Racing Louisville FC head coach Bev Yanez opts for four changes to the starting XI Saturday night, as Racing plays host to the Houston Dash at Lynn Family Stadium.
Kickoff for Louisville’s final home match before a two-match road swing is set for 8 p.m. ET. The game stream can be found in the free NWSL+ app, while the local radio broadcast is available on Sports Talk 790AM.
The alterations are split evenly between the defense and attack — two at the back and two in the club’s forward line.
Rookie Mirann Gacioch and Quincy McMahon, who came off the bench in last week’s defeat versus Bay FC, will enter the fold defensively alongside captain Arin Wright and club original Lauren Milliet to form a back four. This will be the third NWSL appearance for Gacioch, a versatile defender out of the Ohio State University.
Goalkeeper Jordyn Bloomer will keep her place in the Racing net, making her 13th start of the campaign. Bloomer amassed five saves in Louisville’s most recent home meeting against Houston — a 1-1 draw last August.
Kayla Fischer and Makenna Morris — two starters from the first game back following the summer break at Portland Thorns FC — represent the final two changes in the forward line.
Morris will link up with U.S. Women’s National Team standout Emma Sears to provide the threat out wide, while Fischer slots in at the center forward position.
The midfield is the only one of the three lines that remains unchanged. The NWSL’s current duels won leader Taylor Flint will again be joined by Katie O’Kane and Macey Hodge in the middle of the park. Notably, Flint has shown a tendency to find the net vs. the Dash recently. She has tallied three goals from her last two encounters against the Texas outfit.
Yanez has an array of options off the bench, highlighted by former Houston defender Courtney Petersen, dynamic wide threat Ella Hase and the young forward Sarah Weber. Forwrd Audrey McKeen, 17, is also back in the team after playing two friendlies with the U.S. U-20 Women’s National Team earlier this month.
Team sheet vs. Houston Dash
24 – Jordyn Bloomer
12 – Quincy McMahon
3 – Arin Wright (c)
15 – Mirann Gacioch
2 – Lauren Milliet
26 – Taylor Flint
10 – Macey Hodge
20 – Katie O’Kane
4 – Makenna Morris
13 – Emma Sears
9 – Kayla Fischer
Available substitutes: 1 – Maddie Prohaska; 5 – Ellie Jean, 6 – Ella Hase, 8 – Courtney Petersen, 16 – Maja Lardner, 19 – Avery Ciorbu, 21 – Rachel Hill, 42 – Sarah Weber, 88 – Audrey McKeen
