
Hase joins a Louisville frontline that includes U.S. Women’s National Team standout Emma Sears and Sarah Weber. Weber, who leads the team in goals with three this year, leads the line, while Sears starts wide right, opposite Hase on the left. The Duke product, Hase, scored in Racing’s playoff-clinching triumph last November against Bay.
The defense remains consistent outside of Wright’s introduction at center back for rookie Mirann Gacioch. Ellie Jean will partner the club captain centrally, with Lauren Milliet and Courtney Petersen taking up the right and left back roles, respectively. Significantly, Wright is set to make her 50th career start in lavender.
The backline will be anchored again between the sticks by Jordyn Bloomer, who made four saves in the defeat at Portland.
After starting on the bench for the first time all year, Flint finds herself making up a midfield trio with Macey Hodge and the attack-minded Katie O’Kane. Flint is the current league leader in duels won (93) and aerial duels won (45).
The versatile threat Kayla Fischer headlines Yanez’s list of available reinforcements off the bench, in addition to rookie forward Maja Lardner and two of last week’s starters: Morris and Gacioch.
Team sheet vs. Bay FC
24 – Jordyn Bloomer
8 – Courtney Petersen
3 – Arin Wright
5 – Ellie Jean
2 – Lauren Milliet
26 – Taylor Flint
10 – Macey Hodge
20 – Katie O’Kane
6 – Ella Hase
13 – Emma Sears
42 – Sarah Weber
Available substitutes: 1 – Maddie Prohaska, 30 – Erynn Floyd; 4 – Makenna Morris, 9 – Kayla Fischer, 12 – Quincy McMahon, 15 – Mirann Gacioch, 16 – Maja Lardner, 19 – Avery Ciorbu
