Racing Louisville FC’s pursuit to become the first NWSL expansion franchise to make the league’s playoffs took a hit Sunday.
Four days after losing to last-place Kansas City, the ladies in lavender dropped a 1-0 result to the eighth-place Houston Dash at BBVA Stadium.
The defeats have Racing at 4-8-4 in its inaugural season, good for ninth on the table and seven points from the current playoff cut line.
Of course, fatigue could have played a part in this week’s results as Louisville wound down a congested portion of its schedule consisting of five games in 15 days.
“I think everybody apart from me is obsessed with the playoffs,” said coach Christy Holly. “Let’s keep things in perspective: We have how many players that were out there tonight in their first season in the NWSL? We need to keep things in perspective. We need to keep getting better. If we keep getting better the results will take care of themselves.
“…The growth in the last three to four days has been more mental — players figuring out how to dig in and how to play through fatigue and how to perform through fatigue, so I do see that level of growth.”
The club had extended its unbeaten streak to four games while hoisting The Women’s Cup — a midseason trophy won over German champion FC Bayern Munich — before Racing hit the road for the Kansas City and Houston games.
A 49th-minute sequence decided the Dash game. At one end of the field, Racing forward Nadia Nadim played in a dangerous cross that Lauren Milliet just missed converting into a shot at the face of goal.
Seconds later, Louisville turned over possession near the midfield line, where the Dash’s Shea Groom played Nichelle Prince in behind the opposing defense. Prince found Rachel Daly, and the England international finished a game-winning goal.
“Nads had a great ball in the box, Lo made a great run to the near post, any other night that goes into the back of the net and we’re up one to zero instead of turning around and conceding a goal,” said Racing’s vice captain, Savannah McCaskill. “We have to do better as far as counter-measures. We have to be able to realize moments that we’re stretched and just clear balls instead of forcing them into pockets, and we just have to take care of the ball.
“There was still plenty of time on the clock. I think we ran out of energy and pulled back, but those are crucial moments that we’re going to have to really learn from and not let happen on a continual basis.”
Racing controlled the majority of possession — 54.7% — but struggled to produce chances from it, getting out-shot 13-5 by Houston.
Holly’s lineup consisted of four changes from Wednesday, including the first career NWSL start for defender Julia Ashley at right back.
“With all these games comes injury — comes people not being able to play on certain nights, and so my opportunity just came tonight,” Ashley said. “I just was talking to (Holly) right before this and I thanked him for the opportunity tonight, and he told me that I’d earned it. Every day I’ve been trying to do the right things to stay healthy, and it just happened for me tonight so I was excited about it.”
Racing limited the damage after Daly’s goal when a Kristie Mewis chance from inside the box flew wide in the 60th minute, and Prince’s attempt to score at the near post was denied.
Louisville can lay claim to the best look of the night that didn’t result in a goal. A 10th-minute scrum in front of Houston’s goal started with a blocked shot that caromed to Freja Olofsson, whose point-blank try was also denied — and left Racing’s players appealing for a handball.
Alas, a penalty wasn’t awarded, and the Dash went on to avenge a 1-0 Racing victory when these clubs first met back on June 20.
Eight games remain for Racing to gain points needed to qualify for the playoffs, with the next of them at 7:30 p.m. Saturday as OL Reign visits Lynn Family Stadium.
Game Summary: Houston Dash vs. Racing Louisville FC
Venue: BBVA Stadium
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m.
Weather: 90 degrees, clear
Player of the Match: Cece Kizer
Scoring
Houston Dash (0, 1, 1)
Racing Louisville FC (0, 0, 0)
Goals
Houston Dash:
49’ Rachel Daly (assisted by Nichelle Prince)
Stats Summary: Houston Dash / Racing Louisville FC
Shots: 14 / 5
Shots on Goal: 4 / 3
Fouls: 14 / 11
Offside: 2 / 2
Corner Kicks: 4 / 3
Saves: 3 / 3
Lineups
Houston Dash: 1 – Jane Campbell, 9 – Haley Hanson, 25 – Katie Naughton, 2 – Allysha Chapman, 11 – Megan Oyster, 13 – Sophie Schmidt (81’ 5 – Gabby Seiler), 6 – Shea Groom, 19 – Kristie Mewis (81’ 34 – Michaela Abam), 12 – Veronica Latsko (71’ 22 – Jasmyne Spencer), 8 – Nichelle Prince (90+2’ 14 – Bri Visalli), 3 – Rachel Daly
Subs not used: 35 – Michelle Alozie, 24 – Jamia Fields, 27 – Annika Schmidt, 20 – Lindsey Harris, 33 – Makamae Gomera-Stevens
Racing Louisville FC: 1 – Michelle Betos, 18 – Kaleigh Riehl, 14 – Nealy Martin, 16 – Julia Ashley (53’ 3 – Erin Simon), 11 – Emily Fox (53’ 15 – Brooke Hendrix), 7 – Savannah McCaskill, 2 – Lauren Milliet (65’ 33 – Jorian Baucom), 5 – Cece Kizer, 8 – Freja Olofsson, 13 – Emina Ekic (65’ 9 – Ebony Salmon), 10 – Nadia Nadim
Subs not used: 19 – Taylor Otto, 22 – Katie McClure, 23 – Katie Lund, 17 – Yuki Nagasato
Discipline Summary
Racing Louisville: 68’ Jorian Baucom (yellow)
Houston Dash: 73’ Katie Naughton (yellow)
Racing Louisville: 82’ Erin Simon (yellow)
Houston Dash: 90+7’ Bri Visalli (yellow)
Houston Dash: 90+8’ Haley Hanson (yellow)
Referee: Alexandra Billeter
Assistant Referees: Jennifer Garner, Melissa Beck
Fourth Official: Hector Hernandez
