Racing Louisville FC scored twice Wednesday in first half stoppage time to keep its spotless UKG NWSL Challenge Cup record in tact with a 3-0 victory over the Houston Dash.
Kayla Fischer netted her first professional goal seconds before Savannah DeMelo continued her stellar recent run to double the lead. Parker Goins headed in another goal in the second half, much to the delight of 4,983 fans on hand at Lynn Family Stadium — and 187 dogs in attendance for Pups at the Pitch night benefitting the Kentucky Humane Society.
The result kept Racing — at 3-0-0, with 9 points — atop the Challenge Cup’s Central Division at group stage play’s midway point. Louisville is also unbeaten in seven of its last eight games across the Challenge Cup and regular season.
“Our start was not the best the first 10 or 15 minutes,” said coach Kim Björkegren. “After that, I think we had so much control in the whole game. We played really good football tonight. We worked in our attack and created a lot of chances. The only thing I can complain over is to maybe kill the game off a little bit earlier, but overall I’m happy with our performance.”
Fischer opened the scoring to conclude a first half where Racing often knocked, generating seven shots on target and four big chances, according to Stats Perform.
That included a 32nd-minute attempt by Fischer requiring a diving save at the near post. The rookie out of Ohio State broke through four minutes into stoppage time, banging in a cross from Ary Borges.
Before the halftime whistle, DeMelo stabbed a one-touch rocket of a goal from the top of the box on service from Paige Monaghan. So continued a standout season for DeMelo, who has racked up three goals and an assist in three Challenge Cup games.
“We were on their back line and all getting into the box,” Fischer said. “To get not one but two goals going into the half was just huge because we had the momentum.
“…I think it was just a really good team win. We still have some things to work on, playing faster, but I think we came out with the energy. When you’re not playing your best soccer, if you can have the energy and be on your front foot the whole game, I think that’s what we did well.”
Goins rounded out scoring by nudging in a 74th-minute free kick from Carson Pickett, and Racing paired a multi-goal performance with Katie Lund’s sixth shutout of the year across all competitions. Lund had relatively light work, needing to make one save against the Dash.
Another highlight arrived in the 79th minute when Louisville native Emina Ekic — a Racing player since the club’s inaugural season in 2021 — subbed on for her first minutes of the season. Ekic was in solid form during the NWSL offseason while on loan in Australia when she broke her ankle, requiring a lengthy rehab process.
“I was just happy to be out there,” Ekic said. “I was happy to be available — happy to warm up — and just see it from a different perspective rather than be sidelined in the stands. It was just great. My teammates were great, the fans were great, my family — I could feel how excited everybody was for me.”
From here, Racing returns to NWSL regular season play at 4 p.m. Sunday when hosting NJ/NY Gotham FC at Lynn Family Stadium. The game will air live nationally on CBS as Louisville looks to work its way into the playoffs for the first time.
“I think everybody who has followed Racing,” Björkegren said, “they can see that we’re a different team this season.”
Game Summary: Racing Louisville FC vs. Houston Dash
Date: June 14, 2023
Venue: Lynn Family Stadium
Kickoff: 8 p.m. ET
Weather: 81 degrees, mostly cloudy
Attendance: 4,983
Scoring
Racing Louisville (2, 1, 3)
Houston Dash (0, 0, 0)
Goals
Racing Louisville FC:
45’+4 Kayla Fischer (Ary Borges)
45’+5 Savannah DeMelo (Paige Monaghan)
74’ Parker Goins (Carson Pickett)
Lineups
Racing Louisville FC: 1 – Katie Lund, 16 – Carson Pickett, 20 – Abby Erceg, 15 – Julia Lester (79’ 3 – Zaneta Wyne), 2 – Lauren Milliet, 6 – Jaelin Howell (55’ 4 – Elli Pikkujämsä), 7 – Savannah DeMelo (79’ 13 – Emina Ekic), 8 – Ary Borges (72’ 19 – Jordan Baggett), 5 – Paige Monaghan, 29 – Uchenna Kanu (55’ 21 – Parker Goins), 9 – Kayla Fischer
Subs not used: 99 – Olivia Sekany, 11 – Thembi Kgatlana, 25 – Rebecca Holloway, 77 – Wang Shuang
Head Coach: Kim Björkegren
Houston Dash: 99 — Emily Alvarado, 5 — Courtney Petersen, 37 — Jyllissa Harris, 36 — Lindsi Jennings, 23 — Ally Prisock, 14 — Marisa Viggiano, 6 — Havana Solaun, 13 — Sophie Schmidt (46’ 46’ 21 — Ryan Gareis), 7 — Maria Sanchez (46’ 39 — Cameron Tucker), 11 — Diana Ordonez (46’ 15 — Barbara Olivieri), 9 — Ebony Salmon (67’ 31 — Madelyn Desiano)
Subs not used: 35 — Savannah Madden, 4 — Natalie Jacobs, 22 — Michelle. Alozie, 25 — Katie Lind
Head Coach: Sam Laity
Stats Summary: Racing Louisville FC / Houston Dash
Shots: 20 / 7
Shots on Goal: 9 / 1
Possession: 58.3% / 41.7%
Fouls: 2 / 12
Offside: 3 / 1
Corner Kicks: 8 / 1
Discipline Summary
Racing Louisville FC:
9’ Uchenna Kanu (yellow)
Houston Dash:
41’ Lindsi Jennings (yellow)
47’ Ally Prisock (yellow)
Referee: LC Griggs
VAR: Greg Dopka
