Savannah DeMelo is back in Racing Louisville’s lineup for tonight’s 7:30 p.m. ET clash against the Chicago Red Stars, a welcome return for the star midfielder who missed last game because of a one-match suspension.
That is the only change to Kim Björkegren’s team after last weekend’s 1-0 loss at Orlando.
Racing (0-2-4, 4 points) is the last team without a win in the National Women’s Soccer League, hoping to change that with back-to-back home matches at Lynn Family Stadium. The Louisvillians have a fast turnaround after the Chicago matchup, with their opening UKG NWSL Challenge Cup game set for Wednesday against Kansas City.
DeMelo’s return to the starting lineup nudges rookie Kayla Fischer to the substitutes bench.
The rest of the starters will look familiar, with Abby Erceg, Julia Lester, Lauren Milliet and Carson Pickett making up the defensive back line in front of goalkeeper Katie Lund. DeMelo is back in the midfield trio with Ary Borges and captain Jaelin Howell. Uchenna Kanu will spearhead a front line that includes Paige Monaghan and Wang Shuang.
Lund will make her 33rd consecutive start as Racing’s No. 1 goalkeeper, a stretch that extends to the 2021 season. The club’s all-time appearances leader, Milliet will make her 38th straight start for Racing.
On the substitutes bench, Racing is happy to have defender Elli Pikkujämsä available after the Finnish international tweaked her hamstring in the loss at Portland three weeks ago. South African forward Thembi Kgatlana, who made her long-awaited debut for Racing last weekend, is available on the subs bench again for Friday’s match.
Jess McDonald, Nadia Nadim, Emina Ekic and Jordyn Bloomer were all previously listed as out.
Racing Louisville Team Sheet vs. Chicago Red Stars
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
29 – Uchenna Kanu
Substitutes: 99 – Olivia Sekany; 3 – Zaneta Wyne, 4 – Elli Pikkujämsä, 9 – Kayla Fischer, 11 – Thembi Kgatlana, 19 – Jordan Baggett, 21 – Parker Goins, 25 – Rebecca Holloway, 27 – Alex Chidiac
