May 5, 2023 – National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) – Racing Louisville FC News Release
Racing Louisville FC celebrates after a goal
(Racing Louisville FC, Credit: USA TODAY Sports Images)
As the 149th running of the Kentucky Derby finishes up Saturday night, Racing Louisville will be in Orlando, hoping the races have only just begun.
Racing (0-1-4, 4 points) will take on the hosting Orlando Pride at 7 p.m. ET Saturday at Exploria Stadium in central Florida, the first match in a busy May schedule for the Louisvillians.
Louisville has provided no shortage of entertainment so far this season, with three 2-2 draws and five solid performances against the toughest schedule in the National Women’s Soccer League, according to Field of Vision’s strength of schedule analytics. But the goal for coach Kim Björkegren’s squad as the calendar turns to May is changing those solid-performance draws into solid-performance wins.
“We’re right there – that’s what we keep saying,” captain Jaelin Howell said this past weekend. “We know we’re a great team. We know how good we are, and not getting results is tough. We know we should be. That’s the next step – three points. Every game we’re closer and closer.”
To get a positive result Saturday night, Racing will have to do so without star midfielder Savannah DeMelo, who is suspended from the match after receiving a red card from two yellow cards in the 2-2 tie with OL Reign this past Saturday. Louisville does have a variety of options to fill in for DeMelo, though the 25-year-old Californian has been in top form to start the season, with two goals, one assist, 20 fouls won and nine chances created. Rookie Kayla Fischer, Australian international Alex Chidiac and Chinese international Wang Shuang are all candidates to start in DeMelo’s central midfield spot.
Orlando (1-4-0, 3 points) notched its first win of the season in impressive fashion on Saturday night, topping hosts San Diego, 3-1, at a crowded Snapdragon Stadium. The Pride’s three goals were the most scored by a visitor at San Diego since the Wave’s introduction to the NWSL last year.
Seb Hines’s squad is built around Brazilian forwards Marta and Adriana, who had a goal and an assist in the win over San Diego. The duo pairs with young standouts Ally Watt and Messiah Bright in the attack. Center back Emily Madril, the fourth overall pick in this year’s NWSL Draft, played for Racing’s W League team last summer and was a college teammate of Louisville captain Jaelin…
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