Goalkeeper Katie Lund and forward Kayla Fischer returned to Racing Louisville’s starting lineup for tonight’s matchup against the North Carolina Courage at Lynn Family Stadium.
They represent the two changes to Racing coach Bev Yanez’s starting XI from last weekend’s 3-1 win over Mexican power CF Monterrey.
Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. ET, with Paramount+ and CBS Sports Golazo Network carrying the broadcast.
The NWSL is taking a break from regular season play for the Summer Olympics, where 56 players from the league will represent their countries in one of the sport’s preeminent tournaments. The Summer Cup keeps the rest of the league in action, and it combines the 14 NWSL squads with six of the top teams from Mexico. There are five groups of four, with the top four teams in the three-game group stage advancing to the semifinals on Aug. 6.
Racing (1-0-0, 3 points) sits atop Group E entering its second group stage match. North Carolina (0-0-1, 2 points) drew its opener vs. Orlando but gained a second point by winning the post-match penalty shootout.
Fischer does come back into the fold in a different spot. The second-year player out of Ohio State will start at center forward, where she played 45 minutes against Monterrey and scored an early second-half goal.
Lund is back in between the pipes after reserve goalkeeper Jordyn Bloomer made her Lynn Family Stadium debut in the win over Monterrey.
Emma Sears is on the left wing tonight, with Savannah DeMelo on the right. Marisa DiGrande starts again in the central attacking midfield role. DeMelo registered two assists in the opener, connecting on Fischer’s goal in addition to Ary Borges’s finish. Sears also got in the score sheet, tapping in a rebound after Jaelin Howell smacked a long-range shot off the post.
Howell will again wear the captain’s arm band, pairing in the midfield with Taylor Flint. Borges is available again as a reserve after scoring her first goal in more than a year.
Racing’s defensive group is unchanged, with Abby Erceg and Arin Wright playing centrally, Carson Pickett out left and Lauren Milliet out right.
Along with Borges and Bloomer, the rest of the substitutes bench also includes defender Ellie Jean; midfielders Jordan Baggett and Linda Motlhalo; winger Maddie Pokorny; and forwards Elexa Bahr, Parker Goins and Reilyn Turner.
Goalkeeper Olivia Sekany, defender Elli Pikkujämsä and forward Kirsten Wright were all previously listed as out in the league availability report. Forwards Milly Clegg and Uchenna Kanu are at the Olympics with their respective national teams.
Racing Louisville lineup vs. North Carolina
1 – Katie Lund
2 – Lauren Milliet
3- Arin Wright
20 – Abby Erceg
16 – Carson Pickett
6 – Jaelin Howell (c)
26 – Taylor Flint
7 – Savannah DeMelo
14 – Marisa DiGrande
13 – Emma Sears
9 – Kayla Fischer
Substitutes: 24 – Jordyn Bloomer (GK); 5 – Ellie Jean, 8 – Ary Borges, 10 – Linda Motlhalo, 17 – Maddie Pokorny, 19 – Jordan Baggett, 21 – Parker Goins, 23 – Elexa Bahr, 66 – Reilyn Turner
