September 27, 2024 – National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL)
Racing Louisville FC News Release
Racing Louisville forward Emma Sears (13) exchanges high fives
(Racing Louisville FC, Credit: Jordan Prather/NWSL)
Carrying momentum from back-to-back wins, Racing Louisville hits the road for a 7 p.m. ET Saturday encounter with the Utah Royals at America First Field in Sandy, Utah.
Saturday’s contest offers the Louisvillians several opportunities: climb higher in the NWSL table and set new club records for consecutive regular season league wins and total points and wins in a season. Racing currently sits in eighth place – playoff position – with five games left in the campaign.
Louisville’s first-ever trip to Utah will be broadcast on WAVE’s Bounce TV (channel 3.2). Fans can also stream the game live on the free NWSL+ app or via plus.nwslsoccer.com. You can listen to the match on Talk Radio 1080 AM, online at talkradio1080.iheart.com or via the iHeart app.
Racing (6-8-7, 25 points) displayed resilience yet again in beating North Carolina, mounting a second consecutive comeback triumph. It drew the Louisvillians level with its single season home wins record set (5), and it ended a frustrating eight-game losing streak in league games against North Carolina.
The win followed up a 2-1 rally win over Angel City on Sept. 14. New addition Bethany Balcer scored in both games, including the winner gainst North Carolina, while fellow newcomer Janine Beckie scored vs. Angel City and rookie Emma Sears tied the game vs. North Carolina.
“For us to come back twice now, the group’s really jelling, but we’re going to take it one game day at a time and keep working,” said goalkeeper Katie Lund.
The hard-fought victory catapulted the Louisvillians back above the playoff cutline. Racing is now just three points back of seventh-place Portland Thorns and four out of sixth. Louisville is tied with Portland for the best goal differential (plus-1) of any club outside the top five.
Bev Yanez’s side faced the Royals earlier this season on April 20, trouncing the visitors, 5-1, providing offensive fireworks to match the Thunder Over Louisville air show and thrill a record crowd.
Four different players contributed to the goal tally, including star midfielder Savannah DeMelo, who scored two goals in a 10-minute span in the second half. Sears also scored her first goal in lavender in that game.
Utah (4-14-3, 15 points) has taken steps forward since regular season play resumed following the Olympic…