Makenna Morris is set to make her Racing Louisville FC debut from the start of Friday night’s NWSL clash with the Houston Dash at Lynn Family Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
Racing acquired the 23-year-old this week in a trade with the Washington Spirit. A versatile player with experience across the attack, midfield, and defense, Morris will start at left fullback for Louisville.
Courtney Petersen, who has started 12 straight games at left fullback, will shift inside to left center back in place of captain Arin Wright, who misses out through injury. Ellie Jean and Janine Sonis will play on the right side of the back four, as they have for four straight games.
Head coach Bev Yanez has also made one change up front. Kayla Fischer returns to the starting lineup at center forward, her first start since Aug. 1 against Kansas City. She appeared off the bench in each of the past three matches.
The wing pairing of Ella Hase and Emma Sears will start again after connecting on the winning goal last week at San Diego. Sears’ record-setting seventh goal of the season — the most in a single NWSL campaign by a Racing player — was assisted by Hase, marking the rookie’s first career helper.
The midfield also stays the same, with Yanez selecting Ary Borges for the second week in a row. Taylor Flint and Savannah DeMelo start alongside.
Jordyn Bloomer, coming off a career-best eight-save shutout in last week’s win at San Diego, remains the starter in goal.
On the bench, Sarah Weber and Bethany Balcer give Yanez attacking options, while DiGrande and Katie O’Kane offer midfield depth. Five substitutes are still waiting for their first Racing appearance of the season.
Racing is in search of a second-straight win, and a fourth game unbeaten. Louisville sits in seventh place, four points clear of eighth-place Gotham FC, and will remain in a playoff position regardless of Friday’s result. The club could rise as high as fifth with a win.
Team sheet vs. Houston Dash
24 – Jordyn Bloomer
4 – Makenna Morris
11 – Courtney Petersen
5 – Ellie Jean
16 – Janine Sonis (c)
26 – Taylor Flint
8 – Ary Borges
7 – Savannah DeMelo
6 – Ella Hase
13 – Emma Sears
9 – Kayla Fischer
Substitutes: 33 – Cristina Roque, 77 – Madison White; 14 – Marisa DiGrande, 15 – Ángela Barón, 20 – Katie O’Kane, 31 – Katie Scott, 32 – Avery Kalitta, 42 – Sarah Weber, 88 – Bethany Balcer
