Racing Louisville coach Kim Björkegren made no changes to his team’s starting lineup from this past Sunday’s win over NJ/NY Gotham, aiming to keep the momentum rolling into tonight’s showdown at North Carolina.
Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. The game will be streamed on Paramount+.
Goalkeeper Katie Lund is in search of her sixth regular-season shutout in making her 39th consecutive regular-season start for Racing. The Texas native, helped by a stout Louisville defense in front of her, has kept a clean sheet in three straight games, four of the past five and five of the past seven across all competitions. She leads the league in save percentage (81.8%) and is second in saves per 90 minutes (4.5), a big reason why Racing is tied for third in goals conceded this season.
In front of Lund, Racing’s back four will look the same: Left back Carson Pickett, ninth in the NWSL in scoring chances created, lines up next to center backs Abby Erceg and Elli Pikkujämsä, with Lauren Milliet starting at right back. Lund, Pickett, Erceg and Milliet have each played every minute of the regular season, and Pickett, Erceg and Milliet will be hoping to exact some revenge on their old team after North Carolina topped Racing on May 27 in Louisville.
Tonight marks Pikkujämsä’s sixth start of the campaign.
The outstanding midfield trio of captain Jaelin Howell, Ary Borges and Savannah DeMelo will start its eighth match together and the last for a while as Borges (Brazil) and DeMelo (USA) depart for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup after Saturday’s game. Howell, the midfield anchor, has been fantastic this season, ranking in the top eight in the league in interceptions and successful tackles per 90 minutes.
Up front, fresh off her first goal in a Racing uniform, Thembi Kgatlana joins Kirsten Davis and Wang Shuang in the attacking three.
Jordyn Bloomer, Jess McDonald and Nadia Nadim were all previously listed as out on the player availability report. Alex Chidiac (excused absence) is already with the Australian national team as it prepares to name a World Cup squad ahead of hosting the tournament with New Zealand.
Racing Team Sheet at North Carolina
1 – Katie Lund
16 – Carson Pickett
20 – Abby Erceg
4 – Elli Pikkujämsä
2 – Lauren Milliet
6 – Jaelin Howell (c)
7 – Savannah DeMelo
8 – Ary Borges
11 – Thembi Kgatlana
22 – Kirsten Davis
77 – Wang Shuang
Substitutes: 99 – Olivia Sekany; 3 – Zaneta Wyne, 5 – Paige Monaghan, 9 – Kayla Fischer, 15 – Julia Lester, 19 – Jordan Baggett, 21 – Parker Goins, 25 – Rebecca Holloway, 29 – Uchenna Kanu
