What to Watch for with Racing vs. Orlando Pride
September 15, 2022 – National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) – Racing Louisville FC News Release
With the NWSL playoffs now out of reach, Racing Louisville FC’s players are focused on playing for each other when the Orlando Pride come to Lynn Family Stadium for a 7:30 p.m. Friday kickoff.
Racing (2-8-8, 14 points) is seeking to finish the regular season on positive note and improve its on-field chemistry heading into the offseason.
“We realize the squad now looks very much different to the squad that started the season, so these games are a chance to start building for next year,” said Racing captain Gemma Bonner. “This year hasn’t been good enough. We’re a young squad, and we’ve learned some harsh lessons.”
Matchips with Orlando have historically been even, with both teams winning once while drawing the other three meetings. This year’s other game played out on a makeshift pitch at Daytona International Speedway, with Racing taking a 2-0 lead before Orlando scored two in the second half to force a draw.
Racing is coming off a 5-1 loss to the North Carolina Courage this past Saturday, a defeat that eliminated Louisville from playoff contention.
Orlando Pride (5-7-6, 21 points) is coming off a 2-0 loss to Portland Thorns FC. Just six points behind sixth-placed Chicago with four games remaining on the schedule, the Pride are still in the playoffs hunt but need wins and help elsewhere.
Follow along…
– For Starting XI and in-game updates, follow @RacingLouFC on Twitter and Racing Louisville FC on Facebook. Also find us at @racinglouisvillefc on Instagram.
– The game will stream live on Paramount+ in the United States and on Twitch internationally.
Player Availability Report
– Julia Lester (out, head)
Story lines…
On the table: Racing currently sits at 11th in the league with 14 points, two more than last-place NJ/NY Gotham FC. One positive to take from the finish – 2023 NWSL Draft selection order will be determined by the table, with Louisville tracking to receive another high selection to open the draft.
Nadia nets another: Around this time last year, veteran forward Nadia Nadim suffered an ACL injury in a match against Orlando. Since returning from injury, Nadim has scored five goals in nine games, including last out against the courage. This will mark the first match Nadim has played against Orlando since the injury.
Last time around: The last match between Racing and the Pride resulted in a 2-2 draw. Emina Ekic opened the scoring in the 34th minute, and Savannah DeMelo made it 2-0 with a rocket free kick in the 51st minute. Orlando rallied, though, with Kylie Strom scoring first and Darian Jenkins equalizing late.
Giving Back: Emina Ekic and Racing Louisville FC are in the running to win the Nationwide Impact Award for volunteer service with Blessings in a Backpack, a national charity originating in Louisville that focuses on feeding children on the weekend. Nationwide and the NWSL have partnered to advance local service projects. The season-long initiative began in July and a winner will be announced in October during the NWSL Championship week. The winner of the Nationwide Impact Award receives a $25,000 donation to further the organization’s efforts.
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