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Having concluded the preseason NWSL Challenge Cup tournament, Racing Louisville FC will kick off its inaugural campaign Saturday against fellow league expansion side Kansas City at Lynn Family Stadium.

Racing went 0-2-2 during the Challenge Cup, gaining valuable experience before the points count over a 24-game regular season, with each NWSL club seeing the others at least once home and away.

As with Racing, Kansas City enters the weekend looking for its first victory after going 0-3-1 in the West Division. The former Utah Royals franchise relocated going into 2021.

Louisville, meanwhile bookended its run with draws, most recently playing East Division winner NJ/NY Gotham FC to a scoreless tie. Portland Thorns FC knocked off Gotham in penalties to win the Challenge Cup.

Lynn Family Stadium will continue to be limited to 50% of its 15,304 capacity under Kentucky’s latest guidelines for outdoor events numbering more than 1,000 people.

Here’s what to watch for as the regular season begins…

Coach Christy Holly says…

“We got to learn a lot about ourselves during the Challenge Cup, and we will get to learn even more as the season evolves. The results didn’t go our way, but in a sense I did not want us to be misguided by sneaking a win when we are underperforming. I think it keeps our feet on the ground. It makes it very realistic about where we are as a club. We are in the embryonic stages of our growth in the NWSL. There are no easy games in the NWSL. If you take your foot off the gas for a second, these teams will punish you. That happened to us a couple of times. I think there were definitely a few games where we should have put the game to bed and we didn’t. That is great learning for us. I think we are in a decent place. I think it would be nice to get that win.” 

“Kansas (City) is very dangerous. They have a very experienced team. They have been around for a long time. I know they just got there, but the grass is still green in Kansas. It is the same as it is in Utah. It Is a team with a tremendous amount of experience from A-Rod (Amy Rodriguez), Desiree Scott, to Rachel Corsie to Nicole Barnhart. They have a real good spine for their team. What they did is in the last six to 12 months is add pace. They are a quick, dangerous team that on the counterattack can be dangerous and a real threat to us. We need to be buttoned up. We need to be organized. We do have a good feeling going into the game, but we need to be on the top of our game or else they will punish us.” 

Follow along

For Starting XI and in-game updates, follow @RacingLouFC on Twitter and Racing Louisville FC on Facebook. Also find us at @racinglouisvillefc on Instagram.

Watch the match on CBS Sports Network with play by play from Jenn Hildreth and color commentary by Lori Lindsey. Internationally, fans can stream the match on Twitch with play by play from Josh Tolle and color commentary by Kaylyn Kyle.

Notes to know

Know the Foe: In January, Utah Royals announced its move to Kansas City, a shift back after the former FC Kansas City ceased operations four years prior. Under new ownership, the club brought along 15 players from Utah’s roster last year including World Cup winner and captain Amy Rodriguez along with Canadian standouts Desiree Scott and Diana Matheson.

National Spotlight: Saturday’s game will air on CBS Sports Network, making for the second national broadcast in Lynn Family Stadium’s brief history following last July’s opener between the USL Championship side Louisville City FC and Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC on ESPN2. Racing could also end its season on national TV, with CBSSN having the option to pick up the Oct. 31 finale at Gotham FC.

Season Structure: Racing and Kansas City will kick off the NWSL regular season, with two other games to follow Saturday and two more Sunday. Each club has 12 home and 12 away games head, playing through the rescheduled Olympics until the final weekend of October. The top six teams qualify for the playoffs, which conclude with a final the weekend of Nov. 20.

Managerial Matchup: Racing coach Christy Holly has never faced off against Kansas City’s Huw Williams, a native of Wales who helped found and served as general manager or FC Kansas City. Holly, himself a previous coach in the league at Sky Blue FC, went 2-0-1 against that franchise while there in 2016 and 2017.

Kansas Connections: While no members of Racing’s roster have played professionally for Kansas City, two grew up in the area with defender Addisyn Merrick from Lee’s Summit, Mo., and striker Cece Kizer from Overland, Park, Kan. Additionally, forward Katie McClure, who is from Wichita, Kan., attended the University of Kansas with Merrick.

Shutout Preserved: In each of Racing’s opening three Challenge Cup games, the new club conceded goals after the 83rd minute. That trend ended in its tournament finale, a 0-0 draw at Gotham FC. Goalkeeper Michelle Betos made four saves, while Brooke Hendrix led the defense with 3 clearances and Kaleigh Riehl won possession 9 times.

Goal Getters: Three Racing players hit the back of the net in the Challenge Cup. Forward Cece Kizer led the way with two goals, both openers in the club’s home games at Lynn Family Stadium, while Brooke Hendrix and Jorian Baucom also scored. Four players — Kizer, Emily Fox, Freja Olofsson and Erin Simon — tallied assists.

Minutes Leaders: Three Racing players went the distance in all four Challenge Cup matches, totaling 360-plus minutes on the pitch. They were the goalkeeper Betos, the defender Hendrix and Savannah McCaskill, a forward by trade who has played in behind the club’s front line, taking on a role of pressing, winning possession back and distributing.

NWSL Debuts: A young Racing side saw eight players log their first minutes in the league, though half the roster is awaiting regular season NWSL debuts. The list includes goalkeepers Katie Lund and Shelby Money; defenders Julia Ashley, Emily Fox, Brooke Hendrix, Nealy Martin, Addisyn Merrick and Kaleigh Riehl; midfielders Noelle Higginson, Freja Olofsson and Taylor Otto; as well as forwards Jorian Baucom, Emina Ekic, Katie McClure and Vanessa Kara.

New Additions: Earlier this week, Racing announced the signing of rising star striker Ebony Salmon. Previously with English club Bristol City, she numbered 6 goals and 3 assists during the recently concluded FA Women’s Super League season. Salmon, as with recent defensive signing Gemma Bonner from Manchester City, will move to Louisville upon receiving her visa.

Injury report

•  Addisyn Merrick – Out
• Julia Ashley – Out
• Noelle Higginson – Out
• Brooke Hendrix – Questionable
• Erin Simon – Questionable
• Cece Kizer – Questionable
• Cheyna Matthew – Questionable

Milestone watch

• Michelle Betos is one appearance from making her 50th in NWSL regular season play.
• Freja Olofsson is one appearance away from her 75th professional appearance. 
• Savannah McCaskill is two goals away from her 10th across all NWSL competitions. 
• Yuki Nagasato is two goals away from her 15th across all NWSL competitions.

Lynn Family Stadium, home of Louisville City FC and Racing Louisville City FC, will effective immediately follow updated Centers for Disease Control guidelines mirrored by the commonwealth of Kentucky.

Per the CDC, people fully vaccinated against COVID-19 — meaning two weeks separated from receiving their final dose — can now go without wearing a mask or physically distancing in most settings.

Those apprehensive about attending an upcoming game can fill out the form at this link to request an account credit with a deadline of noon Saturday for Racing Louisville FC’s season opener. For more information, contact our staff at (502) 568-2489 or by emailing tickets@loucity.com.

Stadium staff will continue to sanitize the venue before, during and after events, especially at high touch points. Also, existing protocols permitting only clear bags, no cash sales and glass barriers at concession areas will continue.

In line with Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear’s lift on capacity restrictions, Lynn Family Stadium will move to 75% capacity on May 28 and 100% capacity on June 11.

Ebony Salmon, an emerging forward who recently received her first call up to England’s national team, will continue her career with Racing Louisville FC, the club announced Thursday.

Salmon signed a two-year contract to play for the National Women’s Soccer League expansion side, which opens its inaugural season at 5 p.m. Saturday when hosting Kansas City at Lynn Family Stadium. Salmon will move to the United States and join Racing upon receiving her visa.

A 20-year-old who came up through the Aston Villa Academy, Salmon starred during the 2020-2021 FA Women’s Super League campaign, numbering a team-leading 6 goals to go with an assist. Bristol City named her its Women’s Player of the Year just before the season’s end.

“We are proud to welcome Ebony to Louisville,” said Racing’s head coach, Christy Holly. “Our team worked very hard to secure her signing, as we know she is one of the best young talents in the world and was so well developed by the coaches at Bristol. Even at such a young age, Ebony has already proven to be a dangerous player and one that can have a very big impact upon our team.

“We feel there is a strong alignment between Ebony’s ambitions and those of Racing Louisville.”

Having graduated from Aston Villa’s academy to the first team in 2017, Salmon bagged 7 goals that year across 12 appearances in the FA Women’s Super League 2. The following season, Salmon signed with Manchester United, which loaned her to FA Women’s Championship member Sheffield United. There, Salmon added 7 more goals to her resume.

Salmon moved to Bristol City for the 2019-2020 campaign. She led the club with 5 goals, including the only tally in a 1-0 away victory Jan. 5 over her former club, Manchester United, to mark Bristol’s first victory of the season. In addition to her WSL accomplishments in 2020-2021, Salmon helped Bristol City to the FA Women’s League Cup before a defeat to powerhouse Chelsea.

Internationally, Salmon has represented England at both the U-17 and U-19 levels. While wearing the captain’s armband for the UEFA Women’s U-17 Championship in 2018, Salmon registered a hat trick against Italy to secure her team a place in the knockout rounds. In February, Salmon received her first senior national team call up and cap when she subbed on in a victory over Northern Ireland.

“I am so excited to be joining Racing Louisville,” Salmon said. “After several conversations with Christy, it is clear to see the huge ambitions of this club, and I can’t wait to be a part of it. A move to the NWSL is going to be completely different to what I am used to, but at this point in my career I think it is the right opportunity and environment for me to push on and thrive.”

Salmon, who will wear No. 9, adds to a Racing Louisville attack thus far led by Cece Kizer, who scored 2 goals and added an assist during the NWSL’s preseason Challenge Cup tournament. This signing marks the second for Racing from the Women’s Super League, adding to the club’s recent acquisition of former Manchester City defender Gemma Bonner.

During her collegiate career, Racing Louisville FC defender Kaleigh Riehl cracked the code on how to get on and then stay on the field as she set the NCAA record for minutes as a field player.

Riehl, who went the distance in Racing’s final two Challenge Cup games, could be trending toward something similar in Louisville as the club comes up on its regular season opener at 5 p.m. Saturday, hosting Kansas City at Lynn Family Stadium.

“I didn’t even know that was a stat,” Riehl said, looking back to her college days at Penn State, in which she logged 8,847 minutes on the pitch. “I don’t play for stats. So, it was not anything that was a goal of mine, but it was pretty cool to achieve.”

Along the way, Riehl also made a number of appearances with the U.S. U-23 Women’s National Team, among other call ups in red white and blue. The former Sky Blue FC — now NJ/NY Gotham FC — selected Riehl 11th overall in the 2020 NWSL Draft to mark the beginning of her pro career.

Riehl partially credits luck for her ability to stay fit but also believes select habits have kept her competing at a high level.

“Nutrition, hydration, recovery and doing all of the little things is what ultimately keeps you out on the field,” she said. “I think you just put yourself in the best situation to stay healthy.  Of course, things will happen, but I do think that is important to always have.”

Riehl noted that she also receives treatment every day it’s offered, joking that Racing’s staff “is probably like ‘Oh, her again.’

“I am grateful that they are always in such a great mood, and they don’t think it is a burden when I am in there every day,” she added.

Whatever works for a center back whose presence will be crucial for Racing, a 2021 NWSL expansion side.

Going back to her freshman year at Penn State, Riehl logged 2,360 minutes played, the fourth-most in a single season in program history as Penn State went on to win a national title. The following year, Riehl redshirted as she traveled with the youth national team to compete in the 2016 U-20 World Cup in Papa New Guinea. 

“It was incredible,” she said. “I loved that year, and  I am thankful for my college coaches for allowing me to have that experience.”

In her next three seasons with Penn State, Riehl consistently logged more than 2,100 minutes per year. As a senior, she surpassed current USWNT defender and captain Becky Sauerbrunn’s 8,523 minutes to set the NCAA record for minutes played by a field player. 

“I didn’t even know beforehand,” Riehl said. “Then, our media person told me, and I was like ‘Oh, that’s really cool.’”

Even counting goalkeepers, Riehl ranks second among all women’s college soccer players ever in minutes played, seven short of fellow Penn State alum and goalkeeper Emily Oleksiuk.

The more that you are on the ball and practicing in training both in a team environment and on your own, you gain confidence from that,” Riehl said. “You can believe in yourself when you spend so much time trying to perfect your craft.”

Selected from Sky Blue by Racing in the 2020 NWSL Expansion Draft, Riehl arrived to Louisville after a stint on loan to Paris FC, a member of France’s top division. Of course, the Virginia native found a way to tally more minutes during the NWSL’s offseason.

In her second appearance for Racing, Riehl contributed to the club’s first clean sheet, a scoreless draw May 2 with her former club, Gotham FC.

“It is big for us,” Riehl said afterward. “The last few games, we have given up a goal in the very end. Just being more focused and talking through those moments and making sure that we finish the game out with a clean sheet — it is great for us to keep it at zeros.”

Next, Riehl and the rest of Racing Louisville will look to carry that over to an inaugural 24-game regular season.

The NWSL on Friday released a league-wide broadcast schedule that could see 2021 expansion club Racing Louisville FC both start and end its inaugural season on national TV.

Racing, which opens on May 15, will host Kansas City at 5 p.m. on CBS Sports Network. The station also has the option to pick up Racing’s Oct. 31 finale at NJ/NY Gotham FC.

Aside from the televised dates, Racing Louisville games will air on a pair of streaming services with 16 games on Paramount+, formerly known as CBS All Access, and six on Twitch.

Racing’s roster boasts World Cup winner Yuki Nagasato from Japan and a pair of players with U.S. Women’s National Team experience in forward Savannah McCaskill and defender Emily Fox. The club enters the season with a strong local tie, too, in rookie forward Emina Ekic, a local native who played for the University of Louisville.

Plenty of domestic and international stars are expected to pass through Lynn Family Stadium this year as well, adding to names such as USWNT regulars Ali Krieger and Ashlyn Harris, along with Brazil’s Marta and Debinha, each of whom played against Racing during the preseason Challenge Cup tournament.

Season tickets — including a number of perks, among them an exclusive team scarf and merchandise discounts — are available at www.racingloufc.com/racingloufc or by calling (502) 568-2489.

Additionally, CBSSN will air three playoff contests, including one quarterfinal and both semifinals. CBS will carry the championship game.

All matches this season will be streamed live internationally on Twitch.

With the full schedule below, fans can visit www.racingloufc.com/racingloufc/2021-schedule to sync game days to calendars.

2021 Racing Louisville FC schedule
(Home games listed in bold with all times Eastern)

May 15: Racing Louisville FC vs. Kansas City (5 p.m., CBSSN)

May 21: Racing Louisville FC vs. Washington Spirit (7:30 p.m., Twitch)

May 28: North Carolina Courage vs. Racing Louisville FC (7 p.m., Twitch)

June 5: Portland Thorns FC vs. Racing Louisville (10:30 p.m., Twitch)

June 20: Racing Louisville FC vs. Houston Dash (3 p.m., Paramount+)

June 23: Racing Louisville FC vs. North Carolina Courage (7:30 p.m., Paramount+)

June 26: Chicago Red Stars vs. Racing Louisville FC (2 p.m., Paramount+)

July 3:  Racing Louisville FC vs. Portland Thorns FC (7:30 p.m., Paramount+)

July 9: Orlando Pride vs. Racing Louisville FC (7 p.m., Twitch)

July 25: Racing Louisville FC vs. Washington Spirit (3 p.m., Paramount+)

July 31: OL Reign vs. Racing Louisville FC (10 p.m., Twitch)

Aug. 8:  Racing Louisville FC vs. Kansas City (3 p.m., Paramount+)

Aug. 15: NJ/NY Gotham FC vs. Racing Louisville FC (5 p.m., Paramount+)

Aug. 18:  Racing Louisville FC vs. Chicago Red Stars (7:30 p.m., Paramount+)

Aug. 25: Kansas City vs. Racing Louisville FC (8 p.m., Paramount+)

Aug. 29: Houston Dash vs. Racing Louisville FC (7:30 p.m., Paramount+)

Sept 4: Racing Louisville FC vs OL Reign (7:30 p.m., Paramount+)

Sept. 11: Orlando Pride vs. Racing Louisville FC (7 p.m., Paramount+)

Sept. 26: Racing Louisville FC vs. Houston Dash (3 p.m., Paramount+)

Oct. 1: Racing Louisville FC vs. NJ/NY Gotham FC (7:30 p.m., Twitch)

Oct. 6: North Carolina Courage vs. Racing Louisville FC (7:30 p.m., Paramount+)

Oct. 9: Washington Spirit vs. Racing Louisville FC (7:30 p.m., Paramount+)

Oct. 16: Racing Louisville FC vs. Orlando Pride (7:30 p.m., Paramount+)

Oct. 31: NJ/NY Gotham FC vs. Racing Louisville FC (2 p.m., CBSSN or Paramount+)

Racing Louisville FC’s Lauren Milliet, originally drafted in 2019 by the North Carolina Courage, arrived to her former club amid its run of three straight shields and consecutive NWSL Playoffs championships — a slew of trophies earned much thanks to a stacked midfield.

Two prominent players who have since moved on from the Courage, Sam Mewis (Manchester City) and Crystal Dunn (Portland Thorns FC), rank among the best in the world at what they do. Attacking midfielder Debinha might well be the best in the world in her role. And Denise O’Sullivan, perhaps built more in the mold of a player like Milliet, has stretched her pro career going on a decade.

Speaking after Racing’s recent 3-2 defeat to North Carolina, Courage coach Paul Riley said it’s best for a talented player such as Milliet to move on after two years without a normal starting role. Milliet made 10 appearances for the Courage while learning under those aforementioned midfielders.

“It was time to make her own career now,” Riley said.

Milliet is doing just that with Racing having started each of the club’s NWSL Challenge Cup games, emerging as a box-to-box midfield presence. The Durango, Colo., native is seemingly getting better each appearance, too.

In Sunday’s scoreless draw at NJ/NY Gotham FC, Milliet numbered multiple tackles, blocks and interceptions defensively. She also paced her club with four shots attempted, trying to jumpstart the attack with some tries from distance.

“I definitely learned a lot from the midfield from the NC Courage,” Milliet said.

There, she featured more as a No. 10, working with her back to the goal. In a more central role for Racing, Milliet has focused on playing the ball quickly through defensive lines to create chances. Sometimes, as with Sunday, she finds herself in a position to finish some, too.

“Obviously, I’d like to put them on frame, not to the moon,” Milliet said with a laugh. “…I wanted to be a little bit more selfish. We talked a lot about shooting this week. I found myself on the top of the box a few times and thought I’d take a rip. It is what it is. Next time I’ll try to put it a little bit lower.”

Milliet, who has totaled 353 minutes on the pitch for Racing, is a 90-minute performance away from eclipsing her season total last year with the NC Courage across the inaugural Challenge Cup and Fall Series.

“I think she’s come in and she’s done absolutely fantastic,” said Racing’s head coach, Christy Holly. “One of the big things we wanted to try and continue to add to her game is the defensive awareness…She’s finding herself present at both ends of the field. I couldn’t be more proud of the growth she’s shown.”

Racing defender Kaleigh Riehl, as with Milliet, was selected by the club in the 2020 NWSL Expansion Draft. Riehl described Milliet as “an engine” for the club.

“She’s always fighting, and she’s scrappy,” Riehl added. “She’s a big part both defensively and offensively for us. She does a lot of the dirty work that is often overlooked. I have so much trust in her that she’s always going to be there and help us out.”

Riley’s side faced Milliet for 83 minutes last month. After the final whistle, the coach made it a point to tell his former player how proud he is of what he’d just seen.

“She’s still improving and continues to improve,” Riley said. “She looks like a bonafide NWSL midfielder now, and that’s what we want.”

Thomas Costello covers the NWSL for Beyond Women’s Sports, which offers stories throughout the world of women’s professional and collegiate athletics. Follow Thomas on Twitter @1ThomasCostello and Beyond Women’s Sports @BeyondWSports.

Racing Louisville FC’s final Challenge Cup outing didn’t carry tournament implications for the club, but Sunday’s game at NJ/NY Gotham FC presented a final opportunity to fine tune ahead of the regular season opener May 15. Here’s what we learned from the 0-0 draw.

This back line can slow a potent offense

For Racing’s first clean sheet to come against Gotham FC signals huge growth. Louisville went on the road against the East Division’s top Challenge Cup team and held its shape, anticipating movements of the former Sky blue FC.

In the first half, Carli Lloyd and Midge Purce did have opportunities on frame, but more often pressure from Racing’s back line forced them into lower quality chances. The Gotham forwards combined to shoot seven times but put only two tries on target. Purce plays wide, but has a tendency to move more centrally and get on goal. Racing met her move early in the match, and she didn’t go back to it.

Even though the defensive four received a blow with full back Emily Fox’s substitution for injury in the 56th minute, they held their composure late. Lloyd, who has numbered 301 U.S. Women’s National Team caps, took her final shot in the 95th minute, one that caromed off the head of a Racing midfielder and secured the shutout.

“We were very organized at the back,” said Racing’s coach, Christy Holly. “The team was very structurally organized and disciplined in their decision making defensively in the final third.” Defensive performances aren’t limited to players with defender next to their name on the team roster. They’re the first to say that the players in front of them played a big role.

“I think that really starts with our forward pressure and then making it predictable for us,” added defender Kaleigh Riehl. “They make our job so much easier when they do that.”

The forward pressure came in the form of blocking passes, with 11 of the team’s 17 interceptions claimed by midfielders and forwards.

Midfielder Lauren Milliet arguably shined the brightest defensively with four tackles, two blocked passes, a blocked shot and three interceptions. A couple of those interceptions came in dangerous attacking areas, where Milliet knew what the opposition was thinking even before it initiated a pass.

“She always puts so much effort in and an engine in there,” Riehl said. “She’s box to box the entire game. She’s always fighting and she’s scrappy.”

That growth is a sign of things to come. Milliet worked hard in the offseason to become the player that she is in 2021.

“I had the tendency last year to play my back to the goal,” Milliet said. “Coming through this year I was really working on getting my body open so I could play quickly through the lines.”

She accomplished this goal against Gotham.

Louisville has more than just leadership in goal

Gotham FC’s draw was enough to earn a spot in Saturday’s Challenge Cup final versus Portland Thorns FC. But Racing didn’t make it easy to get through, especially goalkeeper Michelle Betos.

Louisville’s captain stopped all four shots that came her way, including a 62nd-minute chance that quickly. The biggest being her final one, in the 62nd minute seconds after Riehl came up with a block about five yards from goal. The rebound went to Gotham FC defender Caprice Dydasco, and Betos followed with a fully-extended diving save to her left.

“Miche is rock-solid back there,” Milliet said. “It’s honestly super nice to have such a high quality, veteran back there, and she’s a freaking dynamo at saving and she’s a great voice for us.”

The performance — Betos’ first clean sheet for Racing — followed a performance last week against NC Courage that landed her the NWSL’s Save of the Week.

Betos making big saves has to instill confidence in a young side. While she has had goals get into her net during the Challenge Cup, Betos still puts herself into opportunities to make saves. This isn’t a goalkeeper who watches a ball go past herself. She plays with the same tenacity and energy as the side in front of her, and her impact stretches outside of the soccer pitch too.

“She’s top notch,” Milliet said. “We can learn a lot from her — leadership-wise, soccer-wise — and she’s a great person as well.”

Betos’ performances only figure to improve as Racing inserts more key pieces into its defense, such as injured center back Addisyn Merrick and the English veteran Gemma Bonner, who recently signed from Manchester City.

Racing’s stronger going into the regular season

Sure, the Challenge Cup served as a proper NWSL competition. A trophy will be handed out this weekend to either Portland or Gotham FC. But this also served the purpose of four preseason games for the expansion side Racing ahead of its 24-game campaign that opens at Lynn Family Stadium.

Racing’s offensive output and possession didn’t meet Holly’s expectations Sunday, but the club influenced the outcome by adjusting on the fly. Gotham FC’s attack featured far less creativity thanks to changes made by Racing. This ability to learn and grow at a face pace raises Racing’s ceiling in 2021.

The roster also remains a work in progress. Bonner will join once she obtains a visa, and Holly has teased other signings. Those moves may take time to negotiate, but the group on the field has already showed it can go toe to toe with anyone in the league.

The strength in mentality, once paired with stronger tactical play, moves Louisville out of the conversation of stereotypical expansion team and into a contender to make the NWSL’s expanded six-team playoffs.

“Trust ourselves and have confidence in ourselves,” is what Riehl said Racing will work on. “We hear that we’re a young team and all of this, but we can really compete with the best teams in this league and I think we have showed that. We need to be a little more consistent with that and truly believe ourselves.”

Racing Louisville FC on Sunday finished a run through the NWSL Challenge Cup by earning its first shutout and second point in the franchise’s young history.

Racing held NJ/NY Gotham FC — which with a point of its own clinched the East Division in this preseason tournament — to a scoreless draw at New Jersey’s Montclair State University.

For Gotham FC, the result means advancement to play the Challenge Cup’s West winner, Portland Thorns FC, Saturday on CBS in the final . Racing Louisville meanwhile gets a weekend off before opening the NWSL’s regular season May 15, hosting Kansas City at Lynn Family Stadium.

In three prior group stage Challenge Cup games, Racing managed a draw and two defeats, both by a goal. That the club kept Gotham FC scoreless Sunday pleased Christy Holly. Still, the coach walked away calling this “our worst performance of the Challenge Cup.”

“I don’t think we executed anywhere near what we were looking for in terms of possession or defensively,” Holly said. “So that was quite frustrating. We got into halftime and had really good conversations — really productive conversations. It was great to see the girls then apply that in the second half and have some success come from it.

“I think the big thing is understanding that we’re going to have bad days where we genuinely don’t play well and getting out of here with a point is good.”

Voted Woman of the Match, goalkeeper Michelle Betos made four saves, three of those during a first half in which Racing was fortunate to preserve its clean sheet.

U.S. Women’s National Team legend Carli Lloyd had a trio of nice looks, including a slow-rolling try on target in the 15th minute, a shot across her body swung just wide in the 27th and a 34th-minute transition try in the box where Lloyd managed only light contact on the shot.

Gotham FC’s attack packed noticeably less punch over the second 45 minutes, though Racing’s back line was conscious of Challenge Cup trends. The club had surrendered goals past the 84th minute in its prior three outings.

“We’ve been stressing to be compact and to really cover for each other,” said defender Kaleigh Riehl, who played last season for Gotham FC, then known as Sky Blue FC. “I think we did that today, and I think it’s big for us.

“The last few games we’d given up a goal at the very end. It was (about) being more focused, talking through those moments and making sure we finished the game with a clean sheet.”

Racing was held mostly quiet in the first half, the 44th minute aside when forward Emina Ekic cut in from the right wing and fired a big left-footed shot that commanded a save.

Out of the locker room, what was perhaps Louisville’s best offensive chance also dealt a defensive blow. Working from left to right, defender Emily Fox was taken down in the Gotham FC box. Racing didn’t get the whistle for a penalty, and Fox needed to be substituted off.

Working from box to box, midfielder Lauren Milliet tried four shots Sunday, and a 70th-minute Savannah McCaskill corner redirected off defender Brooke Hendrix’s head nearly led to a goal.

That’s all part of the learning process for a young Racing side, which Milliet said can stand to work on its tempo.

“When to speed it up, when to slow it down — when to play through the lines and when to just keep the ball moving quickly,” she said. “…I think there’s just a lot we can work on, and I think there’s a lot of positives we can take from this.”

Game Summary: Gotham FC vs. Racing Louisville

Venue: Montclair State University

Kickoff: 12:37 p.m.

Weather: 77 degrees, sunny

Woman of the Match: Michelle Betos

Scoring

Gotham FC (0, 0, 0)

Racing Louisville (0, 0, 0)

Stats Summary: Gotham FC / Racing Louisville

Shots: 13 / 11

Shots on Goal: 4 / 2

Fouls: 8 / 7

Offside: 4 / 3

Corner Kicks: 2 / 4

Saves: 2 / 4

Lineups

Racing Louisville: 1 – Michelle Betos, 11 – Emily Fox (14 – Nealy Martin), 18 – Kaleigh Riehl, 15 – Brooke Hendrix, 5 – Cece Kizer, 2 – Lauren Milliet, 8 – Freja Olofsson (66’ 19 – Taylor Otto), 3 – Erin Simon, 13- Emina Ekic (73’ 33 – Jorian Baucom), 17 – Yuki Nagasato (27 – Vanessa Kara), 7 – Savannah McCaskill

Subs not used: 21 – Shelby Money, 23 – Katie Lund, 16 – Julia Ashley, 24 – Noelle Higginson, 20 — Cheyna Matthews

Gotham FC: 13 — Dijana Haracic, 12 — Gina Lewandowski, 28 — Imani Dorsey, 3 — Caprice Dydasco (78’ 15 — Sabrina Flores), 22 — Mandy Freeman, 9 — Nahomi Kawasumi, 11 — Lee So-Dam (78’ 25 — Ifeoma Onumonu), 6 — Jennifer Cudjoe (64’ 17 — Dominique Richardson), 10 — Carli Lloyd, 23 — Margaret “Midge” Purce (88’ 20 — Evelyne Viens), 4 — Paige Monogan (46’ 16 — Allie Long)

Subs not used: 21 — Amanda McGlynn, 8 — Erica Skroski, 24 — Estelle Johnson, 19 Elizabeth Eddy

Discipline Summary

Gotham FC: Cudjoe (yellow) 28’

Referee: Karen Abt

Assistant Referees: Tiffini Turpin, Zeno Cho

Fourth Official: Christian Centeno