Racing Louisville Remains Unbeaten with Chaotic 1-1 Draw Gotham

April 28, 2024 - National Women's Soccer League (NWSL)
Racing Louisville FC News Release

HARRISON, N.J. - Racing Louisville forward Reilyn Turner scored the go-ahead goal five minutes into stoppage time, but NJ/NY Gotham's Rose Lavelle tied the match 90 seconds later in a frenetic finish to a 1-1 draw at Red Bull Arena on Sunday night.

The result continued Racing's undefeated start to the 2024 season, with the six-match unbeaten streak the longest in the young club's history. Louisville has not yet trailed this season. The club also maintained its undefeated road record at Gotham in five games in northern New Jersey.

"Coming away from playing as good a side as Gotham, we feel like we could have been better in possession in particular, and we're fully aware of that," said Racing coach Bev Yanez. "I think for us, it's continuing to showcase our processes in areas that we can. Getting a point on the road and staying undefeated is important for us."

Racing Louisville (1-0-5, 8 points) maintained its hold on sixth place in the NWSL standings, two spots inside the new eight-team playoff cut line. The Louisvillians did so with a cagey performance in a physical match.

Gotham was whistled for 20 fouls, the most for any NWSL team this season and tying the league's all-time record. Racing blocked 12 Gotham shots. It was the fourth time in six matches that Racing has kept the opposition from scoring in the first half, the top mark in the NWSL.

Louisville defender Carson Pickett kept the shutout going when she cleared a shot from Gotham's Crystal Dunn off the goal line in the 49th minute.

The game finally opened up in stoppage time. Turner and fellow rookie Emma Sears provided a significant boost off the bench once again, with Sears running roughshod down the left flank.

On Turner's goal, Sears took off with the ball from just outside Racing's defensive penalty area. The Ohio State grad beat five defenders on her way to the end line before ripping a low cross in that was deflected to Turner, who backheeled in her second goal of the season.

"Emma's energy that she brings is unstoppable, and whenever she gets a ball, I know we're going to get something off of it," Turner said. "Just knowing that she's going to go end line and make something happen, I was just lucky to be there and tap it in."

Off the restart, Gotham pushed forward, and a high cross into Racing's defensive area was knocked down to Ella Stevens, who poked a pass to Lavelle for her game-tying goal.

"We battled for 100-plus minutes, and to get that goal at the end and then to let in a goal maybe one minute after is very tough," said Racing midfielder Marisa DiGrande. "It's a tough one, to be quite frank, just because of the fight that we put in throughout the entire game. I'm proud of the effort, but now we have to finish games, and it's something that we've talked about these last couple weeks - how can we put in a full 90-plus minute performance."

Game Summary: Racing Louisville FC at NJ/NY Gotham FC

Date: April 28, 2024

Venue: Red Bull Arena, Harrison, N.J.

Kickoff: 5 p.m. ET

Weather: 72 degrees, sunny

Player of the Match: Emma Sears

Scoring

Racing Louisville (0, 1, 1)

NJ/NY Gotham FC (0, 1, 1)

Goals

Racing Louisville

90'+5 Reilyn Turner

NJ/NY Gotham FC

90'+8 Rose Lavelle (Ella Stevens)

Lineups

Racing Louisville FC (4-2-3-1): 1 - Katie Lund; 2 - Lauren Milliet, 3 - Arin Wright, 20 - Abby Erceg, 16 - Carson Pickett; 6 - Jaelin Howell (c) (26' 14 - Marisa DiGrande), 26 - Taylor Flint; 8 - Ary Borges (60' 13 - Emma Sears), 7 - Savannah DeMelo (77' 9 - Kayla Fischer), 29 - Uchenna Kanu (90' 21 - Parker Goins); 23 - Elexa Bahr (60' 66 - Reilyn Turner)

Subs not used: 24 - Jordyn Bloomer; 5 - Ellie Jean, 10 - Linda Motlhalo, 17 - Maddie Pokorny

Head Coach: Bev Yanez

NJ/NY Gotham FC (4-2-3-1): 30 - Ann-Katrin Berger; 3 - Bruninha, 21 - Sam Hiatt, 6 - Emily Sonnett, 2 - Jenna Nighswonger; 14 - Nealy Martin (89' 33 - Sinead Farrelly), 17 - Delanie Sheehan; 19 - Crystal Dunn (74' 13 - Ella Stevens), 18 - Yazmeen Ryan, 10 - Lynn Williams (c) (74' 16 - Rose Lavelle); 9 - Esther Gonzalez (46' 28 - Katie Stengel)

Subs not used: 1- Michelle Betos, 38 - Cassie Miller; 8- Taryn Torres, 22 - Mandy Freeman, 25 - Maycee Bell

Head Coach: Juan Carlos Amóros

Stats Summary: Racing Louisville / NJ/NY Gotham

Shots: 10 / 19

Shots on Goal: 5 / 4

Expected goals: 1.3 / 1.29

Possession: 42.5% / 57.5%

Fouls: 9 / 20

Offside: 2 / 2

Corners: 2 / 3

Discipline Summary

Racing Louisville

37' Savannah DeMelo (yellow)

NJ/NY Gotham

50' Nealy Martin (yellow)

71' Emily Sonnett (yellow)

90'+10 Gotham bench (yellow)

90'+12 Rose Lavelle (yellow)

Match referee: Calin Radosav

Assistant referees: Brian Marshall, Jeremy Smith

Fourth official: Hao Zhong

Video Assistant Referee: Anya Voigt

Assistant VAR: Tom Felice

Racing Louisville forward Emma Sears (right) vs. NJ/NY Gotham (USA TODAY Sports Images)

National Women's Soccer League Stories from April 28, 2024

• Racing Louisville Remains Unbeaten with Chaotic 1-1 Draw Gotham - Racing Louisville FC
• Gotham FC Draws Racing Louisville 1-1 After Two Stoppage Time Goals - NJ/NY Gotham FC
• Bay FC Falls 2-1 in Road Match Against San Diego Wave FC - Bay FC
• San Diego Wave FC Defeats Bay FC 2-1 at Snapdragon Stadium - San Diego Wave FC

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