July 20, 2024 – National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL)
Racing Louisville FC News Release
Racing Louisville FC battles CF Monterrey
(Racing Louisville FC)
After falling behind in the first 10 minutes, Racing Louisville FC scored three unanswered goals to take down CF Monterrey, 3-1, in the opener of the inaugural NWSL x LIGA MX Femenil Summer Cup on Saturday night at Lynn Family Stadium.
Racing Louisville equalized through a rebound finish by Emma Sears in the 36th minute. Savannah DeMelo played distributor twice in the second half, finding Kayla Fisher for a goal in the 47th minute and Ary Borges for another in the 71st minute.
“(That’s) a very respectable side that we played today and very proud of the group for earning the three points in the fashion that they earned the three points,” said Racing head coach Bev Yanez. “We wanted to try something different, and I felt the group really adapted to it throughout the training week and showcased very well what we were specifically asking for.”
The victory lifts the Louisvillians to the top of Group E on three points at the conclusion of matchday 1 of the Summer Cup. The four clubs with the highest point totals at the end of three group stage matches will qualify for the semifinals of the 20-team tournament.
The visiting Monterrey began the match on the front foot, taking the lead through 19-year-old Fátima Servín in the 11th minute.
Louisville adjusted after withstanding more pressure from Las Rayadas, and Sears converted the equalizer on a rebound from a Jaelin Howell shot that hit the woodwork in the 36th minute.
Sears now has four goals in 17 matches across all competitions in her rookie campaign – which ties her for second on the team in goal involvements.
“As a striker, that’s always the goal in games – to score,” Sears said. “Sometimes it ebbs and flows, but I think that it just helps build confidence, so I think that was super important for me tonight.”
Racing carried its momentum from the tail end of the first half into the second half.
Two minutes after subbing onto the pitch as Racing’s center forward, Kayla Fischer smashed home her first goal of the year, calmly finding the low left corner after receiving a brilliant line-breaking pass from DeMelo.
Louisville recorded five shots in the second half before Monterrey tallied its first, continuing to put the pressure on. Racing broke down the Rayadas’ defense for the third time in the 71st minute.
Substitute Ary Borges redirected an over-the-top pass from…