Racing Louisville FC returns to NWSL regular-season action at 7:30 p.m. Friday, facing the Houston Dash at Lynn Family Stadium as the playoff race enters its final stage.
The match will be streamed on Paramount+.
Following a milestone-setting week, Racing Louisville (5-4-9, 24 points) shifts its focus to the final four matches of the regular season. Seventh-place Racing is two points out of sixth, the final playoff spot, and comes back to Louisville after a road trip that included the club’s first-ever knockout tournament win (over OL Reign) and its first appearance in an NWSL tournament final.
Coach Kim Björkegren’s squad is in good league form, unbeaten in its last five regular-season games, including a 2-1 win over league-leading Portland on Sept. 2. The victories over Portland and OL Reign (in the Challenge Cup semifinal) were Racing’s first in club history against either opponent.
Friday’s matchup with the Houston Dash (4-6-8, 20 points) is the start of Racing Louisville’s regular season stretch run. The lavender and mint are at the center of a jumbled playoff picture, with first-place San Diego (30 points) and eighth-place Angel City (24 points) only separated by six points. A win for Racing would push the Louisvillians into playoff position with three games left.
Although the Dash is winless over the last eight regular-season matches, it is just six points out of a playoff spot and four behind Louisville. This will be the first Houston game this season with interim head coach Sarah Lowdon on the touchline.
Racing and Houston have split their meetings thus far in 2023, with each team claiming a victory at home in NWSL Challenge Cup play after a 0-0 regular-season draw on March 26 kicked off the league campaign for both sides. The hosts, however, will be seeking to repeat the 3-0 home Challenge Cup victory on June 14 that saw goals from Kayla Fischer, Savannah DeMelo and Parker Goins.
Follow along …
• For Starting XI and in-game updates, follow @RacingLouFC on Twitter and Racing Louisville FC on Facebook. You can also find us at @racinglouisvillefc on Instagram.
• The game will be streamed live on Paramount+, and international viewers may watch for free on NWSLSoccer.com.
Story lines …
Lynn Family fortress: Racing Louisville’s home form is among the best in the league with a record of 7-1-4 at Lynn Family Stadium across all competitions. Louisville only conceded 11 goals at home, posting five shutouts between regular-season play and the Challenge Cup. Racing is tied for third in the league in regular-season goals scored at home (15). Friday is the second-to-last opportunity to catch Racing at Lynn Family Stadium, with the regular-season home finale coming on Oct. 6 against the Orlando Pride.
Racing through the Challenge Cup: Four different Racing Louisville players earned UKG NWSL Challenge Cup All-Tournament Team honors thanks to their efforts in the group stage of the tournament. Goalkeeper Katie Lund, defender Abby Erceg and midfield partners Jaelin Howell and Savannah DeMelo were all recognized on the All-Tournament Team. Racing’s four honorees were the most of any team as the Louisvillians claimed their first NWSL knockout tournament win in a gritty semifinal victory at OL Reign and reach the club’s first NWSL competition final.
Davis’s career year: Second-year forward Kirsten Davis is having a 2023 to remember. The 25-year-old from St. Louis scored the game-winning goal in the Challenge Cup semifinal at OL Reign, pushing her total this season to a career-best four scores across all competitions. She also has a career-high two assists across all competitions.
Firsts against Houston: This year’s 3-0 win over Houston in the Challenge Cup provided a pair of firsts for Racing players. Rookie midfielder Kayla Fischer scored her first professional goal and first in a Racing kit, while reigning all-league left back Carson Pickett notched her first assist in Louisville colors since joining the team in January.
Global Racing: Racing Louisville is the first club in NWSL history to feature players from six different continents on its roster, and four different confederations were represented by goal involvements in the Sept. 2 regular-season win over first-place Portland. The signings of Nigeria’s Uchenna Kanu and South Africa’s Thembi Kgatlana as well as Brazilian midfielder Ary Borges pushed Racing’s roster from four continents on the roster to six this past offseason.
