By Chris Mattingly
Racing Louisville FC had knocked in a trio of goals, winding down a 3-0 victory deep into Wednesday’s game against the Houston Dash, when another milestone moment arrived: “13” appeared in green on the sub board.
Often coined the “Hometown Hero,” fan favorite Emina Ekic made her long-awaited return to the pitch in the 79th minute of the UKG NWSL Challenge Cup game at Lynn Family Stadium. The third-year pro out of the University of Louisville had been sidelined since suffering an ankle injury during an offseason NWSL loan spell with Australia’s Melbourne City.
“It felt so good,” Ekic said of her return. “I was just happy to be out there — happy to be available.”
Still only 24 years old, Ekic felt things were clicking toward the end of Racing Louisville’s 2022 season. She scored late in a 3-1 Racing victory Sept. 25 at Angel City FC and subbed on for the Oct. 1 season finale against the KC Current, when Jess McDonald delivered a game-winning goal to help Louisville finish the season with back-to-back wins.
Ekic went on to score four goals in five appearances for Melbourne City.
“She had a great offseason in Australia,” said Racing’s head coach, Kim Björkegren. “She has been unlucky with some injures but it’s really nice to have her back again.”
Björkegren added that Ekic’s return “shows the depth that is really good” on Racing’s roster. And the forward will certainly be looking to make her mark.
“I want to be back to scoring goals,” said Ekic, who hit the back of the net three times last year. Now, she starts anew in 2023 with a different perspective. Being sidelined for more than a third of the season, “You’re sitting from the bird’s eye view,” she added. “It’s been good learning from that. It’s helped me remain more calm and made me realize that I had more time then I usually think.”
Ekic rejoined the fray amid Racing’s run of seven games unbeaten from its last eight. Louisville tops the Challenge Cup Central Division with a 3-0 record and will look to work itself into serious playoff competition in the regular season, where the club is ninth, five points from the current cut line.
“It’s nice to watch not just the team but everything around us,” Ekic said. “You guys, the media, the sponsorships and fans — it’s nice to see it coming together. The locker room has never changed, though. It’s alway been amazing — better maybe even than it’s been. It keeps skyrocketing, and I think that’s what makes this team this team is the locker room.”
Racing returns to regular season play at 4 p.m. Sunday when hosting NJ/NY Gotham FC at Lynn Family Stadium.
