Taylor White scored her first professional goal Saturday evening, but Racing Louisville FC fell 6-1 to an efficient Denver Summit FC at Centennial Stadium in Centennial, Colo.
Louisville ran into a Denver side that needed a win to stay alive in the postseason race — and the Summit played like it.
Denver had four players each record two goal contributions, as the hosts scored twice before halftime and piled on four more in the second half to earn a bounce-back home win. Natasha Flint netted a brace for the hosts, while Yazmeen Ryan and Melissa Kössler each chipped in a goal and an assist.
White gave Louisville a moment to remember in the 79th minute with her first tally for the club; however, the Summit’s potent attack made for a tough night.
The win for Denver gives it an opportunity on Decision Day at the North Carolina Courage to potentially sneak into the eighth and final playoff spot.
“It’s been a tough year, a very, very tough year,” said Racing head coach Bev Yanez. “So I think a lot of the aim and objective and focus has been on what can we take from this? How can we learn from this? How can we continue to be better in every aspect of us?
“… It’s no secret that it’s been a tough year, but I think the reality is we’re taking that head-on. We’re trying to do the best we can in the sense of continuing to fight.”
Though Racing started positively in the opening stages, it was the Summit that converted the game’s opener in the 19th minute. Janine Sonis, with a ball on the left flank, found an open Flint, who calmly fired it home at the back post.
Just before the half, the former Racing player Sonis created Denver’s second goal from a dead-ball situation. This time Kurtz was the beneficiary, heading it inside the far post to double the hosts’ advantage.
While Racing was 2-0 down, Yanez thought the scoreline was a bit “harsh,” as Louisville produced numerous “very good moments” in the opening period.
Unfortunately, the Summit were relentless going forward in the second 45 minutes, tallying three of their four second-half goals within a nine-minute span.
Kössler struck first for the hosts after halftime in the 59th minute, before Lindsey Heaps and Flint added another two to make it five before the 70th-minute mark. Denver’s final goal came off the boot of Ryan in the 81st minute.
White, in just her ninth NWSL appearance, pulled one back with a brilliant first-time volley off a ball played in by Lauren Milliet. It was Milliet’s seventh assist of the season, which extends her single-season club record.
In reflecting on the goal, White said, “Honestly, I don’t even remember really what happened. I just put my head down and ran. I trust Lo (Lauren Milliet), so it was being in position to get the ball in the back of the net.”
Racing will pivot to cap off its 2026 campaign next Sunday, Nov. 1, back at Lynn Family Stadium against the playoff-bound Kansas City Current, who currently occupy fifth position.
“Obviously, you want to win every game you step into,” Milliet said. “We’re all competitors. We’re all wanting to win, put our best foot forward. I think for us, it’s just continuing to do that. … We want to finish strong, so I think we’ll be raring to go.”
Game Summary: Denver Summit FC vs. Racing Louisville FC
Date: October 24, 2026
Venue: Centennial Stadium — Centennial, Colo.
Kickoff: 6:30 p.m. ET
Weather: 52 degrees, cloudy
Scoring
Denver Summit FC (2, 4, 6)
Racing Louisville FC (0, 1, 1)
Goals:
Denver Summit FC:
19′ Natasha Flint (Janine Sonis)
45’+2 Kaleigh Kurtz (Janine Sonis)
59′ Melissa Kössler (Yazmeen Ryan)
66′ Lindsey Heaps (Natalie Means)
68′ Natasha Flint (Melissa Kössler)
81′ Yazmeen Ryan (Olivia Thomas)
Racing Louisville FC
79′ Taylor White (Lauren Milliet)
Lineups
Denver Summit FC: 1 – Abby Smith; 6 – Janine Sonis, 3 – Kaleigh Kurtz, 23 – Eva Gaetino, 4 – Natalie Means (73′ 7 – Ayo Oke), 26 – Natasha Flint (88′ 20 – Naomi Eto), 5 – Devin Lynch (78′ 8 – Emma Regan), 10 – Lindsey Heaps (c), 24 – Delanie Sheehan, 9 – Yazmeen Ryan (88′ 18 – Yuzuki Yamamoto), 25 – Melissa Kössler (78′ 33 – Olivia Thomas)
Subs not used: 36 – Kat Asman; 2 – Megan Reid, 11 – Ally Brazier, 14 – Yuna McCormack
Head coach: Nick Cushing
Racing Louisville FC: 1 – Maddie Prohaska; 4 – Makenna Morris, 3 – Arin Wright (c), 15 – Mirann Gacioch, 12 – Quincy McMahon (73′ 5 – Ellie Jean), 10 – Macey Hodge, 2 – Lauren Milliet, 20 – Katie O’Kane, 13 – Emma Sears (63′ 11 – Taylor White), 42 – Sarah Weber (73′ 88 – Audrey McKeen), 9 – Kayla Fischer (73′ 21 – Rachel Hill)
Subs not used: 24 – Jordyn Bloomer; 8 – Courtney Petersen, 16 – Maja Lardner, 23 – Macy Philippus, 28 – Jordan Fusco
Head coach: Bev Yanez
Stats Summary: Denver Summit FC / Racing Louisville FC
Shots: 20 / 6
Shots on Goal: 7 / 1
Expected goals: 2.43 / 0.51
Possession: 59.6% / 40.4%
Fouls: 8 / 7
Offside: 1 / 4
Corners: 6 / 4
Match referee: Brad Jensen
