
Racing Louisville rookie forward Reilyn Turner returned to coach Bev Yanez’s starting XI for tonight’s contest against the Houston Dash.
The 21-year-old California native represents the only change to Yanez’s starting lineup from Racing’s most recent match, a 1-0 win at Chicago prior to the break in league play. Turner, who tallied a club-record six shots on target at Houston in March’s 0-0 draw, will be making her first appearance in Racing’s starting unit since the April 13 draw against San Diego Wave FC. Her four goal involvements are tied for the team lead with Uchenna Kanu and Savannah DeMelo.
The match will be streamed for free on the NWSL+ app and on plus.nwslsoccer.com. Fans can follow the radio broadcast of the game on News Talk 1080 AM, online at talkradio1080.iheart.com or the iHeart Radio app.
Turner will lead the line for the second time against Houston this season, with Elexa Bahr and Emma Sears providing the attacking width. The 23-year-old Sears, the winner of the league’s last two Goal of the Week awards, makes her fifth consecutive start on the wing. Bahr has featured in every starting lineup since opening weekend and will serve as the left winger.
Captained by Abby Erceg for the fifth game running, Racing will utilize the same back line for the eighth successive match. Her center back partner Arin Wright needs to play 47 minutes to surpass 13,000 career minutes played. Left back Carson Pickett will move into the 150 NWSL appearances club in making her 14th straight start in lavender, dating back to last season. Lauren Milliet inches closer to that 80th Louisville appearance, with tonight being No. 79.
The anchor between the sticks, Katie Lund is six saves away from 250 in her NWSL career, a mark only 10 other goalkeepers in league history have attained, per Opta.
The double pivot of Taylor Flint and Marisa DiGrande will be joined by an in-form DeMelo in the midfield. DeMelo has scored four goals through seven starts in the NWSL, one less than her single-season career-high. The league recognized the 26-year-old’s recent success by naming her to the NWSL’s May Best XI of the Month, presented by Amazon Prime, along with Pickett. DiGrande will be in the lineup for the first time against her former club since signing with Racing last December. The Michigan native spent the previous two campaigns in Houston, earning 32 starts in 40 league matches. To reach 5,000 minutes in her career, Flint, who has played every minute in 2024, needs to play 66 minutes.
Midfielder and club captain Jaelin Howell is back in the Louisville match day squad after missing out on the past two games. After scoring her first senior international goal against Japan four days ago, 18-year-old Milly Clegg will open the game as a substitute.
The substitutes list also includes reserve goalkeeper Jordyn Bloomer; defender Ellie Jean; winger Maddie Pokorny; midfielders Linda Motlhalo and Yuuka Kurosaki; and forwards Kanu and Parker Goins.
Forwards Kirsten Wright and Kayla Fischer; defender Elli Pikkujämsä; and midfielders Ary Borges and Jordan Baggett were previously announced as out on Racing’s availability report. Fischer is serving a one-match suspension for yellow card accumulation.
Racing Louisville lineup vs. Houston Dash
1 – Katie Lund
2 – Lauren Milliet
3 – Arin Wright
20 – Abby Erceg (c)
16 – Carson Pickett
14 – Marisa DiGrande
26 – Taylor Flint
13 – Emma Sears
7 – Savannah DeMelo
23 – Elexa Bahr
66 – Reilyn Turner
Substitutes: 24 – Jordyn Bloomer (GK); 5 – Ellie Jean, 6 – Jaelin Howell, 10 – Linda Motlhalo, 11 – Yuuka Kurosaki, 17 – Maddie Pokorny, 18 – Milly Clegg, 21 – Parker Goins, 29 – Uchenna Kanu