Defender Julia Lester and winger Paige Monaghan will make their first starts of the 2023 campaign tonight, joining Racing Louisville’s starting XI for its home match against Seattle’s OL Reign at Lynn Family Stadium.
Lester missed most of Racing’s preseason with ankle and muscle injuries, but returned to the substitutes bench during the team’s two-match West Coast swing earlier this month. The Florida native is no stranger to a Racing starting lineup, having started 17 regular-season matches last season.
The return of Lester to Racing’s starting lineup is one of two changes to Louisville’s setup, with Monaghan also slated to start at winger. Lester replaces the injured Elli Pikkujämsä from last week’s lineup at Portland, while Monaghan, who came on as a substitute in the previous four matches, steps in for Jess McDonald, who is out this week on an excused absence.
Racing (0-1-3, 3 points) is aiming to do something it hasn’t done yet in its short existence in the National Women’s Soccer League: Beat OL Reign. The teams have played four regular-season games against one another, with three draws and an OL Reign win in 2021.
The midfield trio of Ary Borges, Savannah DeMelo and Jaelin Howell returns for another start together. This will be second match this year Racing’s expected midfield three features.
Monaghan joins Kirsten Davis and Wang Shuang along the front line, with Wang making her fifth straight start and Davis making her third consecutive start. Davis scored the second goal of the April 15 draw at Angel City, while Wang Shuang assisted Abby Erceg’s goal in the April 1 draw against Washington.
Lester and Erceg is expected to be the center back pairing for Racing, with Lauren Milliet at right back and Carson Pickett out left.
Katie Lund will make her 31st consecutive start as Racing’s No. 1 goalkeeper, a stretch that extends to the 2021 season. The club’s all-time appearances leader, Lauren Milliet, will make her 36th straight start for Racing.
Also notable: Uchenna Kanu, who did not play in the past two matches while recovering from a knee injury, is on the substitutes bench for Racing and off the injury report.
McDonald, Pikkujämsä, Nadia Nadim, Thembi Kgatlana, Emina Ekic and Jordyn Bloomer were all previously listed as out.
Racing Louisville Team Sheet at Portland
1 – Katie Lund
16 – Carson Pickett
20 – Abby Erceg
15 – Julia Lester
2 – Lauren Milliet
6 – Jaelin Howell (c)
7 – Savannah DeMelo
8 – Ary Borges
77 – Wang Shuang
5 – Paige Monaghan
22 – Kirsten Davis
Substitutes: 99 – Olivia Sekany; 3 – Zaneta Wyne, 9 – Kayla Fischer, 19 – Jordan Baggett, 21 – Parker Goins, 25 – Rebecca Holloway, 27 – Alex Chidiac, 29 – Uchenna Kanu, 44 – Satara Murray
