Racing Louisville made three changes to the starting lineup ahead of today’s 4:30 p.m. ET matchup at North Carolina.
Forward Reilyn Turner, midfielder Taylor Flint and defender Arin Wright all rejoined Racing’s starting XI after either coming off the bench or missing Louisville’s 1-0 loss to Bay FC last weekend.
The match will be nationally broadcast on CBS Sports Network. You can listen to the match on Sports Talk 790 AM, online at 790louisville.iheart.com or via the iHeart app.
Racing (3-5-7, 16 points) is positioned in ninth place, two points out of playoff position, and aiming to bounce back from a four-match winless streak.
Flint is back in the lineup after missing last week’s game because of a concussion. The standout midfielder was injured just before halftime in the 1-1 draw at Seattle on June 23. In 14 matches played, Flint ranks first in the NWSL in aerial duels won, interceptions and tackles won and sixth in possession recoveries among non-goalkeepers. The 25-year-old has created 11 scoring chances and started every game she’s been available.
Captain Jaelin Howell and 27-year-old Marisa DiGrande will join Flint in the midfield, with Howell playing as the second player in a double pivot and DiGrande in an advanced position. This is Howell’s 50th appearance in the NWSL and with Racing, making her the fourth player in club history to reach the milestone, along with Savannah DeMelo, Katie Lund and Lauren Milliet.
Wright sat out the Bay match because of suspension after being sent off in the Seattle game. The 31-year-old Kentucky native started 11 consecutive matches before the Bay miss. She’ll partner with Abby Erceg at center back along the back line, with Milliet on the right and Carson Pickett on the left.
Lund will start her 60th consecutive match for Racing between the posts, just one shutout away from securing sole possession of 11th in NWSL career clean sheets.
This is Turner’s seventh start. The 21-year-old has three goals and two assists, tied for second among NWSL rookies. She’ll lead the line for Racing, with Kayla Fischer on the left wing. DeMelo, Racing’s leading scorer, will shift to the right flank along Louisville’s front line, hoping to add to her five goals and one assist this season. The California native’s next goal will set a new single-season high for her — and tie the club’s highest single-season goal output.
Brazilian international Ary Borges is once again available as a substitute for Racing, with the chance to make her first appearance since April 28 after having a knee scope procedure. The rest of the substitutes bench also includes reserve goalkeeper Jordyn Bloomer; defender Ellie Jean; midfielder Jordan Baggett; winger Maddie Pokorny; and forwards Elexa Bahr, Parker Goins, Uchenna Kanu and Emma Sears.
Goalkeeper Olivia Sekany, defender Elli Pikkujämsä and forward Kirsten Wright were all previously listed as out in the league availability report.
Racing Louisville lineup at North Carolina Courage
1 – Katie Lund
2 – Lauren Milliet
3 – Arin Wright
20 – Abby Erceg
16 – Carson Pickett
6 – Jaelin Howell (c)
26 – Taylor Flint
7 – Savannah DeMelo
14 – Marisa DiGrande
9 – Kayla Fischer
66 – Reilyn Turner
Substitutes: 24 – Jordyn Bloomer (GK); 5 – Ellie Jean, 8 – Ary Borges, 13 – Emma Sears, 17 – Maddie Pokorny, 19 – Jordan Baggett, 21 – Parker Goins, 23 – Elexa Bahr, 29 – Uchenna Kanu
