Goalkeeper Jordyn Bloomer is set to make her first home start in a Racing Louisville kit in today’s 8 p.m. ET matchup against Mexican club CF Monterrey in the opening game of the inaugural NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup.
The 26-year-old Bloomer is one of two changes to coach Bev Yanez’s starting lineup since Racing’s last time out, a loss at North Carolina before the NWSL’s mandatory week off. Rookie forward Emma Sears also returns to the starting XI.
The NWSL is taking a break from regular season play for the Summer Olympics, where 56 players from the league will represent their countries in one of the sport’s preeminent tournaments. The Summer Cup keeps the rest of the league in action, and it combines the 14 NWSL squads with six of the top teams from Mexico. There are five groups of four, with the top four teams in the three-game group stage advancing to the semifinals on Aug. 6.
Racing is hoping to repeat its success in the 2023 NWSL Challenge Cup. The club won its first NWSL knockout round match with a 1-0 semifinal win at Seattle and appeared in its first NWSL final of any kind in the Challenge Cup final at North Carolina. The Courage won the last tournament-style iteration of the Challenge Cup, topping Racing 2-0 at WakeMed Soccer Park.
As Racing kicks off this new tournament, Bloomer gets the chance to show what she can do in what will be her second start across all competitions since joining Louisville in 2022. She started an NWSL Challenge Cup game in Houston as a rookie and played in the preseason Portland Thorns Tournament last March. She is spelling regular Racing starting goalkeeper Katie Lund.
Sears replaces fellow Ohio State alum Kayla Fischer in the lineup, shifting from her usual right wing to the left. She’ll pair across the front line with Marisa DiGrande, Savannah DeMelo and Reilyn Turner. Turner scored her fourth goal of the season the last time out, a neat finish from the top of the box that moved her into a tie with DeMelo as the team’s top goal contributors.
Taylor Flint and captain Jaelin Howell will play in a double pivot behind DiGrande. After recently returning to training and Racing’s subs bench, Brazilian midfielder Ary Borges is available again as a reserve and for increased minutes.
Racing’s defensive group is unchanged, with Abby Erceg and Arin Wright playing centrally, Carson Pickett out left and Lauren Milliet out right.
Along with Borges and Lund, the rest of the substitutes bench also includes defender Ellie Jean; midfielders Jordan Baggett, Kayla Fischer and Linda Motlhalo; winger Maddie Pokorny; and forwards Elexa Bahr and Parker Goins.
Goalkeeper Olivia Sekany, defender Elli Pikkujämsä and forward Kirsten Wright were all previously listed as out in the league availability report. Forwards Milly Clegg and Uchenna Kanu are at the Olympics with their respective national teams.
Racing Louisville lineup vs. CF Monterrey
24 – Jordyn Bloomer (GK)
2 – Lauren Milliet
3 – Arin Wright
20 – Abby Erceg
16 – Carson Pickett
6 – Jaelin Howell (c)
26 – Taylor Flint
13 – Emma Sears
14 – Marisa DiGrande
7 – Savannah DeMelo
66 – Reilyn Turner
Substitutes: 1 – Katie Lund (GK); 5 – Ellie Jean, 8 – Ary Borges, 9 – Kayla Fischer, 10 – Linda Motlhalo, 17 – Maddie Pokorny, 19 – Jordan Baggett, 21 – Parker Goins, 23 – Elexa Bahr
