In a late one on the West Coast, Racing Louisville FC raced out to a two-goal lead Friday night, but a second-half surge from San Diego Wave FC spoiled the effort in a 3-2 loss at Snapdragon Stadium.
Racing, playing its second straight road match, jumped ahead early, scoring twice within the first 25 minutes — first through Lauren Milliet, then Taylor Flint. San Diego, however, responded in the second half, as Trinity Byars notched a brace before substitute Kenza Dali came off the bench to net the match-winner.
The result marked Louisville’s (7-13-2, 23 points) second straight defeat following a club-record four-game win streak. Heading into the weekend NWSL slate, Racing remains in 13th position and five points back of the final playoff place — eighth.
Friday’s visitors will look to even the season series in just a few weeks, as San Diego travels to Lynn Family Stadium for a Sept. 25 matchup.
The theme of Louisville’s fluid attack continued Friday, as the visitors scored multiple goals for now the sixth match running. On the season, Racing has tallied 34 goals through 22 games, which is just one short of tying the single-season club record set last year in 26 contests.
In August alone, Louisville has recorded 15 goals, making it one of two teams, along with the North Carolina Courage, with 12 or more so far this month.
“Obviously, really proud of the group to go up 2-0,” said Racing head coach Bev Yanez. “I think what hurt us the most was how early we conceded in the second half. … Due to that being so early, I think we got a little bit back on our heels, and it just became a little bit difficult from that point.”
“Overall, obviously [we] never want to be in the position where you’re up 2-0 and you don’t win,” Yanez added. “[We] never want to be in a position where you’re up 2-0, and you don’t take a point.”
Racing’s press paid dividends in the 12th minute, as Kayla Fischer unselfishly laid off Milliet, who finished the chance off with authority to give the visitors the early edge. It was Milliet’s ninth goal contribution of the campaign, having picked up four across her last three games.
In no time, Louisville doubled its lead through a set-piece opportunity in the 23rd minute. Arin Wright, at the far post, fired a ball back across the face of the goal off a corner, where Flint was waiting to punch it in from close range to make it 2-0. It was the second time in this historical month of August that Racing went into halftime with the lead on the road.
“I’m proud of the group for how we’ve been coming out,” said Milliet. “It’s not easy to score goals in this league, so I think anytime you can score more than one, two goals, I think is incredible.”
San Diego, which had just scored four goals in its previous match, flipped a switch in the second half. Byars cut the deficit in half just three minutes into the second period. The Texas native registered her second in the 76th minute amid some chaos created from a corner kick. The brace gave the in-form Byars four goals in her last 161 minutes played.
The Wave’s persistence going forward continued as it eyed the winner. The hosts went on to finish the match with 32 shots — good for the club’s new season-high.
Dali would then convert the winner with a tally from outside of the box just 17 minutes after coming on to complete the come-from-behind victory for the hosts.
“I think at the end of the day, we’ve put together a decent performance,” said goalkeeper Jordyn Bloomer. “But to be able to beat a team like that it needs to be a great performance, and I just don’t think we had that on the night.”
Racing opens up a four-match September slate back at Lynn Family Stadium next Saturday against another playoff hopeful — Angel City FC — on Arts and Culture Night. Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. ET, with ION carrying the national broadcast. Tickets and further information on the night and its promotions can be found at RacingLouFC.com/arts.
Thanks to a brace from rookie Maja Lardner, Louisville topped Angel City in the first meeting of the series this season, 2-1, back on July 26 at BMO Stadium.
Game Summary: San Diego Wave FC vs. Racing Louisville FC
Date: August 28, 2026
Venue: Snapdragon Stadium — San Diego, Calif.
Kickoff: 10 p.m. ET
Weather: 84 degrees, mostly sunny
Scoring
San Diego Wave FC (0, 3, 3)
Racing Louisville FC (2, 0, 2)
Goals:
San Diego Wave FC:
47′ Trinity Byars (Mimi Van Zanten)
76′ Trinity Byars
80′ Kenza Dali
Racing Louisville FC:
12′ Lauren Milliet (Kayla Fischer)
23′ Taylor Flint (Arin Wright)
Lineups
San Diego Wave FC: 12 – Sandra Paños; 75 – Perle Morroni, 14 – Kristen McNabb, 2 – Kennedy Wesley (c), 16 – Mimi Van Zanten, 22 – Lia Godfrey (74′ 11 – Gia Corley), 4 – Laila Harbert (63′ 10 – Kenza Dali), 18 – Laurina Fazer (46′ 8 – Kimmi Ascanio), 15 – Trinity Byars (90′ 9 – Adriana Leon), 17 – Ludmila, 7 – Melanie Barcenas (90′ 81 – Gabi Portilho)
Subs not used: 1 – Luisa Agudelo; 6 – Brooklyn Courtnall, 22 – Nya Harrison, 28 – Jordan Fusco
Head coach: Jonas Eidevall
Racing Louisville FC: 24 – Jordyn Bloomer; 12 – Quincy McMahon (71′ 21 – Rachel Hill), 5 – Ellie Jean, 3 – Arin Wright (c), 15 – Mirann Gacioch, 6 – Ella Hase, 20 – Katie O’Kane, 26 – Taylor Flint (85′ 10 – Macey Hodge), 2 – Lauren Milliet (85′ 88 – Audrey McKeen), 13 – Emma Sears (90’+3 11 – Taylor White), 9 – Kayla Fischer (71′ 16 – Maja Lardner)
Subs not used: 1 – Maddie Prohaska; 8 – Courtney Petersen, 23 – Macy Philippus, 42 – Sarah Weber
Head coach: Bev Yanez
Stats Summary: San Diego Wave FC / Racing Louisville FC
Shots: 32 / 13
Shots on Goal: 10 / 3
Expected goals: 1.76 / 1.53
Possession: 71.9% / 28.1%
Fouls: 9 / 12
Offside: 2 / 0
Corners: 11 / 6
Discipline Summary
San Diego Wave FC:
88′ Melanie Barcenas (yellow)
Racing Louisville FC:
58′ Kayla Fischer (yellow)
59′ Quincy McMahon (yellow)
86′ Macey Hodge (yellow)
Match referee: Atahan Yaya
